New Zealand to Launch Business Investor Work Visa in November 2025: Key Details

New Zealand is opening its doors wider to global entrepreneurs with a new Business Investor Work Visa set to launch on 24 November 2025. The visa aims to attract experienced business people ready to invest in established companies and eventually settle in the country.

What the New Visa Offers

This Business Investor Work Visa gives investors a chance to both live and work in New Zealand while managing or investing in a local business. It’s valid for up to four years and allows applicants to include their partner and dependent children.

There are two investment tiers:

• NZD $1 million investment: offers a three-year work-to-residence pathway.
• NZD $2 million investment: provides a fast-track route to residence after just 12 months.

Essentially, the more you invest, the faster you can qualify for residence.

Who Can Apply

To be eligible for the Business Investor Work Visa, applicants must meet several financial and professional criteria. Here’s what’s required:

• Invest in a business that’s been operating for at least five years.
• Commit a minimum of NZD $1 million or $2 million as per the chosen pathway.
• Hold NZD $500,000 in reserve funds for personal and family support.
• Have proven business experience, such as running a company with at least five full-time employees or generating annual revenue of NZD $1 million.
• Be 55 years or younger.
• Meet English language, health, and character standards.

Businesses That Don’t Qualify

Not every type of venture will count toward this visa. The following sectors are excluded:

• Convenience or discount stores
• Drop-shipping and fast food operations
• Gambling and tobacco (including vaping)
• Adult entertainment
• Home-based or franchised businesses
• Immigration advisory services

The government clearly wants to steer investment into sustainable, growth-oriented enterprises that create real jobs and long-term value.

Pathway to Permanent Residence

After meeting the investment and operational requirements, visa holders can transition to the Business Investor Resident Visa. To qualify, applicants must:

• Remain actively involved in the business
• Keep their ownership stake
• Maintain at least five full-time equivalent jobs
• Create and sustain one new full-time position for a New Zealand citizen or resident for at least 12 months
• Prove the business is financially stable
• Spend at least 184 days in New Zealand in each of the previous three years
• Continue to meet health and character criteria

In short, running a solid, job-creating business over time leads to permanent residence.

How It Differs from the Active Investor Plus Visa

The Active Investor Plus Visa remains available for those looking to invest larger sums in New Zealand’s economy. It caters to high-net-worth migrants who can invest at least:

• NZD $5 million in the Growth category for three years, or
• NZD $10 million in the Balanced category for five years.

The Growth category involves higher-risk investments like managed funds or direct business investments. The Balanced category allows for a mix, including equities, bonds, property developments, and philanthropic contributions.

Why This Matters

With this new visa, New Zealand is signaling that it wants hands-on investors who help grow real businesses, not just passive capital. The focus on established firms and job creation reflects a shift toward building a more productive, locally grounded economy.

For global entrepreneurs seeking both opportunity and lifestyle, this could be one of the most attractive routes to settle and invest in New Zealand in years.