Wellington: New Zealand will ease its visa regulations to attract foreign investors as part of a broader strategy to stimulate economic growth, the centre-right government announced on Sunday.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford stated that the country’s investor visa category would become “simpler and more flexible” to encourage high-net-worth individuals to bring their “capital, skills, and international connections” to New Zealand.
“These changes will turbocharge our economic growth, bringing brighter days ahead for all Kiwis,” Stanford said in a statement. As part of the new framework, two additional visa categories—one for “higher-risk investments” and another for “mixed investments”—will be introduced.
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The policy revisions, set to take effect from April 1, come after the government recently relaxed visa rules for holidaymakers, allowing them to work remotely while visiting, a move aimed at strengthening the tourism sector.
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New Zealand’s economy slipped into a technical recession in the third quarter of 2024, prompting the government to pursue new measures to boost growth. In January, authorities unveiled plans to establish Invest New Zealand, a division of the country’s international economic development agency, designed to serve as a central hub for foreign investment.
