Entrepreneur resident visa for New Zealand

This visa is for people who have been self-employed in New Zealand at least 6 months, or have operated a business for two years on another visa that allows self-employment.

Category
Entrepreneur
Lets you stay
Indefinite
Cost to apply
$2,903

No nationality restriction on record. Bilateral visas, working holidays especially, usually do have one, so confirm with the official source before you count on it.

Entry permission

You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing an arrival card, which you are given on the way to New Zealand.

ARRIVING IN NEW ZEALAND

You can be refused entry permission if:

  • you don’t meet our character requirements
  • your circumstances have changed since you were granted a visa
  • you refuse to let us to take your photo, or provide us with your fingerprints or an iris scan, if we ask you for them.

Work

If you've been operating your business for less than 2 years, you must keep working in your own business for 2 years.

The 2-year time period includes any time you’ve been working for yourself in New Zealand on an Entrepreneur Work Visa.

If you’re unable to continue working in your own business, you and your family may have to leave New Zealand.

Capital investment

If you've been operating your business for less than 2 years, you must keep your nominated capital invested in your business for 2 years.

The 2-year time period includes any time you’ve been working for yourself in New Zealand on an Entrepreneur Work Visa.

If you’re unable to retain your capital investment, you and your family may have to leave New Zealand.

New jobs

If you've operated your business for less than 2 years, you must continue to employ people in the new jobs created, for a minimum of 2 years.

The 2-year time period includes any time you’ve been working for yourself in New Zealand on an Entrepreneur Work Visa.

If you’re unable to continue to employ people in the new jobs you created over the 2-year period, you and your family may have to leave New Zealand."

Last verified · Official source