Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the FMA decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get an investment license in New Zealand.
The capability-first licence of the South Pacific: FMA authorisation under the FMC Act 2013 - the MIS manager licence for funds with supervisor-held custody and a positive net tangible assets condition instead of fixed capital, the DIMS licence for discretionary portfolios, and an application that costs NZ$3,565 to file.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
New Zealand in brief
The regulator that licenses capability, not balance sheets.
New Zealand licenses investment management under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, and the design is distinctive: the manager of a registered managed investment scheme never holds the assets - scheme property sits with a licensed supervisor or independent custodian on trust, so the capital requirement is a standard condition of positive net tangible assets, calculated monthly and audited annually, rather than a fixed six-figure floor. Discretionary portfolios run under the separate DIMS licence on the same capability-first logic. The FMA examines what actually protects investors: directors and senior managers who are fit and proper, investment governance against the scheme's stated policy, outsourcing discipline, and technology-resilience obligations with 72-hour incident reporting.
The economics are proportionate to match: the base application fee is NZ$3,565 with a standard assessment measured in hours, not years. The commercial case is credibility per dollar - a clean OECD licence with a respected conduct regulator, English common law and clean tax mechanics: 28% corporate tax, no general capital gains tax, GST at 15% with financial services exempt, and an imputation system that stops double taxation. For fund managers building Pacific products, KiwiSaver-adjacent ambitions or a credible licence to anchor an Asia-Pacific book without Australian NTA tiers, New Zealand is the measured answer. We build the file end to end.
The capability-first licence: FMA under the FMC Act - MIS manager for registered schemes with supervisor-held custody and a positive-NTA condition (monthly, audited), DIMS for discretionary mandates; application NZ$3,565.
28% with imputation, no general CGT, GST-exempt finance, PIE regime for funds - OECD credibility at proportionate cost. Built end to end from Auckland.
The two builds
The MIS manager - or the DIMS portfolio licence.
Two FMC Act licences: the scheme manager with supervisor-held custody, or the discretionary portfolio provider. Product shape decides. We fix it first.
The MIS scheme manager - or the DIMS portfolio build.
01 - MIS MANAGER
The funds build
Managing registered schemes offered to the public. Supervisor-held custody, positive-NTA condition calculated monthly, governance against the SIPO and quarterly fund updates; the licence for real fund products.
Managing registered schemes offered to the public. Supervisor-held custody, positive-NTA condition calculated monthly, governance against the SIPO and quarterly fund updates; the licence for real fund products.
- ✓Registered schemes - public offers
- ✓Supervisor or custodian holds assets
- ✓Positive NTA · monthly calculation
- ✓Annual auditor procedures
- ✓SIPO governance and limit breaks
- ✓NZ$3,565 application fee
02 - DIMS PROVIDER
The portfolio licence
Discretionary investment management for client portfolios. The licence for wealth managers running mandates rather than pooled schemes, on the same capability-first examination.
Discretionary mandates under the DIMS licence. Client-money rules, documented authority, the wealth manager's route on the same capability logic.
- ✓Discretionary mandates
- ✓Client-money and custody rules
- ✓Capability-first assessment
- ✓Investment authority documented
- ✓Retail and wholesale scoping
- ✓Stackable with MIS over time
Conditions per the FMA's standard licence conditions as of 2026. Assessment beyond the standard hours bills at the FMA's published rate. Confirmed at filing.
Why New Zealand
Six reasons managers choose the FMA licence.
✓
No fixed capital wall
Positive NTA replaces six-figure floors. The custody architecture protects investors, so the balance sheet does not have to.Positive NTA suffices.
✓
Custody by design
Scheme assets sit with a licensed supervisor on trust. The structural separation allocators trust on sight.Supervisor holds all.
✓
Proportionate entry cost
NZ$3,565 to file and an assessment in hours. The cheapest credible OECD licence on the map.Cheapest credible OECD.
✓
A conduct regulator with standing
The FMA's name reads clean across the OECD. The licence carries weight beyond its price.Reads clean globally.
✓
Clean tax mechanics
28% with imputation and no general CGT. The system taxes once and leaves gains alone.Once, and gains alone.
✓
The Pacific position
English common law, Asia-Pacific time zone and a stable state. The quiet anchor for a regional book.Common law, stable.
How it compares
How New Zealand differs from other routes.
