Employees of Relocating Business Resident Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Employees of Relocating Business Resident Visa
Stay	Indefinite
Cost	From NZD $5,510
Eligibility timing	Not eligible for other residence
Work rights	Relocating business only, 24 months
Study	Permitted indefinitely
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple travel before visa expiry
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Partner and dependent children
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Business support	NZTE support required
English	Required
Application processing	Country-specific information unavailable

---

Purpose

This resident visa is for a key employee whose role is integral to a business relocating to New Zealand. You must not be eligible for any other resident visa.

Immigration New Zealand may grant a work visa to allow the business relocation before granting residence.

Eligibility

You must:

• Have a role integral to the relocating business.
• Speak and understand English.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Be a fit and proper person.
• Provide a CEO letter supporting your role and the relocation.
• Work only for the relocating business for 24 months after relocation.
• Meet all other visa requirements.

Fit and proper person

You must confirm you meet fit and proper person requirements. Businesses you influence must comply with immigration, employment and taxation laws.

You must not have:

• Been investigated for a business-related offence by the Serious Fraud Office or New Zealand Police.
• A dishonesty conviction.
• Been involved in business fraud or financial impropriety.

Relocating Business Requirements

The business must:

• Have New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) support.
• Comply with New Zealand employment and immigration law.
• Be operating in New Zealand when residence is granted.
• Not be on the Labour Inspectorate non-compliant employer list.

Immigration New Zealand will check NZTE support directly.

CEO letter

The CEO letter must state:

• Business name and New Zealand location.
• Reason for relocating to New Zealand.
• Confirmation of employment and immigration law compliance.
• Your current and post-relocation roles.
• Why your role is integral.
• How the relocation benefits New Zealand.

Benefits may include new or improved technology, skills, products, services, export markets, or at least one full-time job for a New Zealander. The business should be trading profitably, or have potential to do so within 12 months.

Business operation evidence

Evidence that the business is operating in New Zealand may include:

• Certificate of incorporation.
• Audited accounts, GST or tax records.
• Business premises purchase or lease documents.
• Equipment or supply invoices.
• Employment agreements or bank statements.
• Power bills, sales agreements or service contracts.

Required Evidence

Identity

Provide:

• Two acceptable head-and-shoulders photos.
• Original or certified passport or certificate of identity.
• Original or certified full birth certificate.

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your intended departure from New Zealand.

Additional identity evidence:

• Hong Kong or Macao applicants applying locally: identity card copy.
• Thai citizens without birth certificates: identity card accepted.
• Indian citizens without birth certificates: School Leaving Certificate or Class 10th or 12th Certificate accepted.

Health

Provide a chest X-ray and medical examination.

Character

Applicants and included family members aged 17 or older must provide police certificates from:

• Every country of citizenship.
• Any country lived in for 12 months or more during the last 10 years.

Police certificates not in English require an English translation.

English language

Provide one of the following:

• Acceptable English language test result.
• Evidence of an English-speaking background.
• Evidence you are a competent English user for other reasons.

Test results must be no more than 2 years old.

Your role

Provide evidence that your role is integral, such as:

• Appointment letters or service certificates.
• Payslips, tax records or job descriptions.
• Performance reviews.
• Employer references.

Employer references should be on company letterhead and include your role, start date, employer contact number and address.

Family Provisions

You may include your partner and dependent children in your application.

You must show:

• A genuine relationship with your partner and children.
• Relationship evidence, such as marriage and birth certificates.
• That family members meet identity, character, health and English requirements.

While the business is being relocated, included partners and dependent children may be granted visitor or student visas.

Stay, Work and Study

The visa allows you to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

For the first 24 months after the business relocates, you must work only for that business.

Three months before the 24-month employment period ends, Immigration New Zealand will request evidence that you met:

• The work condition.
• Any responsibility to ensure the business complies with employment and immigration law.

If these conditions cannot be confirmed, you and your family may not be able to remain in New Zealand.

Travel

You must enter New Zealand within 12 months of visa grant.

After arrival, you may travel in and out of New Zealand as often as you wish before the visa expires.

After the 24-month period, you need a variation of conditions or a permanent resident visa to travel.

Ongoing Obligations

During the 24-month employment period, you must:

• Work only for the relocating business.
• Ensure business compliance with immigration and employment law, if this is your role.
• Tell Immigration New Zealand about address or contact-detail changes.
• Keep your visa linked to a valid passport for travel.

If your passport expires, apply to transfer the visa to your new passport before travelling. This requires old and new passports, an Application for Transfer or Confirmation of a Visa, and a transfer fee.

Entry Requirements

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

• Air travellers: submit from 24 hours before travel begins.
• Sea travellers: submit from 24 hours before the ship leaves its last overseas port.

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