New Zealand’s Immigration Service has expanded opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs applying for a Business Investor Work Visa. The changes took effect on July 6, 2026, and pertain to the list of eligible business types, transaction structures, and sources of investment capital.
Applicants are now permitted to acquire franchise businesses that meet the established requirements. Previously, franchises were not considered an acceptable investment vehicle under this program.
Investors are also now permitted to purchase a business of their choice through a New Zealand-registered legal entity that is a tax resident of the country. Additionally, gifted funds or assets may now be used to finance the purchase, provided their lawful origin is verified.
Authorities explain the changes as an effort to align immigration requirements with standard commercial practices and expand the range of available investment opportunities. The reform is expected to make it easier to attract foreign capital, management expertise, and international business connections to New Zealand companies.
The Business Investor Work Visa was introduced on November 24, 2025, for entrepreneurs willing to acquire and personally manage a business already operating in New Zealand. The visa is valid for up to four years and may serve as a basis for subsequently obtaining resident status.
The program offers two investment options. With an investment of at least 1 million New Zealand dollars, an investor may apply for a resident visa after three years of managing the business. An investment of at least 2 million New Zealand dollars allows the investor to take advantage of an expedited process and apply for resident status after 12 months. In this case, the entrepreneur must continue to manage the acquired business for at least three years, including the period after receiving the resident visa.
In addition to the main investment, the applicant must confirm the availability of at least 500,000 New Zealand dollars in reserve funds for living expenses and family support. The applicant must be 55 years of age or younger. They must also have at least three years of relevant business experience or experience in a managerial position and be proficient in English. The application fee starts at 12,380 New Zealand dollars.
The business being acquired must have been operating in New Zealand for at least five years and have at least five full-time equivalent employees. The transaction value, excluding the cost of real estate and GST, must be at least 1 million New Zealand dollars, and the investor’s stake in the company must be at least 25%.
After the acquisition, the entrepreneur is required to actively participate in management, retain at least five jobs, and create at least one additional permanent job for a New Zealand citizen or resident. To transition to a resident visa, the investor must be present in the country for at least 184 days per year.
The value of real estate owned by the company does not count toward the minimum investment amount. This means that purchasing a business along with an expensive building or plot of land does not, in and of itself, guarantee that the program’s financial requirement will be met. The value of the operating business is assessed separately.
According to the industry publication *Investment Migration Insider*, which cites a representative of a New Zealand immigration firm, only one Business Investor Work Visa was approved between November 2025 and March 2026.
The Business Investor Work Visa differs from the Active Investor Plus program. The former is designed for entrepreneurs who purchase and personally manage an existing company. Active Investor Plus is intended primarily for high-net-worth investors and requires an investment of at least 5 million New Zealand dollars in the Growth category or 10 million New Zealand dollars in the Balanced category, without the requirement to actively manage a specific business.
Starting June 1, 2026, New Zealand is expanding the terms of the Active Investor Plus Visa program, often referred to as the New Zealand “golden visa.” Now, a portion of the required investment can be allocated to charitable donations, which should make the program more flexible and attractive to wealthy foreigners.
According to Reuters, investors in the Growth category will be able to allocate up to 20% of the minimum investment—that is, up to NZD1 million of the required NZD5 million—to charitable causes. The remainder must be invested in assets with higher growth potential. The changes take effect on June 1.
Officially, the Active Investor Plus Visa program grants foreign investors the right to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely. To participate, applicants must invest a minimum of NZD5 million in the Growth category or NZD10 million in the Balanced category. According to Immigration New Zealand, 80% of applications for preliminary approval are processed in approximately 3.5 months.
The new charitable option is expected to expand the pool of potential program participants. New Zealand authorities hope that investors will not only inject capital into the economy but also support social, educational, medical, environmental, and community projects.
The rule update comes after a sharp surge in interest in the New Zealand investor visa. The Guardian reported that following the program’s reform in April 2025, the number of applications rose significantly: 308 applications were submitted over a few months, representing about 1,000 people, whereas before the changes, the program had attracted only 116 applications over two and a half years.
Investors from the U.S., China, and Hong Kong led the way in terms of the number of applicants. According to The Guardian, among the first 308 applications after the reform, there were 129 from the U.S., 45 from China, and 38 from Hong Kong. Investors from Germany, Singapore, and the U.K. also showed interest in the program.
Later, interest from American investors continued to grow. According to data from Immigration New Zealand cited by The Guardian, the new scheme has already attracted 573 applications representing 1,833 individuals. This confirms that the US has become the main source of demand for the New Zealand “golden visa.”
According to estimates by specialized consultants, demand also remains high from China and Hong Kong. GoldenVisas.com reported that investors from the U.S. lead the pack among applicants for the Active Investor Plus Visa, followed by China and Hong Kong, with the program attracting applicants from more than 30 countries in total.
For New Zealand, the program serves as a tool to attract long-term capital into the economy. Unlike some European “golden visas,” which were closely tied to real estate purchases, the New Zealand model emphasizes active investments, business, funds, securities, and now—to some extent—charity.
