New Zealand Business Investor Work Visa

The New Zealand Business Investor Work Visa allows non-New Zealand nationals to live and work in New Zealand for up to four years while investing in and actively running an established New Zealand business.

The visa is structured in two stages. The Establishment Stage covers the first 12 months, during which the applicant must purchase and begin operating the nominated business and provide evidence of this within the first 9 months. The Operating Stage covers the remaining period up to 4 years, during which the applicant continues to run and grow the business. A one-time renewal of up to 2 additional years is available.

Two investment pathways are available. Under the standard pathway, a minimum investment of NZD 1,000,000 in an established business allows the applicant to apply for a Business Investor Resident Visa after 3 years of running the business.
Under the fast-track pathway, a minimum investment of NZD 2,000,000 reduces the operating period required for resident visa eligibility to 12 months, though the applicant must still operate the business for a total of at least 3 years across both visas.

Applicants must also hold NZD 500,000 in reserve funds, separate from the investment, to support themselves and their family during their time in New Zealand.

To qualify for the New Zealand Business Investor Work Visa, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

Investment Requirements

• Minimum investment of NZD 1,000,000 (approximately US$564,250) in an established New Zealand business under the standard pathway, or NZD 2,000,000 (approximately US$1,128,500) under the fast-track pathway

• Investment funds must be owned by the applicant (or jointly with a partner or dependent children included in the application), earned or acquired lawfully, and not borrowed

• Reserve funds of at least NZD 500,000 (approximately US$282,125) must be held separately from the investment to cover living expenses while running the business

• Applicant must intend to be actively involved in running the business, not merely as a passive shareholder or financier

Business Requirements
The nominated business must:

• Have been trading for at least 5 years and be currently operating lawfully in New Zealand

• Have a purchase price of at least NZD 1,000,000 (excluding property value and GST), resulting in the applicant owning at least 25% of the business

• Employ at least 5 full-time equivalent staff

• Comply with all immigration, employment, and business standards

• Not already be owned by the applicant or any family member

• Not have been used in an approved investor or entrepreneur application in the last 10 years

Business Experience
Applicants must have at least 3 years of acceptable business experience, which can be either paid self-employment in a business operating in a commercial environment with at least 5 full-time employees or annual revenue of at least NZD 1,000,000, or paid senior management experience in a business with at least 5 full-time employees under direct management and annual turnover of at least NZD 5,000,000.
Job Creation
Applicants must intend to create at least 1 new full-time job for a New Zealand citizen or resident.
General Requirements

• Must be aged 55 or younger at time of application

• Must speak and understand English, demonstrated through citizenship, working and studying history, or an acceptable English language test result no more than 2 years old

• Must be in good health, with a chest X-ray and medical examination required

• Must be of good character, with police certificates from the country of citizenship and any country lived in for 5 or more years since age 17

• Must be a fit and proper person: all businesses under the applicant's influence must have complied with immigration, employment, and taxation laws, with no convictions for dishonesty or involvement in fraud or financial impropriety

• A completed Business Proposal form, a statutory accountant's valuation of the nominated business, and legal and financial due diligence confirmation from a New Zealand lawyer and accountant must be submitted with the application

Family Members
Partners may be granted a work visa and dependent children a student or visitor visa as part of the application.

• Path to citizenship
• Permits dual/multiple citizenship
• Safety and security
• Enhanced education opportunities
• Enhanced business access to large economies
• Short processing time
• English as official language

The Business Investor Work Visa leads to the Business Investor Resident Visa, which is the gateway to permanent residence and citizenship.

To qualify for the resident visa, applicants must have run their nominated business for at least 3 years (standard pathway, NZD 1M investment) or at least 12 months (fast-track pathway, NZD 2M investment), while spending at least 184 days per year in New Zealand, maintaining their ownership stake, keeping at least 5 full-time equivalent staff employed, and having created and maintained at least 1 new full-time job for a New Zealand citizen or resident for a minimum of 12 months.

After 5 years of lawful residence, residents may apply for New Zealand citizenship by grant through the Department of Internal Affairs. Requirements include good character, knowledge of New Zealand, and commitment to the country. New Zealand permits dual and multiple citizenship with no requirement to renounce a prior nationality.

Applications for this program are submitted to Immigration New Zealand, a branch of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Legislation upon which this program is based: Immigration Act 2009 (New Zealand); Immigration Regulations 2010 (New Zealand); New Zealand Citizenship Act 1977 (as amended) governing naturalization.