Can an overseas investor buy property in Queenstown?

Short answer: Yes, in some circumstances. An overseas person generally needs consent under the Overseas Investment Act 2005 before buying residential or other sensitive land in Queenstown. Some overseas buyers, such as people on work, student or visitor visas, can't get consent to buy a home at all.

New Zealand restricts overseas people buying residential and other sensitive land. The restrictions apply in Queenstown in the same way as elsewhere in New Zealand. But the nature and location of Queenstown property make it particularly important to check the position before you sign an agreement.

Residential and lifestyle land is sensitive land regardless of its size. Other land can also be sensitive because of its size, type or location, including land next to lakes, conservation land and reserves.

Who is an overseas person?

An individual is an overseas person if they are not a New Zealand citizen and not ordinarily resident in New Zealand. A company or other entity is an overseas person if it is incorporated overseas or more than 25% owned or controlled by overseas persons.

For buying a home, "ordinarily resident" means you hold a residence class visa, have lived in New Zealand for at least the last 12 months, and have been here for more than 183 days in those 12 months.

Residential property

As a general rule, overseas people who are neither New Zealand citizens nor appropriately qualified residents can't simply buy an existing New Zealand home.

There are, however, important exceptions and consent pathways:

  • Residence class visa holders who are not yet ordinarily resident can apply for consent to buy or build one home they will live in.
  • Australian and Singaporean citizens can generally buy residential land without consent. Australian and Singaporean permanent residents can if they are ordinarily resident. See our Australian buyers guide.
  • Qualifying investor visa holders. Since 6 March 2026, holders of Active Investor Plus, Investor 1 and Investor 2 visas can apply for consent to buy one house with an agreed purchase price (including GST) of more than NZ$5 million. See our Active Investor Plus guide.

People on temporary visas, such as work, student or visitor visas, generally can't buy a home.

Consent to buy a home to live in comes with conditions. You must usually move in within 3 months of settlement, and be in New Zealand for more than 183 days in each 12-month period until you become ordinarily resident or a citizen.

Property investment and development

The rules are different again where an overseas investor wants land for development rather than as a personal home.

An overseas person may be able to get consent to buy residential land to:

  • build more homes, which must then be sold
  • build long-term accommodation, such as a retirement village or student hostel
  • carry out development works that support new housing
  • buy or build a rental development of 20 or more homes

You can't live in property bought under these pathways, and they are only available if the land is not otherwise sensitive. Our guide on OIO consent for sensitive land explains the other tests.

Why Queenstown property requires particular care

A property that looks like an ordinary house or development site may fall into more than one sensitive-land category.

For example, residential land may also be sensitive because it is over 0.4 hectares and adjoins a lake bed, a reserve or conservation land, or because it is non-urban land over 5 hectares. This matters because the $5 million-plus investor pathway can only be used for residential land that is not sensitive for another reason.

That makes checking the particular title and property essential.

Before signing an agreement

If you're based overseas and considering property in Queenstown, get advice before you commit.

  • You can sign before you have consent, but the agreement must be conditional on consent under the Overseas Investment Act.
  • You can only buy at auction if you already have pre-approval.
  • Buying without the consent you need can lead to a court order to sell, and civil penalties of up to $500,000 for an individual.

We can review:

  • whether you're an overseas person under the Act
  • the title and nature of the land
  • whether the land is sensitive
  • whether Overseas Investment Office consent is required
  • the right conditions for the sale and purchase agreement
  • the wider legal aspects of the transaction

We'll also coordinate with your other advisers.

Talk to us about your situation

The rules depend heavily on the buyer, the property and how the land will be used. Mactodd has been in Queenstown since 1975, with offices in Queenstown and Cromwell. If you're considering property in Queenstown or elsewhere in Central Otago, talk to us before you make an offer.

Call 0800 228 110 or request a call back. You can also read more about our overseas investment work.

Related guides

Sources

This is general information only. Each purchase depends on the details of the property and the buyer.