Entrepreneur Work Visa

If you are an experienced business person wanting to work in your own business in New Zealand, applying for a work visa under the Entrepreneur Work Visa Category may be an option for you.

An Entrepreneur Work Visa will enable you to move to New Zealand and either buy or establish your own business.

To apply you will need to provide a detailed business plan, have at least NZ$100,000 to invest in your business (unless your business is in the ICT or science sectors) and you must be able to claim 120 points on Immigration's points scale.

Once the visa is granted, you can set up your business in New Zealand as a first step toward New Zealand residence. This is a three year visa and you can include your partner and dependent children aged 19 and under in your visa application.

Entrepreneur Residence Visa

This visa is for people who have been self-employed in New Zealand for at least six months or have operated a business for at least two years on a visa that allows self-employment.

Entrepreneur Residence Category (6 months)

This option provides a faster track to residence for applicants who have been running a high-value business for at least six months; as well as meeting general health, character, and English language requirements. To gain residence under this category, you must hold an Entrepreneur Work Visa, have successfully established or purchased a business in New Zealand, have been self-employed in that business, have invested at least NZ$ 0.5 Million, and have created a minimum of three new fulltime jobs for New Zealand citizens or residents.

Entrepreneur Residence Category (2 years)

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

Investing in New Zealand

Investing in New Zealand opens an opportunity to apply for residence in New Zealand through investment. There are many opportunities to invest in various business sectors, even some areas where New Zealand is doing really well.

These include tourism, biotechnology, agricultural research, wood-based technology, and information and communications technology. If you meet the visa conditions, you can live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely and later apply for permanent residence. You can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and under in your visa application.

If you meet visa conditions, you can live work and study in New Zealand indefinitely and later apply for permanent residence. You can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and under in your visa application.

Acceptable Investment - You must invest your money in an acceptable investment that is able to make a commercial return and have the potential to contribute to New Zealand's economy. Investments must be in bonds, equities, property or other Immigration New Zealand approved investments.

Financial Advice - It may be a good idea to seek financial advice. We do not provide financial advice as this is a regulated industry. We recommend that you select your financial adviser carefully and keep in mind that financial advisers need to be authorised by the Financial Markets Authority of New Zealand to provide financial advice.

Other Investment Categories

The government actively seeks to attract successful entrepreneurs, business people and investors who are willing to make investments into the New Zealand economy. Investors can consider the new Active Investor Plus visa category where the eligibility criteria include a minimum NZD5 million investments if it's in a direct investment. Other investments include Parent Retirement Resident Visa Category and Temporary Retirement Category.

CONTACT US TO DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS AND TO ASSESS YOUR ELIGIBILITY