Business Investor Resident Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Business Investor Resident Visa
Stay	Indefinitely
Cost	From NZD $14,890
Eligibility timing	12 months or 3 years
Work rights	Work and run business
Study	Study in New Zealand
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple travel for 2 years
Citizenship	Usually after 5 resident years
Family sponsorship	Partner and dependent children 24 or younger
Visa record	Must be in valid passport
Processing	Country-specific; not displayed
Application method	Paper application
Permanent residence	Eligible after 2 years
Fast-track investment	At least NZD $2 million
Standard investment	At least NZD $1 million

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Purpose

This resident visa is for holders of a current Business Investor Work Visa who have actively run their approved New Zealand business for the required period.

It allows you to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely, and continue running your business.

Eligibility

You must:

• Hold a current Business Investor Work Visa.
• Have been self-employed and actively involved in the same approved business.
• Meet one of these pathways:
  • Standard pathway: invested at least NZD $1 million and ran the business for 3 years.
  • Fast-track pathway: invested at least NZD $2 million and ran the business for 12 months.
• Have invested in an existing business; property value and GST do not count.
• Keep at least the originally approved ownership proportion.
• Spend at least 184 days each year in New Zealand while holding the work visa.
• Hold required New Zealand professional or occupational registration.
• Be a fit and proper person.
• Meet health, character and other visa requirements.

Your business must:

• Employ at least 5 full-time equivalent staff.
• Have created and maintained, for at least 12 months, 1 additional full-time job for a New Zealand citizen or resident.
• Be solvent and comply with financial, tax and legal obligations.
• Remain compliant with immigration, employment and business standards.

A job is considered ongoing if vacant for no more than 3 months in a 12-month period.

Fast-Track Conditions

Fast-track applicants can apply after 12 months, but must run the same business for at least 3 years in total.

Until the 3-year requirement is met, you must:

• Continue actively running the approved business.
• Retain the approved ownership proportion.
• Spend at least 184 days in New Zealand each 12-month period.
• Maintain 5 full-time equivalent staff.
• Keep the business compliant, solvent and legally compliant.

Provide evidence within 3 months after completing the 3-year business-running requirement.

If you cannot continue running the business, you and your family may have to leave New Zealand.

Family Provisions

You may include your:

• Partner.
• Dependent children aged 24 or younger.

You must show a genuine relationship and provide identity, health and character evidence for included family members.

Partners and dependent children aged 16 or older must meet English-language requirements or pay for English lessons. Evidence may be based on citizenship, study and qualifications, English tests, or payment for lessons.

English test results must be no more than 2 years old when you apply.

If English evidence is outstanding, the application may be approved in principle. You then have 6 months to provide the evidence.

If a partner or dependent child has, or applied for, a New Zealand temporary visa based on their relationship with you, they must be included in the residence application.

Health and Character

You must be in good health and of good character.

Health evidence

Provide a chest X-ray and medical examination if required. Health evidence must be less than 3 months old when received.

Character evidence

Applicants aged 17 or older must provide police certificates from:

• Countries of citizenship.
• Any country where they stayed for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when applying.

Fit and proper person requirement

All businesses you influence must comply with immigration, employment and taxation laws. You must not have:

• Been investigated for an offence arising from business dealings.
• A dishonesty conviction.
• Been involved in business fraud or financial impropriety.

Required Documents

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity.
• Two acceptable photos.
• Full birth certificate.
• Evidence of active business involvement.
• Qualified statutory accountant’s assessment confirming solvency and financial-tax compliance.
• Lawyer’s letter confirming legal compliance.
• Evidence of 5 full-time equivalent employees.
• Evidence of the additional qualifying New Zealand citizen or resident job.
• Police certificates, if required.
• Medical examination and chest X-ray evidence, if required.
• Certified English translations of non-English police or medical certificates.

Business-involvement evidence may include audited accounts, bank statements, employee records, financial statements, GST and tax records, invoices, leases, employment agreements, utility invoices, sales agreements, and contracts.

Additional identity documents may apply:

• Hong Kong or Macao applicants applying locally: identity card.
• Indonesian citizens: Kartu Keluarga.
• New Caledonia applicants: livret de famille.
• Non-French nationals in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, or Wallis and Futuna: carte d’assuré.

How to Apply

Apply on paper.

1. Gather required documents and certified English translations.
2. Complete the application form.
3. Attach all supporting evidence.
4. Submit the application and pay the fee.
5. Respond if Immigration New Zealand requests further information.
6. Check email for the decision.

Enter identity details exactly as shown in your passport or certificate of identity. Errors may delay, decline the application, or lead to refusal of entry.

If your work visa may expire during processing, you may be eligible for a Specific Purpose Work Visa for up to 9 months to continue running the business. You must be the principal applicant and hold a current Business Investor Work Visa.

Fees and Processing

The visa costs from NZD $14,890.

Processing times, final costs, payment instructions and submission locations depend on nationality and are not displayed until country details are provided.

Travel and Arrival

If you apply from outside New Zealand, you must enter New Zealand within 12 months of visa issue.

You may travel in and out of New Zealand as often as you like for 2 years. After that, apply for a variation of conditions or a Permanent Resident Visa, if eligible.

If you are outside New Zealand when travel conditions expire, your visa also expires.

Before travelling, ensure the visa is in a valid passport. If your passport expires, apply to transfer the visa to your new passport.

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• Air travellers: from 24 hours before travel begins.
• Sea travellers: from 24 hours before departure from the last overseas port.

You may be refused entry permission if you no longer meet character requirements, your circumstances have changed, or you refuse a photo, fingerprint or iris scan.

Staying Longer

After holding this visa for at least 2 years and meeting all conditions, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

A Permanent Resident Visa allows indefinite travel in and out of New Zealand, provided it remains in a valid passport.

Removing section 49 conditions

Fast-track applicants must meet their section 49 conditions before applying to have them removed and then applying for a Permanent Resident Visa.

To request removal, provide:

• A cover letter with current contact details.
• Valid passport copies for all included applicants.
• Evidence of meeting the conditions, such as an independent accountant’s or solicitor’s letter.
• Proof of residential address during the 3 years.

There is no cost to remove section 49 conditions.

Citizenship

After 5 years living in New Zealand as a resident, you can usually apply for New Zealand citizenship. A Permanent Resident Visa is not required first.