New Visa Pathway: Business Investor Visa

Aug. 29, 2025

A new Business Investor Work Visa will open for applications in November 2025. 

 

The requirements are substantially less than the Active Investor Plus category which requires an investment of $5M to $10M.

 

An applicant can either invest by purchasing outright, or a minimum of 25% of, an existing business:

 

NZD $1 million investment in an existing business, for a 3-year work-to-residence visa

NZD $2 million investment in an existing business, for a 12-month fast-track work to residence visa

 

Your partner and dependent children can be included in your application

 

To be eligible for the Business Investor work visa, applicants must:

  1. Meet the minimum investment threshold

  2. Show they have at least NZD $500,000 to support themselves (and their family if they are including them in their application) while establishing their business

  3. Be aged 55 or younger when they apply

  4. Meet English language requirements (IELTS 5.0 or equivalent)

  5. Meet health and character requirements

  6. Meet business experience requirements

  7. Invest in a business that meets the financial threshold and employs at least 5 full-time equivalent staff.

  8. Pay the cost of Immigration NZ fee of NZD $12,380 which includes the visa application fee and immigration levy. 

 

A Business Investor Work Visa may be granted for up to 4 years and you can then apply Business Investor Resident Visa.

 

The Business Investor Work Visa complements the Active Investor Plus Visa, which was refreshed in April 2025, and is part of a broader update to business immigration settings to attract investment, talent, and international connections.

 

The following businesses are excluded from this category

  • drop-shipping

  • gambling

  • the manufacturing of tobacco or other nicotine-based products, including vaping

  • adult entertainment

  • convenience stores (for example, corner dairies)

  • businesses that offer immigration advisory services, or that were purchased from a Licensed Immigration Adviser (LIA), or where an LIA is materially involved

  • discount or value stores (for example, NZD $2 shops)

  • fast food outlets

  • franchised businesses

  • home-based businesses (businesses only operating from a residential address).

 

We are very experienced business, property and immigration specialist lawyers.  We have helped many hundreds of immigration clients as well as business clients and can provide you with expert legal assistance to help you into a business and obtain the new Business Investor visa.

 

For further information on the Business Investor Visa and a discussion of whether this visa may be right for you or assistance with your application, please contact us on immigration@becker.co.nz

 

David Becker

Director

 

 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is general in nature and is not tailored to your circumstances. It is only current as at the date posted and should not be relied upon as legal advice.  If you require legal advice, please contact us for further assistance.