If you have been researching the New Zealand Business Investor Visa, the first thing to know is that the landscape changed significantly in 2025. The Entrepreneur Work Visa — New Zealand’s longstanding business start-up pathway — was officially closed to new applications on 27 August 2025. In its place, Immigration New Zealand introduced the Business Investor Work Visa, which opened for applications on 24 November 2025. This guide covers the current visa in full: how it works, who qualifies, what the investment thresholds are, and how to navigate the path to residence.
New Zealand Business Investor Visa: The Replacement for the Entrepreneur Visa
The Business Investor Work Visa is designed for experienced business people who want to invest in, purchase, and actively operate an established New Zealand business. Unlike the old Entrepreneur Visa, which allowed applicants to set up a new business from scratch, the new visa requires investment into an already operating business — one that employs staff and meets specific financial thresholds.
The visa is valid for up to 4 years and is structured in two stages: an Establishment Stage covering the first 12 months (during which you purchase the business and start running it) and an Operating Stage covering the remaining 3 years.
Applicants can include a partner and dependent children in their application. Both lead to permanent residence in New Zealand through the Business Investor Resident Visa.
Two Investment Pathways
The visa offers two distinct investment thresholds, each with a different timeline to residence.
| Pathway | Minimum Investment | Reserve Funds Required | Time Running Business Before Residence Eligibility | Visa Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | NZD $1 million | NZD $500,000 | 3 years | Up to 4 years |
| Fast-Track | NZD $2 million | NZD $500,000 | 12 months (must still run business for 3 years total across both visas) | Up to 4 years |
Under both pathways, you can purchase a business outright or acquire at least 25% of the business, as long as your investment meets the relevant threshold. Under the fast-track pathway, a residence visa may be granted after 12 months, but conditions are applied requiring you to continue running the business for a total of 3 years across both visas.
Who Can Apply: Eligibility for the New Zealand Business Investor Visa
To be eligible for the Business Investor Work Visa, applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 55 years or younger at the time of application |
| Investment | At least NZD $1 million (standard) or NZD $2 million (fast-track) in an acceptable established business |
| Reserve Funds | At least NZD $500,000 to support yourself and any family members while running the business |
| Business Employment | The business must employ at least 5 full-time equivalent staff |
| Business Ownership | Purchase outright or acquire at least 25% shareholding |
| English Language | Must meet minimum English language requirements (e.g. IELTS 5.0 or equivalent) |
| Business Experience | Must demonstrate relevant prior business experience |
| Health & Character | Must meet standard INZ health and character requirements |
Age Limit
Applicants must be 55 years of age or younger when they submit their application. There is no minimum age, but the visa is clearly directed at those with established business experience.
Investment and Reserve Funds
The investment threshold — NZD $1 million or NZD $2 million — must go into an acceptable established New Zealand business. Separately, applicants must demonstrate they hold at least NZD $500,000 in reserve funds to cover living costs for themselves and any family included in the application while they establish the business.
Business Experience
INZ requires applicants to demonstrate relevant business experience. This typically means a track record of managing or owning a business, but the specific documentation requirements are assessed on a case-by-case basis. The intent is to ensure the applicant can genuinely operate a New Zealand business, not simply act as a passive investor.
English Language Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient English to run a business in New Zealand. The minimum accepted scores across approved tests are listed below.
| Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| IELTS (General or Academic) | 5.0 overall |
| TOEFL iBT | 46 |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | 42 |
| Cambridge English B2 First (FCE) | 154 |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | Grade C |
Business Types That Do Not Qualify
Not every business type is acceptable under this visa. INZ maintains a specific exclusion list. Investing in any of the following will result in the application being declined.
| Excluded Business Category |
|---|
| Drop-shipping businesses |
| Gambling operations |
| Tobacco, nicotine, or vaping product manufacturers |
| Adult entertainment businesses |
| Convenience stores (e.g. corner dairies) |
| Businesses that offer immigration advisory services, or purchased from / with material involvement of a Licensed Immigration Adviser |
| Discount or value stores (e.g. NZD $2 shops) |
| Fast food outlets |
| Franchised businesses |
| Home-based businesses (operating solely from a residential address) |
The exclusion list signals INZ’s intent: the visa targets businesses that contribute meaningfully to the New Zealand economy through employment, exports, or innovation — not retail or franchise operations that function largely independently of the owner’s expertise.
Visa Duration and the Establishment Stage
Once granted, the Business Investor Work Visa is valid for up to 4 years. Within the first 9 months, you must provide INZ with evidence that you have purchased and started running the business. If this evidence is accepted, the visa continues for the remainder of the 4-year period. If you do not provide acceptable evidence within 9 months, the visa will expire after the 12-month Establishment Stage.
