Golden Visa goes LIVE

Author | Isobel Howe & Haydon Cunninghame

As of today, the updated Active Investor Plus Visa settings are officially in force, signalling a renewed focus on attracting high-value, growth-oriented investment into Aotearoa New Zealand. 

While this is a nationwide change, the implications for Queenstown and Southland are particularly interesting. Our region has long been built on tourism and primary industry, but we’re also seeing increasing demand for infrastructure, diversification, and innovation. The lower South Island is well placed to welcome active offshore capital, and the expertise and networks that often come with it.

For investors, this presents an opportunity to:

• Partner with established regional businesses
• Support growth-stage ventures
• Contribute to infrastructure and development
• Align investment with long-term residency goals

For local businesses, it opens the door to strategic capital and international networks — but structuring these arrangements correctly is critical. The updated framework requires careful consideration of:

• Eligible investment categories
• Direct investment structures
• Governance and reporting requirements
• Tax and trust structuring
• Property and development implications

As with most things in this space, early planning makes a significant difference — particularly where immigration strategy overlaps with commercial, property and private client advice.

If you or your clients are considering the Active Investor Plus Visa, our Queenstown team would be happy to talk through how to approach it in a way that supports both residency objectives and regional growth.

Get in touch to start the conversation.