New Zealand Overhauls Investor Visa Program

New Zealand is overhauling its investor visa program to attract wealthy immigrants by simplifying the process and reducing barriers. Starting April 1, the Active Investor Plus Visa will be replaced with two categories: the 'Growth' visa requiring a $5 million investment over three years for higher-risk ventures and the 'Balanced' visa requiring a $10 million investment over five years for mixed investments. Key changes include removing the English language requirement and reducing the minimum stay to 21 days for the Growth category. Despite these changes, the ban on foreign home buyers remains in place, except for Australian and Singaporean citizens due to trade agreements. The government aims to boost economic growth and innovation by increasing foreign direct investment in sectors like technology and hospitality. This policy shift is intended to make New Zealand a more competitive destination for global capital compared to countries like Australia and Canada.