Invest and Live in NZ: New Business Investor Work Visa Applications Open November 24

Published on November 4, 2025

New Zealand, a nation long celebrated for its pristine beauty and stable economy, is rolling out the welcome mat for global entrepreneurs in a big way. On November 24, 2025, the government will officially open applications for the highly anticipated Business Investor Work Visa, a streamlined, strategic program designed to attract experienced business minds and their capital to the shores of Aotearoa.

This isn’t just a new piece of paper; it’s a deliberate pivot in immigration strategy. By replacing the previous, often complex, Entrepreneur Work Visa, New Zealand is making a clear, compelling offer: Come here, invest in our established, five-year-plus businesses, and we will give you a clear, fast-track path to permanent residency.

Choose Your Pace: Two Clear Paths to Residency

The new visa is a breath of fresh air for high-net-worth individuals and seasoned business owners looking for stability, transparency, and a high quality of life. It’s structured around two highly attractive investment pathways, allowing investors to choose the pace of their residency journey:

The Standard Pathway (NZD $1 Million): Invest at least NZD $1 million into an established business, and you become eligible for permanent residency after three years of actively running the enterprise.

The Fast-Track Pathway (NZD $2 Million): For those seeking rapid settlement, investing at least NZD $2 million dramatically shortens the process, making the investor and their family eligible for permanent residency in just 12 months!

The visa itself is valid for up to four years and, crucially, allows the applicant to include their partner and dependent children, underscoring New Zealand’s appeal as a secure, family-friendly destination.

It’s Not Just Passive Investment—It’s Active Participation

New Zealand is looking for more than just a capital deposit; they want active owner-managers who are ready to roll up their sleeves and contribute. This is why the visa requires investment into a business that has already been operating for at least five years, ensuring the capital goes toward strengthening proven enterprises, not speculative ventures.

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate substantial business experience—such as having owned a company with at least five full-time employees or generating annual revenue of at least NZD $1 million. They must also have a minimum of NZD $500,000 in reserve funds on top of the investment amount to support their family during the setup and growth phase.

This push for active engagement benefits New Zealand’s economy in two distinct ways: it injects vital capital into established enterprises, and it addresses the market need for seasoned management talent, particularly as many current business shareholders approach retirement.

The Integrity Checklist: Who Is Excluded?

To maintain the integrity of the program and ensure the investment delivers long-term economic value, Immigration New Zealand has specified several business types that do not qualify for investment under this visa. This exclusion list targets industries that offer low sustainable value or are purely consumer-facing convenience models.

The following business categories are specifically excluded:

• Convenience stores, discount shops, and drop-shipping operations.
• Fast food outlets and franchised businesses.
• Gambling, tobacco-related ventures (including vaping), and adult entertainment.
• Home-based businesses and immigration advisory services.

This clear guidance ensures that incoming capital is directed toward sectors like technology, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, aligning with the country’s broader economic and environmental goals.

The Pathway to the Future: Earning Residency

The path to residency is earned through sustained commitment. Once the initial investment and business operation period (either one year or three years) is complete, investors can apply for the Business Investor Resident Visa. To qualify, they must:

• Remain actively involved in the management and maintain their ownership stake.
• Ensure the business remains solvent and maintains at least five full-time equivalent jobs.
• Critically, they must create and maintain at least one new full-time job for a New Zealand citizen or resident for a minimum of 12 months.
• Meet the physical presence requirement: spending a minimum of 184 days in New Zealand in each of the final three years of the pathway.

This structured, demanding, yet rewarding system is New Zealand’s way of inviting the world’s business leaders to share not just their capital, but their skills, talent, and long-term vision in one of the world’s most stable and sought-after nations. The countdown is on until November 24th—a new era of economic partnership is about to begin.