If you need more time to meet the residence requirements at the end of the standard 4-year period, you can apply for one renewal of up to 2 years.
How to Apply for the New Zealand Business Investor Visa
Applications are submitted through Immigration New Zealand’s online system. The process broadly follows these steps:
- Identify a suitable established New Zealand business that meets the investment threshold and employs at least 5 full-time equivalent staff.
- Gather evidence of investment funds, reserve funds, business experience, English language test results, and health and character documents.
- Submit the application online via the INZ portal and pay the visa application fee.
- Within the first 9 months of the visa being granted, provide evidence that the business has been purchased and is being actively run.
- Continue operating the business through the Operating Stage to become eligible for the Business Investor Resident Visa.
The total cost of the Business Investor Work Visa is NZD $12,380, which includes the visa application fee and the immigration levy. Full details are available on the Business Investor Work Visa on Immigration New Zealand.
Pathway to Permanent Residence
Both investment pathways lead to eligibility for the Business Investor Resident Visa. The standard NZD $1 million pathway requires you to have actively run the business for 3 years before applying for residence. The fast-track NZD $2 million pathway allows you to apply for residence after 12 months — but note that conditions attached to the resident visa require you to keep running the business for a total of 3 years across both the work and resident visa periods. For more detail on how residence works, see our guide to permanent residence in New Zealand.
What Happened to the Entrepreneur Work Visa?
The Entrepreneur Work Visa closed to new applications on 27 August 2025. The New Zealand Government announced the closure as part of a broader update to business immigration settings, with the Business Investor Work Visa positioned as its successor.
If you are currently holding an Entrepreneur Work Visa, two things remain available to you:
- You can still apply for the Entrepreneur Resident Visa — the pathway to residence under the old category remains open for existing visa holders.
- If you need more time to meet the residence requirements, you can still apply for a renewal of your Entrepreneur Work Visa to maintain your pathway.
If you submitted an application for the Entrepreneur Work Visa before the closure date, INZ will process it under the rules that were in place at the time of application.
How the Business Investor Visa Sits Alongside Other NZ Business Visas
The Business Investor Work Visa occupies a specific middle tier in New Zealand’s business immigration settings. It sits alongside the Active Investor Plus Visa, which is aimed at purely passive investors with significantly larger capital (NZD $5 million minimum for the Growth category, NZD $10 million for Balanced). The Business Investor Visa, by contrast, requires the applicant to actively run the business themselves — it is a work visa, not a passive investment scheme. For those interested in skilled employment rather than business ownership, the New Zealand Skilled Migrant Visa operates on a separate points-based framework. You can compare all options in the types of New Zealand visa overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the New Zealand Entrepreneur Visa still available?
No. The Entrepreneur Work Visa closed to new applications on 27 August 2025. It has been replaced by the Business Investor Work Visa, which opened for applications on 24 November 2025. Existing Entrepreneur Work Visa holders are not affected by the closure and can still pursue the Entrepreneur Resident Visa.
What is the minimum investment for the Business Investor Work Visa?
The minimum investment is NZD $1 million under the standard pathway or NZD $2 million under the fast-track pathway. In both cases, the investment must go into an established New Zealand business that employs at least 5 full-time equivalent staff. You must also show separate reserve funds of at least NZD $500,000.
Can I set up a new business under the Business Investor Work Visa?
No. Unlike the old Entrepreneur Work Visa, the Business Investor Work Visa requires you to invest in an already established business — not to start one from scratch. You can purchase the business outright or acquire at least a 25% shareholding, but the business must already be operating.
How long does the Business Investor Work Visa last?
The visa is valid for up to 4 years and covers two stages: a 12-month Establishment Stage (during which you purchase and begin running the business) and a 3-year Operating Stage. If you need additional time to meet residence requirements, one renewal of up to 2 years is available.
Is there an age limit for the Business Investor Work Visa?
Yes. Applicants must be 55 years of age or younger at the time they submit their application. There is no minimum age requirement, but the visa is intended for applicants with meaningful business experience.
Can my family come with me on the Business Investor Work Visa?
Yes. You can include a partner and dependent children in your Business Investor Work Visa application. They will receive the right to live in New Zealand for the duration of the visa period.
How does the Business Investor Visa lead to permanent residence?
After actively running your business for 3 years (standard pathway) or 12 months with continued conditions (fast-track pathway), you become eligible to apply for the Business Investor Resident Visa, which grants permanent residence. Both pathways use the same resident visa application — the difference is only in how quickly you become eligible.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Visa rules, fees, and eligibility criteria are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with Immigration New Zealand or a licensed immigration adviser before making any application.