The comparison in plain terms: capability examined instead of capital demanded. With a smaller domestic pool than the neighbours.
New Zealand vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  New Zealand | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regime | FMC Act - FMA | NTA or capital regimes |
| Capital | Positive NTA condition | Fixed floors to A$10M |
| Custody | Supervisor-held by law | Manager-held with rules |
| Entry cost | NZ$3,565 + hours | Five-figure files |
Regime
New ZealandFMC Act - FMA
Other jurisdictionsNTA or capital regimes
Capital
New ZealandPositive NTA condition
Other jurisdictionsFixed floors to A$10M
Custody
New ZealandSupervisor-held by law
Other jurisdictionsManager-held with rules
Entry cost
New ZealandNZ$3,565 + hours
Other jurisdictionsFive-figure files
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | MIS manager · DIMS - FMA | 28% · no general CGT | Positive NTA, capability |
 Australia | ASIC AFSL | 30% · 25% base rate | NTA tiers by custody |
 Singapore | MAS CMS licence | 17% + incentives | S$1M-S$5M base capital |
 England | Investment firm - FCA | 25% main rate | MIFIDPRU £75k-£750k |
New ZealandLicense typeMIS manager · DIMS - FMA
Taxation28% · no general CGT
RequirementsPositive NTA, capability
AustraliaLicense typeASIC AFSL
Taxation30% · 25% base rate
RequirementsNTA tiers by custody
SingaporeLicense typeMAS CMS licence
Taxation17% + incentives
RequirementsS$1M-S$5M base capital
EnglandLicense typeInvestment firm - FCA
Taxation25% main rate
RequirementsMIFIDPRU £75k-£750k
Before you apply
Requirements for the New Zealand licence.Requirements for the licence.
The FMA licenses what it can verify. The checklist below is what a passing application contains.
01
New Zealand company. Locally incorporated with a real operating presence.
02
Licence shape. MIS manager, DIMS or both, mapped to the actual product set.
03
Supervisor arrangement. A licensed supervisor or independent custodian holding scheme property on trust.
04
Positive NTA. The financial-resources condition met, with monthly calculation machinery in place.
05
Fit-and-proper bench. Directors and senior managers the FMA assesses individually.
06
Capability evidence. Investment expertise, systems and processes for the products proposed.
07
SIPO discipline. Statements of investment policy and objectives with limit-break monitoring.
08
Outsourcing control. Binding agreements and capability checks on every provider.
09
Technology resilience. Business continuity plans and 72-hour incident notification readiness.
10
AML/CFT programme. New Zealand's framework with a named compliance officer.
11
Substance. Governance and operations genuinely run from New Zealand.
01
NZ company, real presence.
02
Licence shape mapped.
03
Supervisor on trust.
04
Positive NTA machinery.
05
Fit-and-proper bench.
06
Capability evidenced.
07
SIPO discipline live.
08
Outsourcing bound.
09
72-hour incident ready.
10
AML officer named.
11
Run from New Zealand.
Reflects the FMC Act and FMA standard conditions as of 2026. Regulatory returns file annually by 30 September.FMC Act + standard conditions, 2026.
How it works
From first call to the FMA register.
01
Licence shape
MIS, DIMS or both. Products, custody and supervisor mapped before the application exists.Custody mapped.
02
Entity and bench
New Zealand company, NTA arrangements and a bench built for individual assessment.NTA arranged.
03
The application
Capability evidence and governance filed at NZ$3,565. Sized to pass in the standard hours.NZ$3,565 filed.
04
FMA assessment
Questions answered, interviews prepared. The capability examination met with capability.Capability met.
05
Licensed and registered
Licence granted, schemes registered, supervisor live. The product in front of investors.Schemes registered.
Quick facts
RegulatorFMA
FrameworkFMC Act 2013
LicencesMIS manager · DIMS
Financial conditionPositive NTA monthly
CustodySupervisor-held on trust
Application feeNZ$3,565 incl GST
Incident reporting72 hours
Realistic timeline4-8 months
Derivatives issuance carries its own NTA regime. Models that add leveraged products step onto fixed tiers, and we flag that boundary early.
On the ground in New Zealand
Run from our Auckland office.
Prifinance - New Zealand
Auckland · New Zealand
Auckland, New Zealand
01
Licence shape
MIS, DIMS or the pair. Product architecture and supervisor arrangements designed before filing.Designed before filing.
