WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 20: A general view of Oriental Bay houses and apartments on May 20, 2026 in Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand's economy has faced mounting pressure from sluggish consumer spending, a weakening housing market, and softening global demand, raising concerns about the pace of recovery. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)The centre-right National Party-led government has progressively loosened New Zealand's Active Investor Plus visa since relaunching it in April 2025, cutting the minimum investment for its Growth category to NZ$5 million ($2.93 million) from NZ$15 million, shortening the required investment period to three years from four, and widening the range of eligible investments.
Applicants in the Growth category will not be able to invest directly in build-to-rent projects, with money required to go through approved managed funds. Investors and their family members will also be barred from living in a development financed by their investment, the government said.
Changes to the scheme designed to attract wealthy foreigners come as the South Pacific nation of 5 million experiences record net migration and weak economic growth.
Other changes to the Active Investor Plus visa include eased English-language requirements for some applicants and expanded philanthropic investment options.
($1 = 1.7085 New Zealand dollars)
(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; editing by Lincoln Feast.)
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