A new Active Investor Migrant category of immigration to New Zealand was announced by the Minister of Immigration on 6 June 2007, to take effect from November 2007. Under the new policy, investors will be able to apply for immigration under three tiers:

• Global Investors - the top priority category for high value investors investing $20 million (including $5 million in active investment), which requires minimal policy conditions and facilitated, fast-track processing.
• Professional Investors - a second priority category for migrants investing $10 million (including $2 million actively) with moderate policy conditions and facilitated, fast-track processing. "
• General Active Investors - a category for those investing a minimum of $2.5 million.

The category investors apply under will depend on their potential to contribute to New Zealand in financial and human capital, the amount of investment and the activeness of that investment. Investment must be active or semi-active (having money in a bank account will not meet the policy requirements, nor will investment in residential property development).

The General (Active) investor category will be a points based system to prioritise migrants on the basis of their potential to contribute to New Zealand businesses and according to the level of risk. The points system will recognise:

• the importance of having both financial and human capital
• the benefit of active investment
• the value of export linkages, technology transfer, entrepreneurship and management skills.

The different tiers are:

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