Strengthening Investment Ties - USA Interest in New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa Accelerates2 Oct 2025

Last month I joined the NZInvest team, the Minister of Immigration Hon Erica Stanford, and a delegation of New Zealand professional advisers and investment managers on a promotional tour to New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco to showcase New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus (AIP) residence visa, and to engage with existing and prospective USA based migrant investors.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Across three events, in three different cities over three consecutive evenings we welcomed over 300 attendees, including over 30 existing investor migrants and 140 investor prospects, wealth advisers and family office representatives. The atmosphere at each event was vibrant, welcoming and energizing, and many guests stayed mingling well after the events were due to end.

The AIP visa changes, introduced in April 2025, are designed to attract foreign direct investment into New Zealand’s growth sectors and there are two categories:

  • Growth Category: NZ$5 million in active investments over three years, with a minimum stay of 21 days in New Zealand
  • Balanced Category: NZ$10 million in more passive investments over five years, with a minimum stay of 105 days

Both categories offer significantly reduced time-in-New-Zealand requirements and allow families to gain lifelong residence on completion of their investment. As of 25 September, 144 AIP applications, of the 348 lodged, have come from the USA. Interest in the USA clearly remains high, and growing, with one attendee remarking that he was surprised the number wasn’t ten times higher given the situation in the USA, the favourable visa settings and the current lack of competing similar visas elsewhere.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford’s presence was a highlight. At each event she met with nearly every AIP holder and prospect and took every opportunity to reinforce the Government’s commitment to attracting high-quality investment and talent. Her presentation, accessibility and genuine engagement with attendees left a lasting impression, while her leadership in reforming the AIP policy, through unprecedented collaboration with private sector advisers (including the writer) has been instrumental in the success of the AIP.

The events were extremely well organised by NZInvest with opening remarks from Anthony Mosse (ex NZ Olympian), who heads the USA investor attraction team, and insights from Ambassador Rosemary Banks or Consul General Katja Ackerley. This was followed by the Minister’s presentation and then I, and two other advisers, took turns to discuss all about the AIP, followed by a Q & A with existing investor migrants.

The interest from USA investors is not just about residence - it is also about meaningful engagement with the New Zealand economy. Many expressed a desire to invest in innovative ventures and to support Kiwi businesses and it is helpful that USA investors are generally very “investment savvy” and able to quickly appreciate, and accept, investment risk. The AIP approved investment list, now featuring over 80 options, is growing steadily and includes funds focused on sustainability, technology, and regional development.

New Zealand’s appeal is also geopolitical. In a world marked by instability, our isolation is now seen as a strength. Families are seeking safe, inclusive societies with strong institutions and quality of life. The AIP visa offers just that—alongside efficient and timely processing, and now the ability to purchase or build a $5 million home.

The USA is clearly a key market for the AIP visa, and thanks to the efforts of NZInvest, the Minister, and a united front of Kiwi professionals, and with almost NZ$2 billion committed to date, we are well on our way to converting interest into impact. The future looks bright—for our AIP investors, for our economy, and for New Zealand.

This article is written by Pathways® Managing Director, Richard Howard. Richard is a member of the Minister of Immigration’s Adviser Reference Group which has advised on the AIP policy changes.

Link: First Published in the Waikato Business News, October 2025 Edition, Page 6