Starting April 1, New Zealand is easing its golden visa rules to lure wealthy people to move there.
Most visa inquiries so far have come from Americans, the New Zealand government told BI.
Americans jarred by political tumult may be drawn to New Zealand's lifestyle, safety, and stability.
Some Americans are exploring moves out of the country because of dissatisfaction with the political climate. Google searches for "moving to New Zealand" spiked around Election Day and Inauguration Day, as did related searches for "moving to Canada" and "how to move out of the US."
Starting April 1, it'll get a little easier for wealthy foreigners to pay for a pathway to New Zealand residency. The country is changing the requirements for its golden visa program, formally called the "active investor plus" visa.
The lightening of golden visa requirements comes as New Zealand is trying to boost an economy grappling with recession, its worst downturn since 1991 except for the pandemic.