Both Canada and New Zealand have announced significant new immigration initiatives aimed at bolstering their respective economies by attracting foreign talent, skills, and investment. New Zealand is launching a specialized Business Investor Work Visa today, while Canada is preparing to unveil a comprehensive new immigration plan with a focus on a global talent strategy.
New Zealand Targets High-Value Investors with Clear Path to Residence
New Zealand is actively seeking seasoned businesspeople with the introduction of its new Business Investor Work Visa. The program is designed to draw skilled investors who can support established local businesses and create employment, offering a clearer route to permanent residence than earlier schemes.
The visa is valid for up to four years and allows applicants to include their partners and dependent children.
Key Investment Pathways
The visa offers two main investment-to-residence options:
| Investment Amount (NZ$) | Approx. INR Equivalent | Pathway to Residence | Duration of Work Route |
| NZ$1 million | $\sim$ Rs 5 crore | Work-to-Residence | 3 years |
| NZ$2 million | $\sim$ Rs 10 crore | Faster Residence | 12 months |
Investor and Business Requirements
Applicants must be under 55 years of age, meet English language standards, and possess at least NZ$500,000 in reserve funds. Crucially, they must demonstrate substantial business experience (e.g., owning a company with five full-time staff or generating NZ$1 million in annual revenue).
The investment must be made into a business that has been operating for a minimum of five years.
Businesses Excluded from Investment:
Certain low-value and non-strategic sectors are excluded from qualifying investments, including fast food outlets, convenience/discount stores, gambling, tobacco/vaping, adult entertainment, home-based enterprises, franchised operations, and drop-shipping.
Qualifying for Residence:
To successfully transition to a permanent resident visa, investors must actively manage their solvent business, sustain at least five full-time equivalent jobs, create one new full-time job for a New Zealand citizen or resident lasting at least 12 months, and spend at least 184 days a year in the country for three consecutive years.
Canada to Launch “Talent Strategy” Amid Immigration Policy Shift
Canada is poised to counteract a sharp fall in student and work permit arrivals in 2025 by launching a new immigration plan as part of its upcoming federal budget. The strategy, promised by Prime Minister Mark Carney, aims to align immigration levels with Canada’s workforce needs and capacity.
Targeting Global Tech Talent
A core component of the plan is a “talent strategy“ designed to attract scientists and innovators. Prime Minister Carney specifically mentioned measures to draw professionals who previously sought H-1B visas in the United States, a move spurred by policy shifts—such as President Donald Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa charge—that have caused “confusion and frustration” for companies hiring global tech talent.
“What is clear is that the opportunity to attract people who previously would’ve got so-called H-1B visas,” said Carney. “Many of those workers are in the tech sector and willing to move for work.”
Balancing Needs and Public Support
The new plan comes as the Canadian government continues to manage the pace of population growth—a policy inherited from former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—which had led to a surge in Canada’s population.
While the new plan seeks to address the need for a skilled workforce, especially given Canada’s low domestic reproduction rate, it also faces the challenge of rebuilding public support for immigration, which has fallen to its lowest level in decades amid widespread concerns over housing affordability and the cost of living.
Based on the latest available population estimates and census data, here are the approximate numbers of people of Indian origin (including citizens, permanent residents, and non-resident Indians) living in New Zealand and Canada:
Canada 🇨🇦
The population of people of Indian origin in Canada is estimated to be around 2 million (20 Lakh) as of early 2025.1
- Latest Estimate (2025):2 Approximately 2,000,0003
- 2021 Canadian Census: 1,858,755 people reported Indian origins.4
- Context: This group makes up roughly 5.1% to 5.2% of Canada’s total population, and it is the largest and fastest-growing visible minority group.5
New Zealand 🇳🇿
The population of people of Indian ethnicity in New Zealand is approximately 300,000 to 380,000.
- 2023 New Zealand Census: 292,092 people identified as being part of the Indian ethnic group.6
- Latest Projections/Estimates (2025): The estimated population is around 386,300 (a projection for the population at June 30, 2025), or an approximate figure of 370,500 for the year ended June 2024.7
- Context: This ethnic group comprises approximately 5% to 6% of New Zealand’s total population.
In Summary (Approximate 2025 Figures):
| Country | Approximate Indian Population | Basis |
| Canada | 2,000,000 (20 Lakh) | Latest estimates post-2021 Census |
| New Zealand | 300,000 – 386,000 | 2023 Census and latest projections |
It will be interesting to note Gujarati population also in New Zealand and Canada.
Based on available data:
Gujaratis in Canada and New Zealand
- Canada: The Gujarati population in Canada is estimated to be around 209,410 (2021 data, based on total Gujarati Canadian population responses) or approximately 87,900 individuals who speak Gujarati (latest data from Statistics Canada). Gujarati is reported as the third most-spoken Indian language in Canada, following Punjabi and Hindi.
- The total number of people who reported a Gujarati ethnic origin was 36,970 in the 2021 census (this figure may represent those who gave a single or multiple response for a specific origin).
- New Zealand: The Gujarati population in New Zealand is estimated to be around 22,200. Historically, until the 1980s, most Indians in New Zealand were from Gujarat or descended from those born there.
Dominant Indian Ethnic Groups
In Canada (Based on 2021 Census Ethnic Origin Responses)
The largest self-reported Indian ethnic groups in Canada are:
- Indian (India): 1,347,715 total responses.
- Punjabi: 279,950 total responses.
- Tamil: 102,170 total responses.
- Gujarati: 36,970 total responses.
The overall “East Indian” ancestry was reported by approximately 1.4 million people in the 2016 census.
The religious breakdown of the Indian population in Canada (2021) shows the dominance of two religious groups, which often correlate with certain ethnic groups:
- Sikhism: 674,860 people (36.31% of the Indian Canadian population). This often correlates with the Punjabi ethnic group.
- Hinduism: 588,345 people (31.65% of the Indian Canadian population). This group has diverse ethnic origins, including Gujarati, Tamil, and others.
In New Zealand
- Historically and until the 1980s, the majority of Indians in New Zealand were from Gujarat or were their descendants.
- The Punjabi community is the next largest group in terms of historical origins from India.
- The Indian ethnic group as a whole grew to 292,092 in the 2023 Census, becoming the third-largest ethnic group in New Zealand. Punjabi also emerged as the fastest-growing language among immigrants, and Hindi ranks as the fourth most spoken language overall.
The two most prominent religious groups, which often align with the dominant ethnic origins, are:
- Hindus: 46.6% of the Indian population (many of whom have Gujarati origins).
- Sikhs: 21.4% of the Indian population (many of whom have Punjabi origins).
Also Read: 1.6 Lakh Indians Gave Up Citizenship In 2021, Highest Since 2015 https://www.vibesofindia.com/1-6-lakh-indians-gave-up-citizenship-in-2021-highest-since-2015/