For investors, New Zealand is attractive due to its combination of political stability, quality of life, an English-speaking environment, a strong legal system, and the possibility of long-term residency for the family. At the same time, the high entry threshold means that the program is primarily aimed at high-net-worth applicants, entrepreneurs, and globally mobile families.
Key takeaway: New Zealand is not simply relaxing the “golden visa” rules but is attempting to modernize the program—with an emphasis on active investment and public benefit. Investors from the U.S., China, and Hong Kong remain the main drivers of demand, and the addition of charitable donations may attract even more applicants who wish to combine relocation, investment, and social contribution.
New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus investor residency visa program has seen increased interest from foreign capital since the rules were changed: as of January 19, 2026, Immigration New Zealand had received 532 applications covering 1,709 applicants (including family members) representing 33 nationalities.
According to INZ data, the minimum investment “potential” of the applications submitted is estimated at NZ$3.16 billion, with 392 applications already receiving approval in principle and 159 applications completed with the issuance of residence visas. The volume of investments already committed under issued residence visas amounts to NZ$926.2 million, with most of the funds going to Invest New Zealand-approved managed funds and bonds.
The most active applicants are US citizens (201 applications), followed by China (86), Hong Kong (69), Germany (37), Singapore and Taiwan (26 each). The statistics also include the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Switzerland, the Netherlands, as well as Russia (3 applications) and Ukraine (1 application).
The reformed rules have been in effect since April 1, 2025, and provide for two categories of investment: Growth (minimum NZD 5 million for 3 years, more “active” and risky instruments, including managed funds and direct investments in business) and Balanced (NZD 10 million for 5 years, a mixed portfolio with the possibility of lower-risk instruments). The package of changes also includes a reduction in the investment threshold compared to the previous settings, the removal of the English language requirement, and the relaxation of certain immigration conditions for investors choosing more active investments.
New Zealand has faced an accelerated outflow of population abroad: in the year ending June 2025, 71,800 citizens left the country, the highest figure in 13 years, according to media reports citing official data from Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ). The main destinations for relocation are Australia and the UK. The outflow is accompanied by a weakening economy and rising unemployment to 5.2% in the second quarter, Reuters notes.
At the same time, the total net migration gain (arrivals minus departures, including foreigners) in June 2025 was only +13,700 people, compared to +70,400 a year earlier, according to the latest release from Stats NZ. In other words, the migration “shoulder” supporting demographics has shrunk fivefold.
According to industry analysts, in the 12 months to June 2025, ~138,900 people arrived in the country for the long term, while ~125,200 left, resulting in a modest net gain of +13,700. For comparison, a year earlier, the inflow exceeded +70,000, and the monthly contribution of migration to the population fell from ~6,000 to ~1,000 people.
Experts attribute the increased “outflow” of citizens to a combination of factors: weak GDP growth, a cooling labor market, and improved employment opportunities abroad (primarily in Australia).
The age structure of those leaving is dominated by young professionals under 30, which increases the risk of a “brain drain.” According to media reports, the authorities hope to stabilize the situation by easing monetary conditions and making targeted adjustments to migration policies.
However, the coming quarters are expected to be influenced by high outflows of residents, accompanied by a decline in foreign arrivals compared to the record levels of 2023-2024.
According to Stats NZ, New Zealand’s population was estimated at 5.33 million as of March 31, 2025; further dynamics will largely depend on migration flows.
Residents of New Zealand have signed a petition in favor of renaming the country to the Maori Aotearoa, and the Maori Indigenous Affairs Committee is ready to discuss the official change of the name of the republic, New Zealand Gerald reports.
“In the summer, a petition with 70,000 signatures of the country’s residents, who want to rename New Zealand to Aotearoa, came to Parliament. The Special Committee on Maori Affairs said it would discuss the official change of the country’s name at a meeting in parliament. Meanwhile, politicians are divided over the name change, but most of the public is ready to accept it.
According to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the issue of an official name change is not yet being considered, but she hopes for the active use of the Majorian synonym in everyday life.
“Regardless of whether we change it in the law, I don’t think it will change the fact that New Zealanders are talking more and more about Aotearoa. And this transition is welcome,” she said.
In turn, the co-leader of the Maori Party, Debbie Ngareva-Packer, rejected the idea of holding a referendum on renaming New Zealand, arguing that the country’s indigenous population is only 17%.
Aotearoa translates from the Maori language as “Land of the Long White Cloud”.
The New Zealand government has expanded sanctions against key Russians amid Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, the Australian Associated Press reports.
On Tuesday, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced that 19 new “members of Putin’s inner circle” would be subject to financial and travel sanctions as part of coordinated global action.
“Ukraine has been clear that the most important action we can take to help them are our ongoing sanctions and supporting them through the conflict, as we continue to do,” she said.
At the moment, the sanctions apply to about 1,000 people.
In turn, New Zealand Defense Minister Peeni Henare noted that there is no opportunity to provide military assistance yet, since Ukraine’s requests do not coincide with the resources that are available. At the same time, Henare stressed that New Zealand is ready to provide additional assistance if Ukraine’s needs match its reserves.
