FX.co ★ New Zealand Opens Doors to Global Wealth in Luxury Housing

New Zealand is reopening its high-end housing market to global investors as demand for safe-haven assets grows amid heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The government is rolling back key elements of its 2018 restrictions via changes to the Active Investor Plus visa, which will come into force in April 2025.

Under the revised framework, foreign investors who commit around $2.9 million will be able to purchase residential properties priced above that threshold immediately, without becoming tax residents. The visa will also confer indefinite permanent residence and significantly relax physical presence requirements: applicants will need to spend only 21 days in New Zealand over three years, compared with 117 days previously.

The policy aims to attract global capital and long-term investment into New Zealand’s luxury property market, reinforcing the country’s appeal as a secure destination for international wealth. The move stands in contrast to Australia, which in 2025 introduced a two-year ban on foreign purchases of existing homes, highlighting New Zealand’s strategy to differentiate itself within the regional real estate landscape.