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New Zealand : INVESTMENT OPTIONS

1. Investment and Business visas
Capital and the right skills are required to open up opportunities to settle, or at least spend considerable time here, enjoying all this beautiful country has to offer.
Investor Visa: $ 3mNZD & Invested for 4 years
146 days in NZ in each of the last three years of a four year investment period or 438 days in NZ over the four year investment period.
Additional requirements

  • Minimum 3 years business experience
  • English language requirements apply
  • Family members must have English language ability the same as principal applicant or pre-purchase ESOL tuition
  • Maximum applicant age 65 years

Investor Plus Visa: $10mNZD & Invested for 3 years
44 days in NZ in each of the last 2 years of a three year investment period or 88 days over the three year investment period.
Acceptable investments
Under investor policies, must fit the 'acceptable investment' criteria which can be as follows:

  • Equity in NZ firms, public or private. An equity investment can be active or passive, and be made direct or via managed funds (only the proportion of the Fund that is invested in NZ is counted as acceptable).
  • Bonds, issued by the NZ Government, NZ local authorities or approved NZ banks, finance companies or firms.
  • New residential property development that is not for the investor’s personal use and designed to make a commercial return on the open market.
  • Up to 15% of the investment total can be philanthropic investment.

Generally, to be considered acceptable, an investment must:

  • Be capable of a commercial return under normal circumstances.
  • Be invested in New Zealand in New Zealand currency.
  • Have the potential to contribute to New Zealand’s economy.
  • Not be for the personal use of the investor

2. Entrepreneur visas
Entrepreneur visas are for people who are experienced businessperson interested in being self-employed in their own business.

Most people start out on an Entrepreneur Work Visa, which allows person to move to New Zealand and buy or establish a business. Post six months or two years person can then apply for residence under the Entrepreneur Residence Category.
Entrepreneur Work Visa
This three year work visa is structured in two stages:

  • Start-up stage: If your application is approved, you will initially be given a 12-month work visa, enabling you to buy or establish your business in New Zealand.
  • Balance stage: Once you have proven that you have taken steps to establish your business, you're granted the remaining 24 months of your visa. 

Requirements for this visa include:

  • minimum capital investment of NZ$100,000 (excluding working capital)
  • 120 points or more, with points awarded for factors about the likely success of the business and its value to New Zealand
  • clear business plan
  • clean recent history of bankruptcy, business failure and fraud
  • Health, character and English language requirements.

Residence for entrepreneurs
If one has  established a high growth and innovative business with export potential in New Zealand , then The Entrepreneur Residence Category allows individual to live in New Zealand permanently There are two ways of qualifying for residence under this policy:

  • Entrepreneur Residence Category (2 years) - Requires you to have successfully established or purchased a business in New Zealand and have been self-employed in that business for at least two years, and for your business to have significantly benefited New Zealand.
  • Entrepreneur Residence Category (6 months) - This option provides a faster track to residence if you have invested at least NZ$500,000 in your business and have created a minimum of three new full-time jobs for New Zealand citizens or residents.

Health, character and English language requirements need to be met under both categories.
Family is included. Partners and dependent children can be granted work and student visas if they are accompanying the holder of an Entrepreneur Work Visa to New Zealand. They can also be included in an Entrepreneur Residence Visa application.

3. Global Impact Visa (GIVs)
For high impact entrepreneur or investor looking to create scalable: Immigration New Zealand has partnered with the Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) to deliver this innovative new visa, designed to attract talented and visionary entrepreneurs, investors and start-up teams with the drive and capabilities to create innovation-based ventures in New Zealand. 
The Fellowship is a 3-year programmer that provides up to 400 impact-driven entrepreneurs, investors and start-up teams with a platform to incubate global impact ventures from New Zealand.  
There are two stages to the application process:

  1. Submit an application, and be accepted into, the Edmund Hillary Fellowship
  2. Apply for a Global Impact Visa. 

The Edmund Hillary Fellowship
Before applying for a Global Impact Visa applicant must be accepted into the Edmund Hillary Fellowship. The Fellowship selection process occurs twice a year, after which successful applicants will be sent a Letter of Offer and invited to apply for a Global Impact Visa.
Participation in the program provides fellows with:

  • Access to a supportive local and global network of investors, advisors, partners and mentors
  • A community of visionary entrepreneurial leaders and a diverse group of Fellows in each cohort
  • Connection to centers of excellence in different regions of New Zealand
  • Regular events, demo days, retreats learning and sharing opportunities, and a platform to tell your story
  • Help to identify the best integration support for yourself and immediate family
  • Access to investment and scaling opportunities in NZ and overseas
  • Access to top talent, universities, accelerators and incubators, policy makers, investment and Research & Development grants.

The Fellowship has 100 places available each year for international candidates, and will also accept up to 20 New Zealand entrepreneurs and investors every year.
Global Impact Visa (GIVs)
Once nominated for acceptance into EHF, candidates are invited to apply for a Global Impact Visa to live and work in New Zealand, on a three-year open work visa.
Requirements for this visa include:

  • A Letter of Offer from EHF
  • NZ$36,000 maintenance funds to support you and your family for the first year
  • Health, character and English language requirements.

If you have family they will need to apply for visas under the Partnership and Dependent Child categories.
Residence for EHF Fellows
Upon completion of the three-year program, international Fellows become part of the EHF alumni community, and are eligible to apply for New Zealand permanent resident visas. 
To be eligible for permanent residence applicant is required to remain in the Edmund Hillary Fellowship for 30 months before applying, and maintain the support of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship.