Long Term Business Visa

The New Zealand long-term business visa/permit is designed to help New Zealand visa applicants who are migrating to New Zealand and starting a business.

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The New Zealand long-term business visa/permit is a temporary residency permit that can lead onto the entrepreneur category which then entitles the applicant to permanent residency in New Zealand.

Duration

This permit allows the applicant to stay in New Zealand as a self-employed person for up to three years.

A New Zealand long-term business visa is a step to gaining residence in New Zealand through the entrepreneur category.

Eligibility Criteria

Business Plan

An application for starting a business in New Zealand under the New Zealand long-term business permit category must be accompanied by a business plan.

This business plan, along with supporting documents, must determine that:

The applicant has enough money to establish the proposed business in New Zealand and to support themselves and any family.
Applicant's financial forecasts are realistic.
The applicant has relevant business experience, including qualifications, existing businesses, shareholdings.
The applicant have not been involved with a business failure within the last five years.
The applicant has not been involved in business fraud or wrongdoing.
The applicant has obtained occupational registration in New Zealand, where this is required for the business.
The applicant has gained an understanding of the New Zealand market.

Employment/Business Experience

Applications for this business visa will be judged on a case by case basis.

Applicants who have not owned their own business or have not had experience in a senior management position that is responsible for all aspects of business operation are unlikely to be accepted under this category.

Investment Capital

While there is no set limit on capital required, business permit applications will be judged subjectively on a case by case basis where funds will need to be appropriate to the business.

Benefit to New Zealand

To be eligible under this category an applicant will need to show that the proposed business is benefiting New Zealand.

A business will be considered to be benefiting New Zealand if it promotes New Zealand's economic growth.

This might be through:

The introduction of new or enhanced existing technology, management or technical skills.
The introduction of new or enhanced products or services or export markets.
The creation of new or expansion of existing export markets.
The creation of new job opportunities.
Revitalising an existing business. The business must be trading at the time the applicant applies and must clearly have the potential to become profitable within 12 months.

Additional requirements

In addition to the minimum requirements above, basic standards of English, health and character need to be met in order to lodge a successful business visa application.

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