Active Investor Plus Visa recorded 41 applications in January 2026

The Active Investor Plus Visa in New Zealand registered 41 applications in January alone, bringing the total to 532 applications representing 1,709 individuals, including partners and dependent children, since authorities reformed the programme in April last year.

US investors led with 201 applications, accounting for 581 people (main applicants + dependents), approximately 38% of all submitted applications. China followed with 86 applications (283 people), while Hong Kong submitted 69 applications (226 people).

The January surge raised investment commitments to NZ$926.2 million (~US$532 million), up NZ$155 million from December’s total of NZ$771 million.

Immigration New Zealand granted an additional 30 residence visas during the month, bringing the number of approvals to 159. Authorities processed an additional 39 applications for approval in principle, reaching a total of 392 approvals.

Germany ranked as the fourth-largest source market with 37 applications accounting for 145 individuals, followed by Singapore (26 applications, 97 individuals) and Taiwan (26 applications, 84 individuals). The applicant pool currently spans 33 nationalities, including Austria, Belgium, Finland and Iceland.

Growth category applications outnumbered Balanced category applications 432 to 100. This distribution reflects what Mischa Mannix-Opie of Greener Pastures New Zealand described in December as “investor confidence in long-term productive investments rather than passive, short-term solutions.”

The Growth pathway requires NZ$5 million over 3 years into higher-risk projects such as managed funds and direct business investments. Balanced category investors must commit NZ$10 million over 5 years across mixed portfolios.

The average processing time is 33 working days for approval in principle, up slightly from 31 days in December. Authorities are currently evaluating 134 applications representing an additional NZ$774 million in potential commitments.

The 532 applications under the new settings comprise 50 applications converted from previous requirements and 482 new submissions. The total potential minimum investment across all applications stands at NZ$3.16 billion.

Immigration New Zealand reported that “the majority of investments to date have been directed into Invest New Zealand-approved managed funds and bonds.”