New Zealand Investor 2 Visa vs EB-5 Immigrant Investor 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 30 months for EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa.
- ›Lower capital: EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa (800,000 USD) vs 1,800,000 for New Zealand Investor 2 Visa.
New Zealand Investor 2 Visa New Zealand · investment | EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa United States · investment | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand | United States |
| Category | Investment | Investment |
| Application Fee | $3,525 | $3,675 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | $1,800,000 | $800,000 |
| Processing Time | 9 months | 30 months |
| Family Included | Partner and dependent children included in the residence visa application | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 included at no additional investment |
| Path to PR | Yes — 0 years | Yes — 0 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 | Must reside in the US after receiving conditional green card; 6-month continuous absence voids residency |
| 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 | Grants US lawful permanent resident status; worldwide income subject to US taxation from day of admission |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 0 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | — | — |
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 EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa grants US lawful permanent residency to foreign nationals who invest a minimum of $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) or $1,050,000 elsewhere, creating at least 10 full-time US jobs. Investors receive a conditional two-year green card, which can be converted to permanent residency after demonstrating job creation requirements have been met. After five years as a permanent resident, EB-5 holders may apply for US citizenship.
Full EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa 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
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa
- ⚠EB-5 Reform Act 2022: thresholds raised to $800k (TEA) / $1.05M (non-TEA); reserved visa categories added
- ⚠Mainland China + India face multi-year visa retrogression after I-526E approval
- ⚠Green card = US tax resident from day 1 = worldwide income taxation + FATCA/FBAR obligations
- ⚠Investment must stay "at risk" — guaranteed returns disqualify
- ⚠Regional Center selection critical — bankrupt/fraudulent RCs have caused total loss of both investment AND visa
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.