Why More Americans Are Moving to New Zealand
A growing number of Americans are exploring moves abroad or seeking second citizenships, with New Zealand emerging as a notable destination.
While the overall numbers remain relatively small, immigration advisers and government data point to a clear uptick in interest, particularly among wealthier applicants using investment-based visa routes.
A mix of factors is driving the trend. Some cite dissatisfaction with the direction of U.S. politics under President Donald Trump, while others point to financial planning, global mobility, and the desire to diversify residency options. Immigration advisers say many applicants are not acting on a single trigger, but rather adopting long-term "Plan B" strategies that combine lifestyle goals with wealth protection and international flexibility.
Data from Immigration New Zealand shows an increase in investor interest following recent policy changes. Applications under New Zealand's Active Investor Plus visa program have risen several-fold following recent changes to the program, with the United States the largest source of applicants at 234 applications representing 711 individuals, ahead of China with 108 applications and 358 people, and Hong Kong with 91 applications and 304 people, according to data provided to Immigration New Zealand.
One American couple using this visa program told Newsweek they plan to leave the country due to Trump's policies.
Jennifer and Michael, who are currently living on the West Coast of the United States while awaiting approval for their investor visas, spoke about the process and their reasoning. The couple’s surnames have been withheld from publication at their request, out of fear of public backlash and because their two children are unaware of the planned relocation.
“We’re still going through the process of getting our visa to New Zealand. It’s in the final stages of processing,” Michael told Newsweek.
“[Trump] is 100 percent the reason we are immigrating,” Jennifer said.
“As our country slides towards fascism, we are really concerned about the environment that our children will be growing up in,” she said.
“We feel very directly targeted by those policies,” she added.
“If someone with our amount of privilege is feeling like this country isn’t safe to raise our kids in, then that really speaks to all the targeted marginalized populations and how they’re feeling.”
The couple said they have discussed a series of "red lines" that could prompt an earlier departure from the United States once their visa is approved, including the use of military forces in U.S. cities, disputed handling of election ballots, and the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel at polling stations during midterm elections-several key Trump allies have teased the possibility of deploying federal agents during November’s contest.
“We have conversations about red lines that would prompt us to move sooner rather than later. Trump muses aloud about using the military in U.S. cities. We saw everything that played out in Minnesota and Los Angeles; it seemed like a dry run for that sort of thing,” Michael said.
The Trump administration has been accused of human rights abuses and violations amid its hardline crackdown and aggressive push to enact a mass deportation policy. Under the second Trump administration, the deployment of ICE and Border Patrol immigration agents has resulted in the shooting and killing of U.S. citizens, raising concerns for Americans across the nation.
Michael and Jennifer described a multistep process involving financial investment, health screening, and an appeal related to a chronic illness, which initially complicated their application.
Their move, they said, is also shaped by family considerations. Jennifer described leaving relatives behind as "really the hardest part," particularly as her parents age and require support. Their two children, aged 7 and 11, will relocate with them.
"We have not told them that we’re moving yet," Michael said. The family is currently planning a timeline of roughly two years, aligned with school transitions and allowing time to assess locations and education options in New Zealand.
“I don’t honestly anticipate it being easy. One of our children is really resistant to change,” Jennifer said.
“We took her to New Zealand, and she loved it. And so we’re going back again this summer for a month, while we’re really just going to different neighborhoods,” Michael said.
Jennifer noted the emotional complexity of the decision. "There's a lot of ambivalence…leaving family behind is difficult," she said, while also pointing to opportunities for their children and the appeal of New Zealand.
While they acknowledged uncertainty about the challenges of immigration, they contrasted their experience with New Zealand's system with a previous attempt to secure residency in Portugal, which they said had stalled for years. Michael described New Zealand's approach as more collaborative, saying officials have been "partners in this process."
Mischa Mannix-Opie of Greener Pastures New Zealand, an investment migration firm that helps high-net-worth individuals obtain residency through the country's Active Investor Plus visa program, said Americans still represent a relatively small share of overall migration to the country, but the trend is growing among wealthier individuals.
He noted that around 28,000 U.S.-born residents currently live in New Zealand, a figure that has risen by nearly 30 percent over the past five years. In 2025, thousands more Americans will have already relocated, with steady monthly arrivals continuing.
At the high-net-worth end of the market, he said, there have been 222 investor visa applications in the past year, representing 646 Americans, accounting for roughly 40 percent of total applications.
Mannix-Opie attributed the increase to the rising cost of living in the United States alongside New Zealand's perceived stability, safety, and quality of life.
“Most Americans moving to New Zealand are doing so strategically, not reactively. They view residency as part of a long-term plan for stability, global mobility, and risk diversification in an increasingly uncertain world. Not a knee-jerk reaction to changes in political power.”
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This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 10:33 AM.