New Zealand sees surge in golden visa applications following policy reforms, wealthy Americans lead the way
New Zealand has experienced a significant increase in applications for its "golden visa" program, officially known as the Active Investor Plus Visa, after implementing policy changes aimed at attracting foreign investment. In the six weeks since the revised rules took effect in April 2025, 65 new applications have been submitted, with the majority originating from the United States, as per a report by Financial Times. The updated visa program reduced the minimum investment requirement to NZ$5 million (approximately US$3 million) and eliminated the English language proficiency requirement. Additionally, the residency obligation was decreased from three years to just 21 days. The application processing time has also been shortened, averaging 11 days.
According to the report by Financial Times, of the new applications, 55 are from US citizens, followed by 15 from Hong Kong and 12 from China. This influx represents a minimum capital inflow of NZ$620 million.
Stuart Nash, a former immigration minister and co-founder of relocation consultancy Nash Kelly Global, attributed the surge to political factors in the United States. He stated to the Financial Times, "It's the main driver. Many of the people applying are of a different political persuasion to President Trump."
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) The policy changes are part of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's strategy to stimulate New Zealand's economy by attracting foreign investment. The government is also considering further easing restrictions on foreign property purchases, although such measures face opposition within the coalition.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford commented on the increased interest, stating that the numbers indicate New Zealand is "open for business."The revamped visa program contrasts with the previous government's stricter approach, which had tightened investment visa rules in 2018 following controversies over the granting of citizenship to wealthy foreigners.
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