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.
From 6 March 2026, Active Investor Plus Visa holders can purchase residential property valued over NZD $5 million with streamlined 5-business-day Overseas Investment Office (OIO) consent. Previously this process took up to 50 working days. The reform applies to applicants who have received Approval in Principle or hold a current AIP visa.
Immigration New Zealand issued guidance reminding advisers and applicants that the official programme name is the Active Investor Plus Visa. The informal term 'Golden Visa' is widely used in international media but does not appear in any official legislation or INZ documentation. All applications and correspondence should reference the correct name.
As of March 2026, NZD $1.05 billion of the $3.39 billion committed pipeline has been deployed into the New Zealand economy through Active Investor Plus Visa investments. This represents approximately 31% of the total committed capital, with deployment continuing across equities, venture capital, and Invest New Zealand-approved opportunities.
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.
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.