If we have approved in principle your application under the Temporary Retirement Category, before we grant your two-year visitor visa you must:

• show us that your investment funds have been transferred to New Zealand through the banking system and placed in acceptable investment(s)
• show us that you hold  and are able to maintain acceptable travel and/or health insurance for the duration of your two-year stay, and
• give us a New Zealand address where we can contact you by mail after you arrive.

If you do not meet these requirements your application may be declined.

Transfer of funds process

When your application has been approved in principle you will have three months to transfer and invest your NZ$0.75 million of investment funds in New Zealand.

Once you have transferred your investment funds to New Zealand, you will need to provide evidence which shows:

• these are the funds you initially nominated in your application, and/or the funds that arose from the sale of your nominated assets, or
• the funds are agreed to by us, and are secured against the nominated assets in your borrowed funds application (see borrowed funds, below).

The funds must have been transferred through the banking system directly from your bank account(s) to New Zealand. You must include telegraphic transfer documentation and bank statements showing the transfer(s). Nominated funds held in a country other than the country in which they were earned or acquired must have been originally transferred through the banking system from that country.

We may request other information to show that the above requirements have been met.

Borrowed funds

If you have been approved in principle you may be able to borrow against your nominated assets and transfer the borrowed funds to New Zealand as your investment funds. To do this you need to satisfy us that:

• you own net assets of equal or greater value to the required investment amount, and
• the borrowed investment funds are from a bank or commercial lending institution acceptable to us and are secured against your nominated assets, and
• it is not economically viable or practical to liquidate the nominated assets, eg sell a business.

What evidence is required for an acceptable investment?

You need to place your funds in an acceptable investment in New Zealand and provide evidence of your investment(s). We need you to provide us with:

• the full name of the investor
• the amount invested in New Zealand dollars
• the date the investment was made
• the type of investment (in the case of shares or bonds in companies, the names of the companies invested in and the number of shares or bonds purchased must be listed)
• documentary evidence of the investment
• a letter from a reliable independent professional (for example, a solicitor or chartered accountant), confirming that the funds have been invested.

In some situations we may require other evidence.

What if I need to spend time in New Zealand to transfer my funds and arrange the investment of my funds?

After approval in principle, you may apply for a visitor visa to allow you to travel to New Zealand and arrange the transfer and investment of your funds. The visitor visa will be valid for a maximum of three months.

If your partner wishes to accompany you, they may apply for a visitor visa valid for the same period. 

Retain your funds in acceptable investments

You need to retain your investment funds in an acceptable investment in New Zealand for two years. The investment period begins from the date you complete the investment of your nominated investment funds. However, if your investment funds are already in acceptable investments in New Zealand at the date we approve your application in principle, the investment period commences from that date.

You may change your investments during the investment period provided your investment funds continue to meet all requirements for acceptable investments.

Tell us if your New Zealand address changes

Because we may need to contact you, you need to let us know of any changes to your contact details.

Subsequent applications for a Temporary Retirement Category visa

You can apply for a subsequent visa under the Temporary Retirement Category if you continue to meet the requirements under the relevant immigration instructions. You must also show that for the duration of the previous Temporary Retirement Category visa, you and your partner (if applicable) have maintained: