In April 2025, the government significantly simplified the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa — commonly referred to as New Zealand’s “Golden Visa.” The programme, aimed at high-net-worth investors, now offers two streamlined investment options.

• Growth Category: Requires a minimum investment of NZ$5 million over 3 years.
• Balanced Category: Requires NZ$10 million over 5 years, with the flexibility to invest in a mix of lower-risk options like bonds, managed funds, or property developments.

The earlier English-language requirement has been dropped, making the visa easier for non-native English speakers to apply.

The reforms also reduced residency-stay requirements.

In addition to these reforms, on Nov 24, 2025, the government launched the Business Investor Work Visa (BIWV).

While the Golden Visa overhaul is aimed at investors, some of the changes touch on areas that matter to digital nomads as well. The update shows how New Zealand is rethinking its long-term migration rules, which gives some context for how remote workers are affected.

A cable car station in Wellington. Photo: Unsplash

What it means for Digital Nomads

For most digital nomads, the immediate impact of New Zealand’s revamped Golden Visa is not direct access to these investor visas — the investment thresholds remain far beyond typical remote-worker needs. However, the reforms reveal a broader policy direction that could influence how nomads view New Zealand as a long-stay base:

• A more welcoming stance toward long-term migrants:

The relaxed investment rules reflect New Zealand’s intent to attract mobile talent and capital. Digital nomads aren’t the target, but the softer regulatory tone could eventually support remote-work or hybrid residence pathways.

• A stronger entrepreneurial climate for remote founders:

Nomads running small remote businesses or early-stage startups may find the BIWV relevant. The NZD 1–2 million requirement is high, but the model shows the country is opening doors to active business operators, hinting at future options for smaller founders.

• Potential opportunities for co-founders and remote executives:

Nomads who run location-independent companies may qualify as managers or co-investors if they partner with New Zealand firms in sectors like tech, green energy, AI, or digital commerce.

• An improved pathway for wealthy nomads:

High-earning nomads — tech founders, crypto entrepreneurs, investors — may find the eased Golden Visa rules appealing. The removal of the English-language requirement and broader investment choices make long-term residency smoother.

• Broader ecosystem benefits:

Investor inflows could boost coworking spaces, startup funding, and international networks in cities like Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown, and Christchurch, indirectly strengthening the remote-work scene.

Although New Zealand’s Golden Visa overhaul doesn’t create direct entry points for digital nomads, it contributes to a broader environment that could eventually attract remote workers who are entrepreneurial, globally mobile, or financially strong.

A city market in Christchurch. Photo: Unsplash

What does New Zealand Gain

The reforms come at a time when many countries are tightening immigration, but New Zealand is doubling down on attracting high-net-worth individuals.

By lowering thresholds, simplifying requirements, and offering property buying rights, New Zealand is positioning itself as a leading global destination for “residency-by-investment.”

For investors, the country offers several fiscal and lifestyle incentives: no wealth, gift, estate, or capital-gains tax; stable legal system based on English law; political stability; safety; natural beauty; and relatively low population density.

In effect, Auckland and other major centres hope to attract significant foreign capital that can support business growth, development projects, and generate long-term residency, possibly leading to citizenship over time.

Surge in Interest

Since the new rules kicked in, New Zealand has seen a dramatic rise in applications. In just ten weeks, there were 189 applications, compared to only 116 in the prior 2.5 years under the old system.

Roughly 40 % of recent applications come from U.S. citizens, though investors from other countries including China, Hong Kong, and Germany are also applying.

The revamped visa has already attracted hundreds of millions of NZ dollars in committed investments.