New Zealand New Zealand Business Investor Work Visa — Residency Program
🏠 OVERVIEW
Country
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Program
New Zealand Business Investor Work Visa
Type
Entrepreneur
Status
Active
Initial Duration
48 months
Max Duration
48 months
Work-to-residence visa for experienced investors investing NZD 1-2M in existing NZ businesses with 5+ employees.
🪙 INVESTMENT OPTIONS
| Type | Tier/Zone | Min Amount | USD Equivalent | Holding | Returnable | Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business | Standard (3-year) | NZD 1,000,000 | $580,000 | 3yr | Yes | Optional |
| Business | Fast-Track (12-month) | NZD 2,000,000 | $1,160,000 | 1yr | Yes | Optional |
💰 FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
Savings Required
$290,000
Application Fee
$7,400
📋 ELIGIBILITY
Min Age
18+
Criminal Record Check
Required
Health Check
Required
Health Insurance
Not required
💼 WORK RIGHTS
Employment
Allowed
Self-Employment
Allowed
Own Business
Allowed
Work Permit Included
Yes
👨👩👧 FAMILY & DEPENDENTS
Dependents Allowed
Yes
Spouse Included
Yes
Max Child Age
24
Parents Allowed
No
💰 TAX DETAILS
Tax Regime
Worldwide
Regime Name
NZ progressive tax (10.5-39%)
Foreign Income Taxed
Yes
Capital Gains Taxed
No
🏆 PATH FORWARD
Permanent Residency
Yes
Years to PR
1 years
Dual Citizenship
Allowed
Citizenship
Yes
Years to Citizenship
5 years
Language Required
B1
🌍 BENEFITS & MOBILITY
Bank Account
Can open
Property Purchase
Allowed
Public Healthcare
Access granted
Primary Residence
Required
📝 HOW TO APPLY
Method
online
Processing Time
30–90 days
Apply from Abroad
Yes
📝 NOTES
Opened November 2025, replacing Entrepreneur Work Visa. Two options: NZD 1M (3-year work-to-residence) or NZD 2M (12-month fast-track). Must have NZD 500K living funds. Business must employ 5+ FTE. Fee NZD 12,380 (~$7,400). IELTS 5.0 required.
📋 ALSO IN NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand also offers a digital nomad visa for remote workers:
- Visitor Visa (Remote Work Permitted) (digital nomad visa)