Since April 2025, a wave of affluent Americans has rushed to apply for New Zealand’s revamped Active Investor Plus visa—often dubbed the “golden visa”—following major rule changes announced by the coalition government. The scheme, designed to inject capital into New Zealand’s sagging economy, has become a magnet for U.S. investors seeking a political and economic safe haven.
Originally launched in February and activated in April by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s administration, the updated golden visa program offers two investment tracks: the “growth” category requires a NZ$5 million investment over three years, while the higher-tier “balanced” category asks for NZ$10 million over five years. The reforms also eliminated the previous English-proficiency requirement and slashed the mandatory residency from an onerous three years to just three weeks—or 21 days—making the program vastly more accessible.
Since the rules took effect, a total of 189 applications for 609 individuals have been lodged—a dramatic increase from the 116 filed over the previous two-and-a-half years. Americans now represent nearly half of those applicants, with 85 filings to date, followed by entrants from China (26) and Hong Kong (24).
Stuart Nash, former Labour minister turned immigration consultant, pointed to recent U.S. political developments as the primary motivator behind the influx. “Nearly everyone who is applying is applying because of the changes they’re seeing under the Trump administration,” he said, suggesting that a mixture of political unrest, concerns over abortion rights, NATO commitments, and partisan division are triggering a “Plan B” response among affluent Americans..
Most participants have chosen the more accessible “growth” route, with 149 applicants committing to invest NZ$5 million, while 40 have opted for the NZ$10 million “balanced” pathway. Immigration New Zealand has approved 100 applications in principle, and at least seven investors have already transferred funds totaling NZ$45 million.
The scheme is already delivering substantial returns: officials estimate the total investment potential could reach around NZ$845 million (approximately US$503 million), providing a crucial financial boost amid New Zealand’s post-pandemic recovery. Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis hailed the initiative, saying it not only brings capital but also valuable expertise and capabilities to the country.
New Zealand’s appeal lies not in tax advantages—foreigners are barred from purchasing property—but in its stable democracy, clean banking system, and rule-of-law reputation. The country markets itself as a true “safe haven,” a sentiment echoed by Nash, who noted that today’s investors are seeking protection rather than tax breaks.
This latest migration wave echoes similar surges in 2016, 2018, and after the 2024 U.S. election, when web traffic to New Zealand’s immigration site spiked; visits even quadrupled after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned abortion protections. Concerns about political instability, evolving global alliances, and a desire for a family-friendly, low-tension environment have been central to these shifts.
Critics, however, caution that the visa influx could exacerbate issues around housing availability and foreign influence—concerns previously prompted by Peter Thiel’s 2017 fast-track citizenship and the subsequent policy clampdowns by former PM Jacinda Ardern.
Despite these concerns, the Luxon government has reversed many of Ardern’s restrictions in a bid to revive economic growth—while deliberately preventing foreign property purchasers from overheating the market. With average processing times now just 10–11 days—far faster than many rivals—New Zealand is capitalizing on its new status as a preferred relocation destination.
In summary, New Zealand’s relaxed golden visa program is delivering a timely infusion of capital and confidence. Driven largely by politically anxious Americans, the influx reflects growing global trends in migration-by-investment: that wealthy individuals increasingly see residence options as strategic “insurance,” especially in times of heightened U.S. domestic and global uncertainty.
