New Zealand Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa

What the visa covers

The Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa is a visitor visa for people aged 66 or older who can invest NZD 750,000 in New Zealand. It allows a stay of up to 2 years, travel in and out of the country during that time, study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period and inclusion of a partner. Immigration New Zealand assesses it under the Temporary Retirement Category of its immigration instructions, section V3.120.

Money required

Three separate financial tests apply. The investment funds of NZD 750,000 must stay in acceptable investments in New Zealand for 2 years. Maintenance funds of NZD 500,000 or more must be held on top of both the investment funds and the annual income, and they can sit in New Zealand or offshore accounts as long as they are accessible from New Zealand. Annual income must reach NZD 60,000 at the time of application, from a pension, rental properties, dividends, interest, company profits or share trading, earned alone or together with an included partner.

Funds owned jointly with a partner in a recognised partnership count in full. Funds owned jointly with anyone else count only for the applicant’s own share. Borrowed funds and funds with a loan or bond against them are not normally accepted.

Acceptable investments

Investments must be made in New Zealand dollars, be capable of a commercial return and not be for personal use, which rules out a home, car or boat. The accepted forms are:

1. Bonds issued by the New Zealand government or local authorities, by New Zealand firms traded on the NZDX, by New Zealand firms rated BBB- or better, or by New Zealand registered banks.
2. Equity in New Zealand firms, public or private, including managed funds invested in New Zealand companies, and equity in New Zealand registered banks.
3. New residential property developments built for a commercial return, with no renovation of existing dwellings and nobody related to the investor living in them.
4. Bonds in finance companies that are guaranteed by a New Zealand listed company or a local authority.

Funds can move between acceptable investments during the 2 years, provided they stay invested in New Zealand dollars at all times. A managed fund with overseas exposure counts only for the share of its holdings placed in New Zealand.

Moving the money

After approval in principle the applicant has 3 months to transfer and invest, and the deadline cannot be extended. The nominated funds must travel through the banking system directly from the applicant’s own bank account, a joint account with the included partner, a solicitor trust account, a pension scheme in the applicant’s name or an investment portfolio account in the applicant’s name. Services that convert funds offshore and pay them into New Zealand as a domestic transfer do not meet the rule. Since 12 August 2026 these transfer rules match those of the Active Investor Plus visa.

Applicants who need time to find investments can apply for a 3-month multiple entry visitor visa after approval in principle. Evidence of the investment is a letter from a solicitor or chartered accountant giving the investor’s name, the amount, the start date, the investment type and the organisations invested in.

Insurance

The principal applicant and any included partner must hold travel and/or health insurance from an experienced insurer with a credit rating of A or better. The policy must carry a limit of at least NZD 500,000 each year and cover medical expenses including diagnosis, treatment, ambulance and hospital care, plus evacuation or return home in the event of serious illness or disability. Home nursing and emergency dental care are covered up to NZD 3,000 each. Pre-existing conditions, regular medication and a few other items may be excluded. The first policy must be renewable to cover 24 months, and cover must be maintained for the whole stay.

Health and character

Immigration New Zealand may ask for a chest X-ray, a medical examination or both. Police certificates are required when total time in New Zealand will reach 24 months across all visits, counting earlier stays. They must come from every country of citizenship and every country where the applicant spent more than 5 years since turning 17, and they must be less than 6 months old at submission. A criminal conviction or a security risk can lead to refusal.

Processing

Immigration New Zealand decides 80% of applications within 4.5 weeks. An International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy may also apply to the application.

Work, study and family

The visa does not allow work in New Zealand, although holders may be able to work remotely for an employer or client based outside the country. Study is limited to 3 months in any 12-month period. A partner can be included if they meet the visa requirements and provide evidence of the relationship, identity, good character and good health. Dependent children cannot be included.

Duration and renewal

The visa lasts up to 2 years with multiple entries, and holders must leave before it expires. A further Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa is possible if the applicant still meets every requirement and shows that insurance was maintained and the NZD 750,000 stayed invested throughout the 2 years.

No route to residence

The visa is temporary and carries no route to residence or citizenship. The residence option for retirees is the Parent Retirement Resident Visa, which needs an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident and an investment of NZD 1 million for 4 years, after which permanent residence can be applied for.