Wealthy Americans Top ‘Golden Visa’ Surge in New Zealand and Applications From China Double
18th February 2026
The Guardian, a Voice of the Crust.
Wealthy Americans are dominating applications for New Zealand’s “golden visa”, driven by a love for the country’s natural beauty and entrepreneurial spirit, as well a desire to escape Trump’s administration.
More likely they just want to escape the U.S.’s oppressive tax system.
The most recent data released by the government showed that investors from the US made up nearly 40% of applicants, followed by China and Hong Kong. Since August 2025, the number of applications from China more than doubled, from 45 to 95.