The Business Investor Visa or "BIV"

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On 27 August 2025, the Government announced the closure of the Entrepreneur Work Visa and introduced a new Business Investor Visa to attract experienced investors who will help grow New Zealand’s economy by actively running businesses.

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About the Business Investor Visa

The Business Investor Work Visa will open for applications in November 2025 and offer 2 investment options:

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

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

Applicants can purchase a business outright on either visa pathway or acquire at least 25% of the business, provided they meet the minimum $1 million or $2 million investment thresholds.

Applicants may also include their partner and dependent children in their application. 

Both options lead to eligibility to apply for the Business Investor Resident Visa.

A Business Investor Visa may be granted for up to 4 years.

The cost of the Business Investor Work Visa will be NZD $12,380. This includes the visa application fee and immigration levy. 

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.

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Eligibility 

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

• meet the minimum investment threshold

• 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

• be aged 55 or younger when they apply

• meet English language requirements (IELTS 5.0 or equivalent)

• meet health and character requirements

• meet business experience requirements

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

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Business investment requirements

The following business types are not acceptable business investments under this visa:

• businesses involved in:

  • 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).

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Entrepreneur Category closure

The old Entrepreneur Category is now closed to new applications for the Entrepreneur Work Visa.

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If you have applied for an Entrepreneur Work Visa

If you have recently submitted an application for an Entrepreneur Work Visa, we will process it following the rules that were in place when you applied.

If you withdraw your application, you will not be eligible for a refund of any fees or levies already paid, regardless of the reason for your withdrawal.

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If you currently hold an Entrepreneur Work Visa

Entrepreneur Work Visa holders will still be able to apply for residence, as the Entrepreneur Resident Visa will remain open.

If you need more time to meet Entrepreneur residence requirements, you can still apply for an Entrepreneur Work Visa renewal to maintain your pathway to residence.

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If you want to apply for a Business Investor Work Visa, you will need to submit a new application when the visa opens and pay the fees and levies. More information about the new Business Investor Visa will be shared in October 2025. This will include information to help compare it with the Active Investor Plus Visa for those considering both options.

You can read more details on the Business Investor Visa announcement on the Beehive website:

New Business Investor Visa to support growth — Beehive.govt.nz