New Zealand Business Visa Options
Apply for New Zealand business visas for investors and active business operators. Intergate offers expert guidance on the Active Investor Plus Visa and the Business Investor Work Visa.
- Licensed advice
- Evidence and timing
- Next step
New Zealand business visas cover two live entry points: the Active Investor Plus Visa for high-net-worth individuals making substantial investments into the New Zealand economy, and the Business Investor Work Visa for experienced business people investing in and growing established New Zealand businesses. The Business Investor Work Visa replaced the Entrepreneur Work Visa for new applicants in November 2025; existing Entrepreneur Work Visa holders retain their pathway to the Entrepreneur Resident Visa.
Eligibility
- 01
Minimum investment capital meeting the Active Investor Plus threshold
The Active Investor Plus Visa requires a minimum investment of NZD 5 million (Growth category) or NZD 10 million (Balanced category). Funds must be lawfully obtained, transferable to New Zealand, and deployed within the required timeline after approval in principle.
- 02
Investment in an established New Zealand business under the Business Investor Work Visa
The Business Investor Work Visa, which opened on 24 November 2025 and replaces the Entrepreneur Work Visa, requires investment into an established New Zealand business: NZD 1 million for the three-year work-to-residence pathway, or NZD 2 million for the twelve-month fast-track to residence. The target business must have been trading for at least five years, employ at least five full-time equivalent staff, and the applicant must hold at least 25 percent ownership.
- 03
Settlement funds and personal eligibility for the Business Investor Work Visa
In addition to the qualifying investment, applicants must hold at least NZD 500,000 in reserve funds to support themselves and any included family members during the establishment period. Applicants must be aged 55 or younger at application, have at least three years of acceptable business experience, and intend to create at least one new full-time job for a New Zealand citizen or resident.
- 04
Comprehensive and viable business case
Both Active Investor Plus and Business Investor Work Visa applications require a business case that demonstrates market understanding, financial projections, the role the applicant will play in the business, and a credible path to economic benefit for New Zealand. Generic plans and aspirational projections are routinely rejected.
- 05
Residency requirements met during the investment period
Active Investor Plus holders must spend at least 21 days in New Zealand over the three-year Growth category investment term, or at least 105 days over five years for the Balanced category. Business Investor Work Visa holders must run the business across a three-year qualifying period before residence is granted, including those who entered on the twelve-month fast-track threshold. Failing to meet presence and engagement requirements before applying for residence is a common disqualification.
- 06
Health, character, and English requirements
All business and investor visa categories carry standard health and character obligations: medical examination, chest X-ray, and police certificates from country of citizenship and any country lived in for five or more years since age 17. The Active Investor Plus Visa removed the English language requirement on 1 April 2025. The Business Investor Work Visa requires IELTS 5.0 overall or equivalent, with test results no more than two years old; the requirement may be met instead through qualifying citizenship, work, or study experience in English.
- 07
Lawful source and transferability of funds
Investment capital must be lawfully obtained and freely transferable to New Zealand. INZ requires audited financial documentation tracing the source of funds, and the funds must be capable of being deployed into the qualifying investment within the timeline set by the approval in principle.
Mistakes that cost a refusal
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Pursuing the Entrepreneur Work Visa as a new-applicant pathway; the category closed to new applications in November 2025 and was replaced by the Business Investor Work Visa. Existing Entrepreneur Work Visa holders may still progress to the Entrepreneur Resident Visa, but the entry point for new applicants is now the Business Investor Work Visa.
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Submitting a Business Investor Work Visa application with a plan that is aspirational rather than evidence-backed; Immigration New Zealand expects market data, realistic financial projections, and a clearly defined role for the applicant within the existing business.
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Misunderstanding the investment-vehicle requirements for the Active Investor Plus Visa; not all asset classes qualify, and the Growth-versus-Balanced category distinction affects which investments count toward the threshold.
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Failing to meet residency-day requirements during the Active Investor Plus investment term before applying for residence; investors who spend insufficient time in New Zealand cannot progress to residence.
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Relying on informal valuations of offshore business assets rather than audited financial statements when documenting source of funds for either the Active Investor Plus or Business Investor Work Visa.
