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 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 →About Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)
Portugal's Golden Visa (Autorização de Residência para Investimento) grants residency through qualifying investment, with a minimal physical presence requirement of just 7 days per year. As of 2024, real estate investment is no longer eligible; qualifying routes include fund subscriptions, capital transfers, and job creation.
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.