The Ultimate Guide To New Zealand Investor Visa

An Ultimate Guide to New Zealand Investor Visa

New Zealand’s investor business migration visas are for investors who want to get residency in New Zealand. The investor visas could be a good choice for you and your family if you want to invest in your New Zealand lifestyle. There are two types of investors:

New Zealand Investor 1 Visa: Minimum investment of NZ$10 million for a period of at least three years
New Zealand Investor 2 Visa: Minimum investment of NZ$10 million for a period of at least three years

POPULATION

4.917 Million

CAPITAL

Wellington

CURRENCY

NZD

LANGUAGE

English

What are the Criteria for Approval?

Investor Visa NZ

146 days in New Zealand in each of the last three years of a four-year investment cycle, for a total of 438 days in New Zealand over the four years
Invest NZ$3 million in New Zealand
A minimum of three years of business experience
Complete English language requirements.
Family members must have the same level of English proficiency as the principal applicant or pay for ESOL tuition in advance
The maximum age limit for applicants is 65 years old

Investor Plus Visa NZ

You need to spend at least 44 days in NZ in each of the last two years of a three-year investment period. In other words, you have to be in New Zealand for 88 days over the three-year investment period.

There are no additional requirements for this visa.

Advantages for Growth Investments

Investor visa holders can flexibly fulfill their time in New Zealand obligation if they invest at least 25% of their investment funds in assets other than bonds and philanthropic investments. Investor 2 visa holders are required to spend 438 days over the four-year investment period and Investor Plus visa holders required to spend 88 days over the three-year investment period.

Investor 2 visa holders who invest at least 50% of their investment funds in assets other than bonds and philanthropic investment will have their investment sum reduced by $500,000. For example, if you spend $1.5 million outside of bonds and philanthropic investments and designate $3 million in investment funds, you would only need to invest $1 million more to satisfy the visa criteria.

What are Considered Acceptable Investments?

If you want to apply for one of the investor plans, the investments you make must meet “appropriate investment” requirements. In general, appropriate investments include:

1) Public or private equity in New Zealand companies. An active or passive equity investment may be made directly or by controlled funds (only the proportion of the fund that is invested in NZ is counted as acceptable)

2) Bonds issued by the New Zealand government, local governments, licensed banks, finance companies or firms in New Zealand

3) A new residential property development that is not for the investor’s personal use and is intended to generate a profit on the open market

4) Philanthropic investments can account for up to 15% of the overall expenditure

Your investment needs to be:

In normal conditions, able to generate a commercial profit
Invest in New Zealand with New Zealand dollars
Have the opportunity to contribute to the economy of New Zealand
Not for the investor’s personal use.

Details About Investment Funds

You may invest in a variety of funds and/or assets. They must be worth at least NZ$3 million for Investor and NZ$10 million for Investor Plus, though you can nominate more if your Expression of Interest claims more points (EOI).

You must prove that your investment and/or assets are held solely or jointly by you, your spouse, and/or any dependent children if they are included in the application.

You’ll also have to provide proof that the funds you’re planning to spend are:

Free of all encumbrances, such as mortgages, liens, charges and/or encumbrances (whether equitable or otherwise) or other creditor claims.
Were lawfully acquired or earned
Can be transferred through the banking system or a foreign exchange company that works with the banking system (Immigration New Zealand will not be able to approve your application if you are unable to transfer funds to New Zealand through the banking system)

Procedure After Approval of Residency

You will have 12 months to invest your funds in an appropriate New Zealand investment under either category. You must have verifiable documentation to demonstrate that the funds transferred to New Zealand came from the funds and/or properties you specify.

You may apply to have this period extended, as well as for a work visa to visit New Zealand and look into investment opportunities.

You must keep your investment funds in an appropriate investment for three years to qualify for the Investor Plus group. In years two and three of your three-year investment cycle, you must also spend at least 44 days in New Zealand per year, for a total of 88 days over the three years.

You must keep your investment funds in an appropriate investment for four years if you are in the Investor group. You must also spend at least 146 days in New Zealand per year in years two, three, and four of your four-year investment cycles for a total of 438 days over the four years. It depends on your investment’s makeup.

New Zealand’s Entrepreneur Visas

NZ Entrepreneur visas may be right for you if you’re a seasoned businessperson interested in starting your own company.

The majority of people begin with an Entrepreneur Work Visa, which enables you to move to New Zealand and purchase or start a company. You may apply for residency under the Entrepreneur Residence Category after six months or two years.

