Entrepreneur Work Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Entrepreneur Work Visa
Application status	Closed to new applications
Stay	Up to 3 years
Cost	From NZD $12,380
Processing	80% within 18 months
Eligibility timing	Renewals available after first 3 years
Work rights	Own approved business only
Study	Up to 3 months yearly
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple entry until expiry
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Partner and dependent children 19 or younger
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Residence pathway	May lead to resident visa

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Purpose

This visa was for people wanting to buy or start their own business in New Zealand.

New applications are closed. Existing visa holders may apply for one further Entrepreneur Work Visa renewal.

Previous Eligibility Requirements

Applicants had to:

• Be a fit and proper person.
• Invest at least NZD $100,000.
• Claim at least 120 points on the Entrepreneur points scale.
• Provide a detailed business plan.
• Speak and understand English.
• Meet health, character and identity requirements.
• Hold New Zealand occupational registration where required.

Immigration New Zealand cannot grant this visa to people who were bankrupt, involved in business failure within the last 5 years, or involved in business fraud or financial wrongdoing.

Points

Points may be awarded for:

• Age.
• Capital investment.
• Business experience.
• Benefits to New Zealand.
• Business location.

Points may be available for businesses located outside Auckland, creating new ongoing jobs, forecast export turnover, or offering a unique or new product or service.

Only an immigration officer can confirm points.

Investment Requirements

The required capital investment was at least NZD $100,000. Funds or assets had to be:

• Owned by the applicant, or jointly by the applicant and partner.
• Lawfully earned or acquired.
• Available in addition to living costs for the applicant and family.

Evidence may include bank statements, title deeds, property or asset valuations, share certificates, tax records, payslips, financial statements, dividends, sale receipts, inheritance evidence, or evidence of gifted money.

Investment funds could not be borrowed or secured by a loan or bond.

Capital investment could not include:

• Passive or speculative investments.
• Personal-use assets, including a home, car or boat.
• Salary or wages paid to the applicant or immediate family.
• Residential property investments, unless part of the business plan.

Investment Waiver

Immigration New Zealand may waive the minimum investment requirement for a business in science, ICT, or another high-value export sector with high innovation or short-term growth prospects.

A high-value export business would generally aim to:

• Create at least 5 jobs for New Zealanders.
• Turn over NZD $500,000 in annual exports.

If the investment requirement is waived, no points are available for capital investment.

Business Plan and Start-up

The business plan had to be detailed and no more than 3 months old when applying.

A business whose purpose was to help non-New Zealanders enter New Zealand could not be approved.

Visa holders must start up the approved business within the first 12 months. Near the end of this start-up stage, they must show they:

• Made the capital investment in the business plan.
• Took reasonable steps to establish or invest in the business.

Evidence may include bank transfers, incorporation records, audited accounts, GST or tax records, premises documents, invoices, employment agreements, business bank statements, sales agreements, and supply contracts.

A start-up period may be extended where the visa holder can show the business can be established within a specified time.

Minor business-plan changes require approval. Only one request may be made, and only small changes may be approved.

Required Evidence

Identity

Provide:

• Two acceptable head-and-shoulders photographs.
• Passport or certificate of identity.

Additional documents may apply to applicants from China, Hong Kong, Macao, Indonesia, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, or Wallis and Futuna.

Health

Applicants must be in good health and provide:

• A medical examination.
• A chest X-ray.

Applicants from China, Hong Kong or Macao applying there may need a chest X-ray completed within the last 3 months.

Character

Applicants aged 17 or older must provide police certificates from:

• Their country of citizenship.
• Each country where they lived for 5 years or more since age 17.

Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when applying. Non-English certificates require English translations.

English

Applicants must provide either:

• An acceptable English-language test result.
• Evidence of an English-speaking background.
• Evidence they are a competent English user for other reasons.

Test results must be no more than 2 years old.

Family

Partners and dependent children included in the application must have a genuine relationship with the applicant. Provide relationship evidence, such as marriage and birth certificates.

Family members must meet applicable identity, health and character requirements. They do not need to meet English requirements at this stage.

Rights and Conditions

Work

You may work only for yourself in the business and location named on your visa.

Study

You may study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period. A variation of conditions is required for longer study.

Travel

You may travel in and out of New Zealand as often as you like before the visa expires.

Welfare

You and any family granted visas based on your Entrepreneur Work Visa must not apply for or accept welfare assistance in New Zealand.

Contact Details and Evaluation

You must:

• Keep Immigration New Zealand updated about contact-detail changes for 5 years after approval.
• Agree to take part in an Entrepreneur Work Visa Category evaluation if requested.

Immigration New Zealand may check near the end of the start-up stage that visa conditions are being met. If it cannot confirm compliance, you may not be able to remain in New Zealand.

Expiry

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

Arrival Requirements

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• By air: from 24 hours before travel begins.
• By sea: from 24 hours before the vessel leaves its last overseas port.

You may be refused entry permission if you no longer meet character requirements, your circumstances have changed, or you refuse biometric collection.

Renewal

After 3 years on the first Entrepreneur Work Visa, you may apply for one renewal.

A business immigration specialist must approve the application. The fee and immigration levy must be paid.

For renewal, the specialist must be satisfied that you:

• Need more time to meet Entrepreneur Resident Visa requirements.
• Have been establishing and operating the original business proposal.
• Obtained approval for any business-plan changes.
• Intend to continue running the proposed business.
• Have sufficient business and living funds.
• Have not received welfare assistance.
• Meet residence health and character requirements.
• Continue to be a fit and proper person.

The renewal form is Entrepreneur Work Visa Application (INZ 1222).

Residence Pathway

You may be eligible for an Entrepreneur Resident Visa if you have:

• Been self-employed in New Zealand for at least 6 months; or
• Operated a self-employed business for 2 years on another visa.

If self-employed for less than 2 years, you must also have:

• A current Entrepreneur Work Visa.
• Invested at least NZD $500,000.
• Created at least 3 new jobs in New Zealand.