Entrepreneur

Migration as Entrepreneur

This category is entirely dependent upon the Principal Applicant successfully establishing a business that is benefiting New Zealand.

There are complex requirements for making application under the Entrepreneur category which are case and industry specific. Some of the basic NZIS requirements are listed below. For further details please contact us.

1. A principal applicant will be considered to have successfully established a business in New Zealand if:

they have established or purchased, or made a substantial investment in a business operating in New Zealand; and
the principal applicant has been self-employed in New Zealand in that business for at least 2 years.

2. A business may be considered to benefit New Zealand if it promotes New Zealand's economic growth through, for example:

technology, management or technical skills, or
products or services; or
export markets; or
employment (including employment of the principal applicant only); or
an existing business.

3. Substantial investment means the purchase of 25% or more of the shareholding of a business.

4. Self-employment

Self-employment is lawful active involvement in the management and operating of a business in New Zealand which the principal applicant* has established or purchased, or in which the principal applicant* has made a substantial investment*.
For the avoidance of doubt, self-employment does not include involvement of a passive or speculative nature.