Golden Visa: $3.39B Invested in NZ Under New Settings – Update 2024

New Zealand’s ‘Golden Visa’ Program Attracts Billions in Investment

A revamped investor visa program in New Zealand, dubbed the ‘golden visa,’ has generated significant investment in the country’s economy, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced today, February 13, 2026. The Active Investor Plus visa has attracted approximately $3.39 billion in investment in less than a year.

Changes to the visa program, which took effect in April of last year, introduced two investment categories: ‘growth’ investments – considered riskier – requiring a minimum of $5 million invested over three years, and ‘balanced’ investments, a lower-risk option demanding $10 million invested over five years. The new settings also reduced barriers to entry, including requirements related to time spent in New Zealand and English language proficiency. Previously, the minimum investment threshold was $15 million.

As of today, February 13, 2026, 573 applications have been received, representing a substantial increase compared to the previous iteration of the program. Stanford stated that under the prior settings, only 116 applications were received over a two-and-a-half-year period, totaling $70 million in investment.

“I am delighted that our new visa settings are helping to open up possibility and opportunity for investment,” Stanford said. “These investors bring not just capital, but global experience, expertise, and networks.” She added that she has personally met with some of these investors and witnessed their “love for, and commitment to, New Zealand.”

The announcement was made at Hectre, an artificial intelligence startup specializing in orchard management and fruit quality. Hectre, founded in 2017, recently secured investment from three investors through the program and now exports to 22 countries, illustrating the program’s potential to foster growth within New Zealand businesses.

“It’s investment like this that grows companies like these… that’s what is so exciting about today,” Stanford remarked.

The government has also made minor adjustments to the visa program, including modifications related to infrastructure investment, which have led to the approval of three new investment funds by Invest NZ.

Stanford highlighted New Zealand’s position as a stable investment destination, particularly in a global landscape marked by increasing uncertainty, including concerns surrounding tariffs imposed by the United States. She believes New Zealand is well-positioned to attract investment from countries like the US, Germany, Southeast Asia, and China.

The Minister also addressed concerns about the impact of the visa program on the housing market, stating that the ability for investors to purchase property has not resulted in “massive peaks” in demand. The government currently has no plans to lower the investment thresholds.

Regarding broader migration trends, Stanford noted that net migration to New Zealand has stabilized at its lowest level since 2013. “Remember the commentators saying it’s going to be in the net negative – I never thought that would be the case but it has stabilised over the last few months, it’s remained much the same and we’re just starting to see a slight uptick,” she said. She expressed confidence that net migration figures will return to their 20-year average as the New Zealand economy improves, attributing migration patterns largely to economic conditions.