New Zealand Investor 2 Visa vs Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)
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
- ›Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) is faster: 6 months vs 9 months for New Zealand Investor 2 Visa.
- ›Lower capital: Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) (500,000 USD) vs 1,800,000 for New Zealand Investor 2 Visa.
New Zealand Investor 2 Visa New Zealand · investment | Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) Portugal · investment | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand | Portugal |
| Category | Investment | Investment |
| Application Fee | $3,525 | $5,400 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | $1,800,000 | $500,000 |
| Processing Time | 9 months | 6 months |
| Family Included | Partner and dependent children included in the residence visa application | No additional investment required for dependent family members |
| Path to PR | Yes — 0 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Physical Presence | Must spend at least 438 days in New Zealand over the 4-year investment period to meet residence obligations | Only 7 days per year in the first year, and 14 days per every subsequent 2-year period |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Allowed |
| Tax Impact | 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 | Minimal physical presence means most holders do not trigger Portuguese tax residency; those who do may qualify for NHR status |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | — | $2,700 |
About New Zealand Investor 2 Visa
New Zealand's Investor 2 Visa is a high-net-worth residence route requiring a minimum NZD 3,000,000 (~USD 1.8M) in acceptable New Zealand investments, excluding residential property, held for a mandatory four-year period. Applicants must be aged 65 or under, show at least three years of senior business experience, meet a basic English standard (IELTS 3.0 or a settlement course), and spend at least 438 days in New Zealand across the four years; day-counting is strict and inflexible. Partner and dependent children are included. Beyond the investment, budget roughly USD 65,000-110,000 in the first year; decisions target about 9 months but complex source-of-funds reviews can run 12-18 months. Completing the investment and presence obligations delivers permanent residence, with citizenship available after 5 years (basic language, oath), and dual nationality permitted. Holders are taxed on worldwide income once tax-resident (183-day rule), though a four-year transitional exemption covers most foreign-source income for those not NZ-resident in the prior decade. This stream replaced the former Investor 2 category in September 2022.
Full New Zealand Investor 2 Visa profile →About Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)
Portugal's Golden Visa (Autorização de Residência para Investimento, or ARI) is an investment-based residency permit for non-EU/EEA nationals, notable for one of Europe's lowest physical-presence requirements: just 7 days in year one and 14 days per subsequent two-year period. Since an October 2023 reform, real estate no longer qualifies; current routes include €500,000+ in an approved investment fund, a €500,000+ capital transfer combined with job creation, or €250,000+ toward cultural heritage or the arts, maintained for the full 5-year period. No additional investment is required for family members. The Golden Visa leads to permanent residency and, since the 2026 Nationality Law, citizenship eligibility after 10 years of legal residence (applications pending before 19 May 2026 keep the former 5-year timeline), with an A2 Portuguese language test. Because minimal time in Portugal is needed, most holders never trigger Portuguese tax residency (183-day threshold), and the narrower IFICI regime that replaced NHR in 2024 generally doesn't apply to passive investors. The main practical obstacle is administrative: AIMA has faced severe backlogs since its 2023 reorganisation, and residence-card issuance can take a year or more beyond official timelines.
Full Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) profile →Gotchas to Watch For
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
Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)
- ⚠Real estate investment no longer qualifies as of October 2023 reform
- ⚠AIMA backlog means residence card issuance currently takes 1-2+ years
- ⚠Investment must be maintained for minimum 5 years (citizenship eligibility window)
- ⚠IFICI tax regime generally does not apply to passive investors
- ⚠Source-of-funds AML documentation is strictest among EU Golden Visas
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.