Business Visas

New Zealand’s business migration policies are designed to contribute to economic growth, attracting ‘smart’ capital and business expertise to New Zealand, and enabling experienced business people to buy or establish businesses in New Zealand. If you are interested in investing capital and bring your experience, business expertise and international connections to New Zealand, consider applying for a visa under the Business Immigration policies may provide you with the appropriate visa.

The 5 business policies detailed on this website will either give you or lead you to residence in New Zealand. Please click on a policy below to read further information:

Investor (Investor 2 Category)
Investor Plus (Investor 1 Category)
Long Term Business Visa
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur Plus

Investor Visa (Investor 2 Category)

The Migrant Investment Policy is for investors who are interested in gaining residence in New Zealand. The Investor (Investor 2 Category) is a great option if you want to live in New Zealand and invest a minimum of NZ$1.5 million over a 4-year period. The key requirements for this visa are:

Investor Category - Key requirements
Maximum age	65 or younger
Business experience	Minimum of three years
Investment funds	NZ$1.5 million invested in NZ for four years
Settlement funds	NZ$1 million (transfer not required)
Principal applicant's English language ability	- an English speaking background, or - an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test report with an overall band score of three or more, or - a competent user of English
Family member's English language ability	Same as principal applicant or pre-purchase ESOL tuition.
Minimum time in New Zealand	146 days in NZ in each of the last three years of the four-year investment period.
Health and character	All applicants must meet health and character requirements.

Investor Plus (Investor 1 Category)

If you want to invest at least NZ$10 million in New Zealand, and you would like to apply for New Zealand residence, the Investor Plus category could be the best option for you. Key requirements for this visa are:

Investor Plus Category - Key requirements
Maximum age	No requirement
Business experience	No requirement
Investment funds	NZ$10 million invested in NZ for three years
Settlement funds	No requirement
Principal applicant's English language	No requirement
Family member's English language	No requirement
Minimum time in New Zealand	73 days in NZ in each of the last two years of the three-year investment period
Health and character	Applicants under both categories must meet health and character requirements.

Long-term Business Visa

If you’re an experienced businessperson interested in being self-employed in your own business in New Zealand, applying for a Long Term Business Visa may be an option for you.

The Long Term Business Visa is a work visa enabling you to move to New Zealand and buy or establish your own business. It could be the first step on your pathway to applying for residence in New Zealand under one of our Entrepreneur categories. Key requirements are:

Long Term Business Category - Key requirements
Maximum age	No requirement
Business experience	Relevant business experience to proposed business in New Zealand.
Investment funds	Sufficient funds to support your business plan.
Settlement funds	Dependant (approx. NZ$60,000 - $100,000 per year)
Principal applicant's English language ability	An English speaking background or an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test report with an overall band score of four or more.
Family member's English language ability	Same as principal applicant or pre-purchase ESOL tuition.
Minimum Time in New Zealand	You need to be self-employed in your business in New Zealand. Time required in New Zealand will vary from business to business.
Health and character	All applicants must meet health and character requirements.

Entrepreneur Visa

If you have successfully established and been ‘self-employed’ in a business in New Zealand for at least two years, and your business has benefited New Zealand, you may be eligible for residence in New Zealand under the Entrepreneur Category.

The first step towards becoming a New Zealand resident under this category is usually to obtain a Long Term Business Visa in order to be able to work in your business.

Entrepreneur Category - Key requirements
Investment capital	Unspecified. You will need to demonstrate that you have sufficient capital to start your business.
English language	An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test report with an overall band score of four or more.
Maximum age	None
Time required in New Zealand	Self-employed in New Zealand in the business for two years.
Length of time of residence	Minimum of 2 years and maximum of 3 years after obtaining approval under Long Term Business work policy.
Health and character	All applicants must meet health and character requirements.

Entrepreneur Plus

If you have successfully established a business in New Zealand creating new jobs and meeting a minimum investment level, you may be eligible for residence in New Zealand under the Entrepreneur Plus Category. Under this category there is no minimum time requirement for which you must have operated your business, and it provides a faster track to residence. Key requirements are:

Entrepreneur Plus Category - Key requirements
Investment capital	At least $0.5m while holding a Long Term Business visa
English language ability	An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test report with an overall band score of four or more.
Maximum age	None
Benefit to New Zealand	At least 3 FTE (full time equivalent) jobs created for New Zealanders. These must be new jobs in addition to positions already existing in the business.
Time required in New Zealand	Self-employed in New Zealand in the business for two years (inclusive of time spend on Long Term Business Visa).
Length of time of residence	Residence can be granted (with conditions) once the requirements are met and while holding a Long Term Business visa.
Health and character	All applicants must meet health and character requirements.

Business Skills - Australian, New Zealand and Canada Visas

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