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New Zealand

Residency and Citizenship

This is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of our Country Focus, because in any strategy to reduce the tax burden you are subject to, two of the main elements are always the place where you live and your nationality.

Protecting your assets and accessing top-notch financial services is much easier when you have a favorable nationality and a strong passport that allows you to travel with the least amount of limitations.

Today, in the post-pandemic world, having a second passport has become a vital requirement to safeguard your freedom in the face of the wave of restrictive policies being pushed by most countries around the world. And of course, when it comes to a second passport, as with doctors and lawyers, it is advisable not to skimp.

Luckily for you, there are still a few jurisdictions that provide security, asset protection, political stability and financial freedom to their residents and especially their citizens. New Zealand is one of the nations that is part of this select group of territories where you can get a second passport to protect you in the world to come.

New Zealand is not only one of the best governed and most financially free countries in the world, but it is also a cradle of opportunity in the Asian and Oceania markets. Obtaining a second passport in New Zealand is an option that will take all your worries away.

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Reasons to Become a New Zealand Passport Holder

When one talks about investing abroad, New Zealand is not usually the first idea that comes to mind. That's because millionaires around the world have kept secret about the advantages of obtaining the investment residency and subsequently New Zealand citizenship.

These are the main reasons why international investors are so interested in obtaining a New Zealand passport:

1. Number One in Economic Freedom

New Zealand has been in the top three of the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business rankings for more than 15 years. In this country, the government has managed to balance responsible social policies with an economic openness that has not stopped under any circumstances. The result? One of the freest economies in the world and one of the lowest poverty rates.

Opening a company in New Zealand to obtain citizenship after fulfilling certain requirements is so simple that sometimes it is impossible for us to recommend another jurisdiction in which to invest and safeguard your money.

2. Number One in Government Transparency

Another index that New Zealand proudly tops is that of Transparency International, which ranks our jurisdiction as the least corrupt country in the world. This is partly due to the stability of the New Zealand political system, which does not allow any government to bend the laws at will to perpetuate itself in power, as happens in many other countries.

3. Prestigious Investment Residency Programs

Achieving New Zealand citizenship is a project that begins with investment residency, and in this section this country has two widely recognized types of visas that allow an international entrepreneur or investor to acquire residency, and after meeting certain requirements, that residency can be converted into New Zealand citizenship.

4. Variety of Investment Options

The types of investments that qualify for New Zealand investment residence visas are varied. You may invest in companies, funds, real estate development projects (both residential and commercial), shares and more.

And to that variety we must also add the different industries in full expansion in New Zealand that represent the best opportunities in the region. You can especially take advantage of industries such as telecommunications, medical technology, food and services.

5. First Class Quality of Life

As is to be expected after this brief summary of advantages for those applying for a passport in New Zealand, the quality of life in this country is rated as exquisite in any number of testimonials and indices. Even Peter Thiel, a well-known billionaire and co-founder of PayPal has expressed that no other country is more aligned with the future than New Zealand.

Knowing all this about this beautiful jurisdiction, let's see in detail how to obtain New Zealand citizenship.

Obtaining New Zealand Citizenship

Obtaining New Zealand citizenship involves a couple of prior steps that consist of first obtaining temporary and permanent resident status. New Zealand immigration laws enable two main programs through which you can become a resident by investment in New Zealand. The programs are the Investor Visa and the Investor Plus Visa.

Under these programs, after making a valid investment, you can obtain a residence permit for 3 or 4 years depending on the case, and subsequently you can apply for permanent residence and New Zealand citizenship.

The main benefits of obtaining New Zealand citizenship through your investment are:

-A passport of the highest level that allows visa-free entry to 181 countries.

-Your family group can also benefit from your new citizenship. Your spouse and children up to age 24 automatically acquire citizenship with you.

-The New Zealand tax system is quite favorable for international investors. In this country there are no inheritance, property and profit taxes.

-A pathway to British citizenship as New Zealand citizens can access simplified conditions for obtaining UK citizenship.

