February 2026 was a landmark month for the Active Investor Plus Visa. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford confirmed programme totals, while international media including The Guardian reported on the surge in US applications driven by political uncertainty.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford confirmed in parliamentary statements that the Active Investor Plus Visa has received 573 applications since its April 2023 launch. The committed investment pipeline stands at NZD $3.39 billion. Of this, NZD $1.05 billion has already been deployed into the New Zealand economy across a range of approved investment types.
The Guardian reported that US citizens now represent 41.8% of all Active Investor Plus Visa applications (240 of 573 total), making Americans the dominant applicant group by a significant margin. Journalists cited political uncertainty, concerns over US democratic institutions, and New Zealand's stable governance, English language environment, and zero capital gains tax as primary motivators.
Data released alongside Minister Stanford's announcement shows Chinese nationals as the second-largest applicant cohort with 82 applications (14.3%). Hong Kong follows with 63 (11%), Germany with 44 (7.7%), and Singapore with 35 (6.1%). This geographic diversity reflects New Zealand's appeal as a politically neutral, stable destination.
March 2026 brought a significant practical benefit for Active Investor Plus Visa holders with the Overseas Investment Act reforms taking effect. Fast-track property consent is now available, and Immigration New Zealand reinforced official programme terminology.
November 2025 saw New Zealand's investor visa landscape expand with the introduction of the Business Investor Work Visa — a complementary lower-barrier pathway targeting entrepreneurs and smaller investors, covered by both Immigration New Zealand and international travel media.