Visas & Advice Detail
NZ business visas
Read on to find out more about NZ's Investing and Business Category visas...
New Zealand is keen to attract successful entrepreneurs – hence the existence of INZ's Investing and Business Category visas. Those considering investing or establishing a business in the country have a number of options, including the Long Term Business Visa (LTBV), the Entrepreneur Category and the Active Investor Migrant Policy.
Under the LTBV, migrants can apply for a work visa in order to start a New Zealand business before applying for residency. If you are of good health and character, have a sound business plan and sufficient money gathered in investment funds to support yourself and any dependents, you may qualify for an LTBV. Approved applicants will be granted an initial nine-month Work Permit while they take the first steps towards establishing their business. Before its expiry they may apply for a further work permit to take their stay up to a total of three years, provided they show reasonable progress in setting up and launching a business initiative.
The LTBV is often used as a step towards applying for permanent residency under the Entrepreneur Category. To be eligible for this category, you must have established, purchased or made a significant investment in a New Zealand business, and have been self-employed in the business for at least two years. It is also important that your business can be shown to be benefiting New Zealand in some way – for example, by employing native Kiwis.
Since November 2007, there has been another way to gain permanent residency in New Zealand – the Active Investor Migrant Policy. This aims to attract investors with significant business experience who can help support and develop the country's economy.
There are three categories within the policy – the Global Investor Category, for migrants investing NZ$$20 million or more in New Zealand; the Professional Investor Category, for migrants investing NZ10 million or more; and the General (Active) Investor Category, for migrants investing a minimum of NZ$2.5 million in addition to having NZ$1 million for settlement funds. Additional health and character requirements must be met to apply for residence under any of these categories.
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