The law governing New Zealand's investment residency programs is the Overseas Investment Act of 2005. This law gives you the right to apply for New Zealand citizenship 5 years after obtaining your residence certificate after fulfilling certain conditions.

There are two options to obtain the residence certificate for investment in New Zealand, the investor visa and the investor plus visa. Let's see how they differ:

	Investor Visa	Investor Plus Visa
Amount of investment	NZD $3M	NZD $10M
Investment period	4 years	3 years
Accepted investment	• Shares in NZ companies, public or private. • An equity investment can be active or passive, and made directly or through managed funds (only the proportion of the Fund that is invested in NZ is counted as acceptable). • Bonds issued by the New Zealand Government, New Zealand local authorities or New Zealand chartered banks. • Residential real estate development projects that are not for the investor's personal use and designed to earn a commercial return on the open market. • Up to 15% of the total investment may be philanthropic investment. • In general, to be considered acceptable, an investment must: • To be able to obtain a commercial return under normal circumstances. • To be invested in New Zealand and in New Zealand currency. • Have the potential to contribute to the New Zealand economy. • Not for the investor's personal use. • This is only a summary, and there are other conditions that apply.	• An acceptable investment must: • Be able to obtain a commercial return • Being invested in New Zealand • To be invested in New Zealand dollars. • Be invested in legal companies or managed funds. • Have the potential to contribute to the New Zealand economy. • Other than for your personal use, e.g., your • house, boat or car. • Investments must be in one or more of the following: • Bonds issued by the government or local authorities of New Zealand • Bonds issued by New Zealand companies traded in the New Zealand debt market • Bonds issued by New Zealand companies with at least a BBB- or equivalent rating from internationally recognized credit rating agencies. • Bonds issued by banks registered in New Zealand • Bonds of financial companies • Shares of New Zealand companies, which may be public or private. • Shares of banks registered in New Zealand • Residential real estate developments • Eligible New Zealand venture capital funds • Commercial property • Philanthropic investments • Investment of funds
Minimum period of residence	438 days during the four years of the investment period	88 days during the four-year investment period
Validity of the residence certificate	3 years	3 years
Obtaining a permanent residence permit	Granted after 3 years of stay with a temporary residence permit.	Granted after 3 years of stay with a temporary residence permit.
Citizenship	Granted after 1 year of obtaining permanent residence.	Granted after 1 year of obtaining permanent residence.

If you would like to know more details about the other requirements for each of the visa types to obtain investment residency in New Zealand, please contact our team right now.

The Three Steps to New Zealand Citizenship

1. Choose an Investment Program that Fits your Needs to Apply for an Investor Visa.

The first part of the process of becoming a New Zealand citizen, as we have already seen, is to obtain temporary residency with an investment. Our experts can help you navigate the legal waters of New Zealand, as well as keep you informed about the best projects to invest your money in according to your profile.

2. Make your Investment

The New Zealand government takes on average about 3 months to process your application. You will be approved for 12 months, during which time you will need to make your investment with the help of our experts.

3. Apply for New Zealand Citizenship

After you have made your investment, you and your family obtain a residence permit for 3 years. Once that period expires, it is time to obtain a permanent residence permit if you meet the requirements. If everything goes favorably, one year later you will be ready to apply for New Zealand citizenship for you and your family.

Who Are We and What Can We Do for You?

Mundo experts have worked with international investors, high net worth individuals, and family offices to find the best immigration and second passport opportunities in the world's most prestigious jurisdictions.

The ability to increase our clients' freedoms is the inspiration for our work. That is why we have strived to achieve a global presence so that no matter what your goals are, we can help you achieve them.

These 30 years of work have resulted in a global team of experts that today counts among its members the best immigration and investment experts in New Zealand. That is why we can offer you the best route to obtain a New Zealand passport through investment.

If you want to get the passport of one of the freest nations on the planet, do not hesitate to contact our team of experts.