Canada Start-Up Visa vs New Zealand Investor 2 Visa
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›New Zealand Investor 2 Visa is faster: 9 months vs 14 months for Canada Start-Up Visa.
- ›Faster to citizenship: Canada Start-Up Visa at ~3 years, vs 5 for New Zealand Investor 2 Visa.
- ›New Zealand Investor 2 Visa requires a 1,800,000 USD investment; Canada Start-Up Visa does not.
Canada Start-Up Visa Canada · entrepreneur | New Zealand Investor 2 Visa New Zealand · investment | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Canada | New Zealand |
| Category | Entrepreneur | Investment |
| Application Fee | $1,575 | $3,525 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | — | $1,800,000 |
| Processing Time | 14 months | 9 months |
| Family Included | Spouse/common-law partner and dependent children are included and receive permanent residency simultaneously | Partner and dependent children included in the residence visa application |
| Path to PR | Yes — 0 years | Yes — 0 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 3 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Physical Presence | Must be physically present in Canada; PR holders must reside 730 days in 5 years to maintain status | Must spend at least 438 days in New Zealand over the 4-year investment period to meet residence obligations |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Allowed |
| Tax Impact | Permanent residents are subject to Canadian worldwide income tax from landing date | Resident visa holders are subject to New Zealand tax on worldwide income; a four-year transitional tax exemption on foreign-sourced income may be available for new residents |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | — | — |
About Canada Start-Up Visa
Canada's Start-Up Visa Program grants permanent residency to innovative entrepreneurs who secure a commitment from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator. Up to five founders per qualifying business can apply together, making it one of the few immigration pathways designed for co-founding teams. Applicants must also demonstrate sufficient language proficiency and settlement funds to support themselves upon arrival.
Full Canada Start-Up Visa profile →About New Zealand Investor 2 Visa
New Zealand's Investor 2 Visa grants residence to individuals who invest a minimum of NZD$3 million in acceptable New Zealand investments for a mandatory four-year investment period. Unlike the Investor 1 Visa (NZD$10M), the Investor 2 stream requires a minimum of 438 days of physical presence in New Zealand across the four years, ensuring genuine connection to the country. Upon completing the investment and presence requirements, investors and their families receive permanent residence and may apply for citizenship after five years.
Full New Zealand Investor 2 Visa profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Canada Start-Up Visa
- ⚠2024 IRCC announced 2-3 year processing target; inventory caps prioritise certain applications
- ⚠Business must be actively operated in Canada post-PR; inactive companies risk review
- ⚠Multiple founders (up to 5) can share one Letter of Support — but all must be essential
- ⚠Designated organizations have varying reputations; due diligence critical
New Zealand Investor 2 Visa
- ⚠**Replaced the old Investor 2 category in September 2022**. Old Investor 2 (NZD 3M passive) is closed to new applicants.
- ⚠NZ taxes worldwide income once tax-resident after the 4-year transitional window — plan carefully
- ⚠Day counting is strict: 117 days (direct) vs 335 days (managed) over 3 years is not flexible
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.