Business and investor visas allow people who can contribute to New Zealand’s economy to live in New Zealand. You can do this by investing in New Zealand business or government, or if you have the right business experience, by buying or setting-up your own business in New Zealand.
Visitors coming to New Zealand for less than 3 months may be granted a Business Visitor Visa for any of the following reasons:
- to carry out an official trade mission recognised by the New Zealand government to sell goods and services in New Zealand
- to buy New Zealand goods and services
- to negotiate or discuss the set-up, expansion or wind-up of a business in New Zealand
- to carry out any business with the authorised representatives of an overseas company, body or person.
To carry out any other work activities, or stay longer than 3 months, you’ll need to apply for a work visa.
Entrepreneur Work Visa
Entrepreneur work visas are a category of work visa allowing self-employment in New Zealand.
Who should apply?
• first-time Entrepreneur Work Visa applicants, or
• applicants who hold a work visa under the Entrepreneur Work or Long-Term Business Visa Category (LTBV) and are applying for a further work visa, or
• applicants who are applying for consent to change their business plan.
Entrepreneur Residence Visa
The Entrepreneur Residence Category is for applicants who have established and operated
high growth and innovative businesses with export potential in New Zealand. There are two
streams to this category:
Entrepreneur Residence (2 years) is for applicants who have successfully run their business in New Zealand for at least two years. Applicants do not have to be on an Entrepreneur Work Visa (or Long-Term Business Visa (LTBV)) to be granted residence under the 2-year option.
Entrepreneur Residence (6 months) is for applicants who are currently on an Entrepreneur Work Visa or LTBV and who have already:
- successfully run their business for at least six months, and
- invested at least NZ $500,000 in the business, and
- created at least three ongoing and permanent full-time jobs for New Zealand citizens or residents in the business.
Successful applicants under the Entrepreneur Residence (6 months) stream will be granted residence with conditions requiring them to run their business for at least two years.
A Global Impact Work Visa
A Global Impact work visa should only be applied for once you have been offered a fellowship on the Global Impact programme.