From first call to grant
01 · 1-2 wk
Strategy
Pathway selection between the Active Investor Plus Visa and the Business Investor Work Visa; investment threshold and category modelling; investment vehicle structuring advice.
02 · 4-8 wk
Evidence and business case
Business plan preparation, audited financial documentation tracing source of funds, investment structure confirmation, and supporting evidence compilation.
03 · 4-12 wk
Approval in Principle or application
Approval in Principle application lodged for the Active Investor Plus Visa, or Business Investor Work Visa application lodged with all evidence in support of the chosen investment threshold.
04 · 4-12 wk
Investment deployment
Funds transferred and deployed into the qualifying investment within the timeline set by the approval. Compliance documentation prepared for the residence application.
05 · 3-12 mo
Decision and grant
Immigration New Zealand assessment; response to requests for further information; visa grant and conditions confirmed.
What that buys you
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Licensed Immigration Advisers frame the business case for migration officers, translating commercial track records and investment structures into the evidence format that Immigration New Zealand expects.
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Investment-vehicle structuring guidance ensures that capital deployed in New Zealand qualifies as a complying investment under the applicable category rules.
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Residency-day tracking for Active Investor Plus holders during the investment term, so the minimum presence requirement is met before the residence application is lodged.
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Honest no-go assessment: if a business plan does not yet demonstrate the required innovation, growth, or economic benefit, advisers identify what needs to be developed before lodgement.
We work on a transparent flat fee, quoted at the consultation. We do not publish prices because the right number is the case-specific one.
Active Investor Plus Visa
As of 1 April 2025, the Active Investor Plus Visa operates under two categories. The Growth Category requires a minimum investment of NZD 5 million in higher-risk assets over three years, with at least 21 days of presence in New Zealand during the investment term. The Balanced Category requires NZD 10 million in lower-risk assets such as bonds, listed equities, or philanthropy over five years, with at least 105 days of presence (reduced for larger investments). The English language requirement was removed in April 2025.
Business Investor Work Visa
The Business Investor Work Visa opened on 24 November 2025 and replaces the Entrepreneur Work Visa for new applicants. It is designed for migrants who invest in and grow established New Zealand businesses. Two thresholds apply: an investment of NZD 1 million or more in an existing business unlocks a three-year work-to-residence pathway, while an investment of NZD 2 million or more provides a twelve-month fast-track to residence. The target business must have been trading for at least five years, employ at least five full-time equivalent staff, and the applicant must hold at least 25 percent ownership and intend to create at least one new full-time job for a New Zealand citizen or resident. Applicants must also be aged 55 or younger at application, hold at least three years of acceptable business experience, and demonstrate NZD 500,000 in reserve settlement funds. English is met through IELTS 5.0 overall or equivalent, or through qualifying citizenship, work, or study experience.
Existing Entrepreneur Work Visa holders
The Entrepreneur Work Visa is closed to new applications. Current holders may still apply for a further work visa if additional time is needed to qualify, and they retain their pathway to the Entrepreneur Resident Visa, which is granted on demonstrating significant benefit to New Zealand through job creation, export revenue, or other economic contribution. New applicants should plan around the Active Investor Plus Visa or the Business Investor Work Visa.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I bring my family to New Zealand on a business visa?
Yes. Partners and dependent children can be included in both Active Investor Plus and Business Investor Work Visa applications. Partners are typically granted work rights and dependent children can study in New Zealand under the same residence outcome.
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What happens to my investment if my Active Investor Plus application is refused?
Under the current rules, funds must be transferred within six months of Approval in Principle (with one extension available). If the residence application is ultimately refused, the investment vehicle structure determines how funds can be repatriated. We advise on structuring that protects flexibility.
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I hold an Entrepreneur Work Visa. Can I still apply for residence?
Yes. The Entrepreneur Work Visa closed to new applications in November 2025, but existing holders can still progress to the Entrepreneur Resident Visa, and a further work visa may be granted if additional time is needed to qualify. New applicants should look at the Business Investor Work Visa, which replaces the Entrepreneur Work Visa as the entry point.
Next step
Speak with a licensed advisor about your visa options.
A focused consultation routed to the right licensed advisor. Continue independently after the call, or proceed with us and have the consultation fee deducted from the service fee.