Business Investor Visa – Key Information

Thinking about owning or investing in a business in New Zealand? Our guide provides the latest information on Business Investor Visa policies. This material is for information purposes only. Please take advice from a New Zealand Immigration Partners Licensed Immigration Adviser to understand your individual visa options.

Business Investor Visa

The New Zealand government welcomes individuals with a track record of business ownership or senior management experience. Join our business ecosystem by becoming a full or partial owner of a New Zealand business that has traded for five years or more. This visa is a pathway to residence — you’ll first receive a work visa to get started in the business, and once certain milestones are met you can apply for residence. Your family can join you on the journey to becoming new Kiwis. Entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers with energy and enthusiasm should read on for an exciting opportunity.

Overview of the Business Investor Visa

The Business Investor Visa has two categories:

• An investment of NZD 1 million or more is a pathway to residence after 3 years of operating the business.
• An investment of NZD 2 million or more is a pathway to residence after 12 months of operating the business.

The table below sets out the main immigration requirements for each category.

Immigration Requirement	NZD 1 million or more (less than NZD 2 million)	NZD 2 million or more
Minimum NZD capital investment	NZD 1 million	NZD 2 million
Reserve funds or assets	NZD 500,000	NZD 500,000
Minimum time running business before applying for residence	3 years	12 months
Jobs for Kiwis	5 full-time (or equivalent) at the time the business is acquired, plus create one more full-time job for 12 months before applying for residence.	5 full-time (or equivalent) at the time the business is acquired, plus create one more full-time job for 12 months before applying for residence.
Days in NZ required (main applicant only)	Minimum of 184 days each year from the date the business is purchased.	Minimum of 184 days each year from the date the business is purchased.
Timeframe to transfer and invest capital funds	Within 9 months from the date the Business Investor Work Visa was issued. No extensions.	Within 9 months from the date the Business Investor Work Visa was issued. No extensions.
Minimum business experience (main applicant)	Three years of paid self-employment in a business with annual revenue of NZD 1 million or 5 full-time employees, OR three years of paid senior management experience in a business with annual revenue of NZD 5 million. Take advice to confirm your experience qualifies.	Three years of paid self-employment in a business with annual revenue of NZD 1 million or 5 full-time employees, OR three years of paid senior management experience in a business with annual revenue of NZD 5 million. Take advice to confirm your experience qualifies.
Age limit (main applicant)	Must be younger than 56*	Must be younger than 56*
English language requirement (16 years and above)	IELTS 5.0 or higher. At this level you have a partial command of the language and can handle basic communication in your own field. Partners and children aged 16 and above may either meet this requirement or pre-purchase English language tuition (take advice).	IELTS 5.0 or higher. At this level you have a partial command of the language and can handle basic communication in your own field. Partners and children aged 16 and above may either meet this requirement or pre-purchase English language tuition (take advice).
Health & character requirements	Applies to all applicants.	Applies to all applicants.

* The age limit applies to the main visa applicant at the time the first Business Investor Work Visa application is lodged. It does not apply at the residence application stage.

** Reserve funds/assets are additional to the capital investment funds and do not need to be transferred to New Zealand.

*** The first work visa is valid for 12 months. A second 3-year work visa is granted once capital funds have been transferred to New Zealand and the business has been purchased.

The Business Investor Visa Residence Application

The journey for an individual or family applying for the Business Investor Visa typically looks like this:

1. Establish your eligibility to confirm you will qualify for the work visa and then residence. Connect with the specialist Business Investor Visa team at New Zealand Immigration Partners to determine your eligibility.
2. Gather the required documents. Getting these documents 100% right is key to a successful application outcome.
3. Lodge a Business Investor Visa application with Immigration NZ.
4. Assuming there are no issues, Immigration NZ will issue a 12-month work visa for self-employment (and visas for family members included in the application).
5. You have a maximum of 9 months from the date the Work Visa is issued to transfer investment funds to New Zealand and purchase the business.
6. Once funds are transferred and the business is acquired, we submit evidence of this to Immigration NZ.
7. A 3-year work visa is issued if Immigration NZ is satisfied that the nominated funds were transferred and not substituted with other funds.
8. Apply for residence at the 12-month or 3-year milestone date.
9. Apply for New Zealand Citizenship once eligible.

How New Zealand Immigration Partners Can Help You

We have the largest and most experienced team of Licensed Immigration Advisers in New Zealand. In business for over 40 years, our firm has a strong reputation in the immigration industry for success and delivering quality service.

We have specialists who are trained, experienced, and focused on the Business Investor Visa, delivering clients a boutique service offering.

Our Business Investor team will assess your eligibility for the Business Investor Visa and answer your questions. We will also introduce you to a range of leading experts who can help you identify a suitable business and provide the professional services you need to successfully run a New Zealand business.

We deliver value for money. We do not quote low fees and then later surprise clients with additional or hidden costs.

We keep it simple. We do not try to be all things to all people. Our clients appreciate that we stick to immigration and surround ourselves with highly regarded professionals with strong reputations in tax, banking, acceptable immigration investments, wealth management, property, relocation, and more.

Connect with our specialist team today.

Active Investor Plus Visa

New Zealand welcomes foreign direct investment to encourage economic growth and attract people who want to secure permanent residence while bringing their talent, ideas, and international connections to our country. The Active Investor Plus Visa represents a significant opportunity to join a strong migrant ecosystem that is integral to our business, innovation, and local communities.

