New Zealand’s business migration policies are designed to contribute to economic growth, attracting ‘smart’ capital and business expertise, and enabling experienced business people to buy or establish businesses here.
Two business migration policy areas provide for residence – Migrant Investor and Entrepreneur. Opportunity also exists for retired people to live temporarily in New Zealand. There is also a temporary retirement category.
The Migrant Investment categories are for people who want to obtain residence in New Zealand and are divided into two categories – Investor Plus and Investor.
The Investor Plus category requires applicants to invest a minimum of $10 million in New Zealand over three years, and to spend at least 20 percent of each of the last two years of the investment period here (73 days per year).
The Investor category requires applicants to invest $1.5 million here over four years, to bring $1 million in settlement funds and to spend at least 40 percent of each of the last three years of the investment each year here (146 days per year). Investor category applicants must be 65 or under, have at least three years’ business experience and either have an English-speaking background or show they are a competent speaker of English.
The Entrepreneur Residence Category provides a pathway to residence for migrants who can demonstrate they have been actively participating in their business and contributing to New Zealand’s economic development.
The Entrepreneur Residence Category (2 years) is for people who have successfully established a business in New Zealand and have been self-employed in that business for at least two years. Applicants in this category work towards residence under an Entrepreneur Work Visa or Long Term Business Visa.
The Entrepreneur Residence Category (6 months) provides a faster track to residence for people who have successfully established and run a business for at least six months and invested at least $500,000, and created a minimum of three new fulltime jobs for New Zealand citizens or residents.
Successful applicants can be granted conditional residence once they have made their required investment and created three full-time jobs. Their residence is confirmed after two years. Applicants for a visa under the Entrepreneur Residence Category (6 months) must be on an Entrepreneur Work Visa or Long Term Business Visa to apply for residence under this category.
The Temporary Retirement category provides for people 66 or over to come to New Zealand in their retirement. Applicants must invest at least $750,000 for two years and have $500,000 in maintenance funds, an annual income of at least $60,000 and comprehensive medical insurance. Entry under this category is renewable, subject to these conditions continuing to be met, and to the applicants continuing to meet health and other requirements.