02
The FMA file
Capability evidence, SIPO framework and NTA machinery. Complete at submission, assessed in standard hours.Standard-hours clean.
03
Bench and governance
Directors and senior managers prepared for fit-and-proper assessment. Capability that examines well.Examines well.
04
Launch and registration
Scheme registration, supervisor onboarding and fund updates. The product live on the register.Registered and live.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of investment firms in New Zealand.
A system that taxes once, leaves gains alone and hides nothing. Rare clarity at OECD standard.
28% corporate tax
The flat company rate - no local layers, no surcharges, one number to plan against.One number.
No general CGT
New Zealand runs no general capital gains tax. Portfolio appreciation and exit value stay whole.Gains stay whole.
Imputation credits
Corporate tax becomes credits on dividends. Shareholders are not taxed twice on the same profit.Taxed once.
GST-exempt finance
Financial services sit outside the 15% GST. Management fees carry no indirect pad.15% on overheads.
PIE regime for funds
Portfolio investment entities tax investors at their own capped rates. The vehicle layer built for savers.Investor-rate funds.
Treaties 40+
Solid coverage across the OECD and Asia-Pacific. Cross-border mandates route with relief.OECD + Pacific.
Tax summary
Corporate tax28%
Capital gains taxNone general
GST15% · finance exempt
DividendsImputation system
Tax treaties40+
*Figures as of 2026 per Inland Revenue. PIE and investor-level outcomes are modelled per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: New Zealand company, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, licensed manager.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Financial Advisor License Explained: NZ FAP, EU & Offshore Routes
New Zealand · FMA
Launch your investment firm in New Zealand with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from licence shape and supervisor arrangements to FMA licensing and scheme registration - run through our Auckland office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is New Zealand the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The New Zealand investment licence - the questions we hear.
What licence does an investment manager need in New Zealand?+
Under the FMC Act 2013: a MIS manager licence to manage registered managed investment schemes offered to the public, or a DIMS licence for discretionary portfolio mandates - both from the FMA, stackable as the business grows.
What capital is required?+
No fixed floor for MIS managers - the standard condition requires positive net tangible assets, calculated monthly and at balance date on audited financials, with auditor procedures reported annually. Custody architecture, not capital, carries the investor protection.
Who holds the scheme assets?+
Not the manager: scheme property must be held by the licensed supervisor or an independent custodian on trust. That separation is the heart of the regime - the manager manages, the supervisor holds.
What does the application cost?+
NZ$3,565 including GST, covering a standard assessment measured in hours; work beyond it bills at the FMA's published hourly rate. It is the most proportionate entry among credible OECD licences.
What does the FMA examine?+
Capability: fit-and-proper directors and senior managers, investment expertise against the proposed products, SIPO governance, outsourcing discipline and technology resilience - including 72-hour incident notification readiness.
How long does licensing take?+
Realistically 4-8 months including preparation - the assessment itself is quick once the file demonstrates capability cleanly.
How are New Zealand investment firms taxed?+
28% corporate tax with imputation credits, no general capital gains tax, GST-exempt financial services and the PIE regime taxing fund investors at their own capped rates.
What ongoing obligations apply?+
Monthly NTA calculation, annual auditor procedures, regulatory returns by 30 September, quarterly fund updates for most schemes, MyFMA notifications for director changes and 72-hour incident reporting.
New Zealand or Australia for the Pacific base?+
Australia brings the superannuation pool with NTA tiers and a longer file; New Zealand brings a capability-first licence at proportionate cost with supervisor-held custody. Product economics and distribution decide - we model both.
Why Prifinance for New Zealand?+
Licence shape designed before the application, supervisor arrangements negotiated and capability evidence that passes in the standard hours - from our Auckland office.
What licence?+
MIS manager or DIMS.
Capital?+
Positive NTA, monthly.
Custody?+
Supervisor, on trust.
Cost?+
NZ$3,565 + hours.
Examined?+
Capability, not cash.
How long?+
4-8 months realistic.
Taxes?+
28%; no general CGT.
Ongoing?+
NTA, returns, updates.
Or Australia?+
Pool vs proportion.
Why you?+
Standard-hours files.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
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Google
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Google
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Google
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Google
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Google
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Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which New Zealand route fits your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of FMA or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.