Navigating Eligibility with Partnership

Understanding your eligibility under these refined rules is the first step. As your Immigration Partners, our role is to translate technical requirements into a bespoke residency strategy, ensuring you are positioned for a successful outcome with absolute certainty.

This Visa Is Suited to Investors Who:

• Meet the capital thresholds of NZD 5 million or NZD 10 million.
• Are considering residency in another country.
• Value clear, strategic advice and absolute privacy.
• Seek permanent resident status that is valid for life.

Your Private Consultation

If this reflects your current position, we invite you to request a confidential consultation. This 30- to 45-minute private session provides a detailed overview of the requirements, an eligibility assessment, and a discussion of key criteria to consider as part of the application process.

The Active Investor Plus Visa – Residence Application

The journey for an individual or family typically follows a structured path:

1. Establish eligibility to confirm you qualify for residence.
2. Gather the required documents — this is a critical step, as documentation must be 100% correct to achieve approval.
3. Lodge the application. Assuming no issues, Immigration NZ will issue an Approval in Principle letter.
4. The 6-Month Window: From the date of that letter, you have 6 months to transfer the nominated investment funds to New Zealand and fully invest them into acceptable Growth or Balanced investments.
5. One-Off Extension: In limited circumstances, a one-off 6-month extension to the transfer and investment deadline is available — 12 months maximum in total.
6. Visa Issuance: Once Immigration NZ has cleared the transfer and investment, resident visas are issued. Each family member must activate their own visa by arriving in New Zealand within 12 months of the visa issue date.
7. Investment Audits: Immigration NZ conducts audits of investment funds at 24 and 36 months for the Growth category, and at 24 and 60 months for the Balanced category.
8. Permanent Residence: When the 3- or 5-year investment term is complete and requirements are met, Resident Visas convert to Permanent Resident Visas, which are valid for life.

We manage all of this for you — and more — so you can get on with life.

Processing Times

Processing timeframes for an Active Investor Plus Visa application will vary based on a number of factors, including the available resources at Immigration NZ. Typical timeframes (always subject to change) are:

• 4 to 12 weeks to gather the documents required to lodge the application. This is a crucial step and must be 100% right to avoid delays.
• 3 to 6 months for the application to be assessed and decided by Immigration NZ.
• Up to 12 months maximum to transfer and invest funds — a crucial step that is often misunderstood.
• 4 to 8 weeks for Immigration NZ to review and assess the transfer and investment of funds, depending on complexity.
• Resident Visas are then issued.
• 4 to 8 weeks for Immigration NZ audits of investment funds.
• 1 to 3 weeks on average to process Permanent Resident Visa applications at the end of the investment term.

Overview of the Active Investor Plus Visa

The Active Investor Plus Visa has two categories — Growth and Balanced. Growth requires a minimum investment of NZD 5 million for a three-year term; Balanced requires NZD 10 million for a five-year term.

Immigration Requirement	Growth Category	Balanced Category
Minimum NZD investment	NZD 5 million	NZD 10 million
Investment term	3 years	5 years
Acceptable immigration investments	Managed funds approved by Invest New ZealandDirect investments approved by Invest New Zealand	Managed funds approved by Invest New ZealandDirect investments approved by Invest New ZealandNew Zealand listed equitiesBonds (NZ government, local authority, or corporate)Property development (residential, commercial, or industrial)*Philanthropy
Minimum physical presence (main applicant)	21 days	105 days
Flexibility on physical presence (main applicant)	Not available	Reduction to 91 days by investing an additional NZD 1 million** Reduction to 77 days by investing an additional NZD 2 million** Reduction to 63 days by investing an additional NZD 3 million**
Timeframe to transfer and invest funds	6 months from the date the application is approved in principle*** (extendable once for another 6 months; 12 months maximum)	6 months from the date the application is approved in principle*** (extendable once for another 6 months; 12 months maximum)
Age limit	Does not apply	Does not apply
English language requirement	Does not apply	Does not apply
Health & character requirements	Applies to all applicants	Applies to all applicants

How New Zealand Immigration Partners Can Help You

We have the largest and most experienced team of Licensed Immigration Advisers in New Zealand. In business for over 40 years, our firm has a strong reputation in the immigration industry for success and delivering quality service.

Our specialist team are trained, experienced, and focused on the Active Investor Plus Visa, delivering high-net-worth clients a boutique service offering. Daniel Thomson, Director of Client Services, is a preeminent leader in this specialist immigration area. He and his team have a proven track record of successfully managing and navigating clients through the Active Investor Plus Visa process.

We assess your eligibility, answer your questions, and introduce you to a range of leading experts who can help you identify acceptable immigration investments.

We do not overpromise or underdeliver. Our team will walk alongside you on a journey that lasts at least 3 years (Growth) or 5 years (Balanced), right through to qualifying for Permanent Resident Visas.

We deliver value for money. We do not quote low fees and then later surprise clients with additional or hidden costs.

We keep it simple while others make it complex. We do not try to be all things to all people. Our clients appreciate that we stick to immigration and surround ourselves with highly regarded professionals with strong reputations in tax, banking, acceptable immigration investments, wealth management, property, relocation, and more.

We are happy to introduce you to some of our migrant investor clients for an independent reference of the work we do — giving you extra peace of mind that you are making the right choice by engaging New Zealand Immigration Partners.

Connect with our specialist team today.