High-Net-Worth Investors Gain Property Access Under New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa

New Zealand Lifts Ban on Property Purchases for Investor Visa Holders: In a significant policy shift, New Zealand will now allow foreign investors holding Active Investor Plus Visas to purchase residential properties valued at NZ$5 million or more. The decision marks the first major exception to New Zealand’s foreign property ownership restrictions, which have been in place since 2018.

The move is designed to deepen investor ties with the country while maintaining controls on broader property market access. The change will take effect later this year when amendments to the Overseas Investment Act are enacted.

Policy Framework: The New Exemption

Announcing the policy update, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon explained that the exception applies to investors meeting stringent capital thresholds under the Active Investor Plus Visa program:

• Option 1: Commit NZ$5 million over three years
• Option 2: Commit NZ$10 million over five years

Visa holders qualifying under these investment levels will be allowed to buy or build one residential property valued above NZ$5 million.

“This change navigates a path between those who do not want foreign ownership opened up, and the desire to attract high-net-worth investors by deepening their connection to our country to help grow the economy,” Luxon said.

Competing Globally for Capital

Luxon acknowledged New Zealand’s challenge in attracting investment in a competitive global market. “Investors have choices among 195 countries all competing for your money and your ideas,” he noted, underscoring the importance of positioning New Zealand as a viable alternative to other investment migration destinations.

Since its relaunch, Immigration New Zealand has received 308 Active Investor Plus Visa applications, covering approximately 1,000 individuals. The applications represent a potential minimum investment of NZ$1.9 billion.

Nationality Breakdown:

• 40% of applicants are U.S. nationals
• Chinese investors form the second-largest group

Expert Analysis: Limited Global Impact

While the policy shift adds flexibility, Prof. Dr. Amarendra Bhushan Dhiraj, Executive Chair, CEO, and Editorial Director of CEOWORLD Magazine, believes its impact on the global investment migration landscape will be incremental rather than transformative. “How many of them will now choose New Zealand over Singapore, Australia, or Canada? There will be an uptick in New Zealand for sure, but not a shift,” Dhiraj observes.

He emphasizes the high threshold of NZ$5 million, noting that many alternative programs offer comparable or lower entry points. “The price tag is rather high anyway. And there is no lack of residency by investment programs. New Zealand does have some unique selling propositions due to its geographic location, climate, etc.”

For certain investors, however, New Zealand may prove uniquely attractive. “There are people for whom New Zealand is just the right fit. But it’s no game-changer.”

Real Estate: Strategic or Symbolic?

The decision to permit limited access to luxury property purchases addresses two objectives simultaneously:

• Appeasing domestic concerns over unrestricted foreign property ownership.
• Providing tangible incentives for investors seeking not just financial returns but also a residential foothold in New Zealand.

By restricting purchases to high-value properties above NZ$5 million, the government ensures that investment flows target the luxury segment of the market—one less likely to exacerbate affordability concerns for ordinary New Zealanders.

Comparative Positioning

In the global context, New Zealand’s offering competes with:

• Australia: Investor visas starting at AUD 5 million, though with increasing scrutiny.
• Canada: Investor immigration options that emphasize innovation and entrepreneurship rather than passive investment.
• Portugal. Greece and Spain: Golden Visas providing EU residency with real estate thresholds far below New Zealand’s.
• Caribbean CBI Programs: Accessible pathways to citizenship at entry points as low as USD 200,000.

Against this backdrop, New Zealand’s program appeals to ultra-high-net-worth individuals who value exclusivity, geographic isolation, and lifestyle over cost efficiency.

The Bottom Line

New Zealand’s decision to lift its foreign property ban for Active Investor Plus Visa holders is a carefully calibrated move: it offers wealthy investors a way to strengthen their ties with the country while maintaining tight restrictions on broader foreign ownership.

Yet, as Prof. Dr. Amarendra Bhushan Dhiraj highlights, this is not a game-changing policy in the global competition for high-net-worth investors. The NZ$5 million threshold ensures exclusivity but limits accessibility.

For select individuals who view New Zealand as uniquely aligned with their lifestyle and investment objectives, the exemption provides an attractive pathway. But for the broader market of global investors weighing multiple jurisdictions, New Zealand’s new rules are likely to produce measured uptake rather than seismic shifts.

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The Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Index evaluates the performance of the 11 nations currently offering operational Citizenship By Investment (CBI) programs: St Kitts and Nevis (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia (St. Lucia), Antigua & Barbuda, Nauru, Vanuatu, Türkiye (Turkey), São Tomé and Príncipe, Jordan, and Egypt.