Entrepreneur Category

The Entrepreneur Plus Category provides a faster track to residence for applicants who:

• Hold a long-term business permit
• Have successfully established a business in New Zealand
• Have been ‘self-employed’ in that business
• Have invested at least NZ$500,000 in the business, and
• Have created a minimum of three new full-time jobs for New Zealand citizens or residents.

On  the Entrepreneur Category, applicant will  need to show that the  business complies with New Zealand employment and immigration laws. Some requirements are different if the applicant:

• Have been on a long-term business permit approved (or approved by principal) before 20 November 2002, or
• Have renewed the long-term business permit that was originally approved (or approved in principal) before that date.

To apply under Entrepreneur Plus Category, the applicant  must hold a long-term business permit valid in New Zealand.  The applicant also need to ensure that the business complies with New Zealand employment and immigration law, and that the applicant or any of the family members haven’t applied for or been granted social welfare benefits in New Zealand.  The applicant would also have to meet the English language requirements.

Establishment of business in New Zealand – The applicant needs to submit evidence to demonstrate that a successful business has been  established in New Zealand by the applicant.  Please note that your application under the Entrepreneur Category will not be approved if :
 
Business people who have vast experience wishing to purchase or establish a business in New Zealand can apply for a work visa under the Long Term Business Visa/Permit Category and then apply for residence under the Entrepreneur/Entrepreneur Plus policies.

Entrepreneur Policy - Entrepreneur residence policy provides a pathway to residence for migrants who can demonstrate they have been actively participating in their business and contributing to New Zealand’s economic development. The policy is divided into two categories:

• Entrepreneur category
• Entrepreneur Plus category

Entrepreneur Category

The Entrepreneur Category aims to attract migrants who’ve been actively participating in business and contributing to New Zealand’s economic development. It’s a natural follow on from the Long Term Business Visa (LTBV), and those approved under the Entrepreneur Category are granted New Zealand residence.

• The applicant  needs to show an established  new business in New Zealand or purchased a     substantial investment in an existing business.
• The applicant must own at least 25% of the business’ shareholding, and need to prove the     business benefits New Zealand and complies with employment and immigration law.
• The applicant will also need to provide evidence of an established business in New Zealand     and is self-employed.

Entrepreneur Plus Category

• The business that you have established and operated is different from the one included in your long-term business visa or permit application (or one modified with the written consent of the Business Migration Branch), unless
• the business that you have established would have met the requirements for a business plan under the Long-Term Business Visa/Permit Category Policy, and
• the business that you have established required at least the same level of capital investment as your original proposal, and
• you have relevant experience for the new business.

To have successfully established a business in New Zealand you must have:

• established or purchased, or made a substantial investment in a business operating in New Zealand
• been self-employed in your business in New Zealand for two years.