NewZealand - Entrepreneur

To be eligible for residence in New Zealand under Entrepreneur Category, you need to have successfully established, and be self-employed or working in, a business that is benefiting New Zealand. You may have applied for, and gained, a Long Term Business Visa or Permit so that you could establish the business, and now wish to apply for residence.  Or you may have held a Work Permit granted under another category that allowed you to establish your own business and you now want to apply for residence. 

If so, you:  

  • - must have established, purchased, or made a substantial investment of at least 25 per cent in a business operating in New Zealand
  • - must have been self employed or, if you’re a part-owner, have worked, in that business for two years before you apply for residence as an entrepreneur
  • - or any partner or children who are with you must not have sought social welfare assistance.

Where you first applied for a Long Term Business Visa or Permit, they’ll decline your application for residence if:  

  • - your business is different from the one included in your Long Term Business Visa or Permit application
    and
  • - fails to meet our business plan requirements
    and
  • - the business does not have at least the same level of investment as your original proposal
    and
  • - you do not have previous experience in that business. 

You don’t need to have a Long Term Business Permit

If you have a successfully established business that’s been operating for two years you can apply directly for a Residence Permit to apply under our Entrepreneur Category.