This three-year work visa is broken down into two parts:

1) Initial Stage: If your application is accepted, you will be granted a 12-month work visa, allowing you to purchase or start a business in New Zealand.

2) Balance Stage: You will be granted the remaining 24 months of your visa until you have demonstrated that you have taken steps to develop your company.

POPULATION

4.917 Million

CAPITAL

Wellington

CURRENCY

NZD

LANGUAGE

English

Requirements For NZ Entrepreneur Visa

1) A minimum investment of NZ$100,000 is needed (excluding working capital)

2) A score of 120 points or higher, with points given for factors such as the business’s likelihood of success and its appeal to New Zealand

3) A well-defined business strategy

4) No recent bankruptcy, company loss or history of fraud

5) Standards in terms of fitness, character and English language proficiency

New Zealand Residency With Entrepreneur Visa

If you have developed a high-growth, creative company with export potential in New Zealand, the Entrepreneur Residence Category enables you to live in New Zealand permanently. Under this program, there are two ways to apply for residency:

1) Entrepreneur Residence Category (Two years): You must have successfully founded or purchased a business in New Zealand, be self-employed in that business for at least two years, and your business must have benefited New Zealand significantly.

2) Entrepreneur Residence Category (Six months): If you have invested at least NZ$500,000 in your company and created at least three new full-time jobs for New Zealand people or residents, this alternative offers a quicker path to residency.

Who Qualifies as a Dependent in this Program?

If a partner or dependent child is accompanying an Entrepreneur Work Visa holder to New Zealand, they can be given work and student visas. They can also be used in an application for an Entrepreneur Residence Visa.

New Zealand’s Global Impact Visa (GIVs)

New Zealand’s Global Impact Visas (GIVs) could be right for you if you’re a high-impact entrepreneur, investor or changemaker looking to make a scalable, positive global impact.

Immigration New Zealand has teamed up with the Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) to offer this world-first creative visa, which is intended to draw young and ambitious entrepreneurs, investors and start-up teams who have the drive and capabilities to make a lasting positive impact in New Zealand and around the world.

The EHF is a fellowship program that offers a forum for mission-driven founders, investors and start-up teams from New Zealand to incubate social impact projects.

The application process is divided into two stages:

1) Submit an application for the Edmund Hillary Fellowship and be accepted.

2) Submit an application for a Global Impact Visa.

Essential Details About Edmund Hillary Fellowship

It would help if you were admitted into the Edmund Hillary Fellowship before applying for a Global Impact Visa. Effective candidates may receive an offer letter and be invited to apply for a Global Impact Visa after the fellowship selection process takes place twice a year.

Fellows who participate in the program will receive the following benefits:

1) Access to New Zealand’s Global Impact Visa on a first-come, first-served basis

2) A global network of young entrepreneurs and investors who are personally involved in helping one another thrive, providing diverse knowledge, mentorship opportunities, cross-sector partnership opportunities and a peer-support network

3) Links to New Zealand’s start-up ecosystem, government officials, mentors, investors, R&D institutes and Maori communities

4) Immersive learning opportunities to learn Tikanga Maori, Maori ways of doing things and how to do business in a multicultural society

5) Collaboration with other fellows in seminars, skill-sharing sessions, learning experiences and retreats

6) A forum for them to share their story on a global scale

7) A lifelong group of committed changemakers, as well as the ability to lead structural global change from New Zealand

Each year, the fellowship will welcome 100 foreign applicants, as well as New Zealand entrepreneurs and investors, in order to expand the group.

The EHF is for people who are using creativity to bring about structural positive change in the areas of economics, social, environmental and cultural effects. Applicants from all walks of life and stages of the entrepreneurial process are encouraged to apply. This program is for individuals and teams who share EHF’s values and who have the talents, capabilities, relentless motivation and ability to take advantage of New Zealand’s unique opportunities to make a world-changing impact.

Important Details About Global Impact Visas (GIVs)

Candidates who are accepted into EHF are invited to apply for a Global Impact Work Visa, which allows them to live and work in New Zealand for three years.

The following are the requirements for Global Impact Visa:

1) An EHF offer letter

2) A maintenance fund of NZ$36,000 to support you and your family for the first year

3) Physical fitness, excellent character and command of the English language

If you have relatives, they will need to apply for visas under the categories of partnership and dependent child.

What About Residency For EHF Fellows?

New Zealand wants to form long-term bonds with approved fellows and establish new roots in the country. Fellows who complete the EHF program for more than 30 months are qualified to apply for permanent residency in New Zealand. You must retain the Edmund Hillary Fellowship’s support and be on track to make an impact in New Zealand to be qualified for permanent residency.