New Zealand’s Immigration Minister, Erica Stanford, has announced the introduction of a new Business Investor Visa (BIV), a significant policy shift aimed at attracting experienced foreign businesspeople and their capital to invigorate the nation’s economy. This news signifies a move towards more targeted immigration solutions, with the visa set to open for applications in November 2025.
The BIV offers two distinct pathways for investors, both requiring investment in existing New Zealand businesses that have been operational for at least five years, employ a minimum of five full-time staff, and meet specific financial thresholds. The standard pathway requires a NZD $1 million investment, providing a three-year work-to-residence opportunity. For those prepared to invest more, a fast-track option is available with a NZD $2 million investment, which offers residency after just 12 months.
Applicants must be aged 55 or younger, possess business experience, meet English language requirements (IELTS 5.0 or equivalent), and demonstrate sufficient funds, set at NZD $500,000, to support themselves and their families. They are also required to spend a minimum of 184 days per year in New Zealand and actively run the business they invest in.
Key Changes and Programmatic Overhaul
This major announcement also marks the retirement of the Entrepreneur Category visa. According to the government, the Entrepreneur Category had suffered from low application numbers, high decline rates, and failed to deliver substantial economic impacts. The BIV is designed to be more accessible and efficient, with clearer settings that are easier for applicants to understand and for Immigration New Zealand to process, aiming for greater economic benefits.
The Business Investor Visa complements New Zealand’s existing Active Investor Plus Visa, which targets high-net-worth individuals with significantly larger investment requirements (NZD $5 million to NZD $10 million). The government is also developing a separate visa pathway for startup entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas.
Investment Criteria and Exclusions
To be eligible, investors must either purchase an existing business outright or acquire at least a 25% stake, provided the minimum investment threshold is met. A crucial requirement for all applicants is to create at least one new full-time job for a New Zealand citizen or resident, and to maintain the employment of at least five full-time staff within the business.
Certain business sectors are excluded from the BIV scheme. These include businesses involved in adult entertainment, convenience stores, discount/value stores, drop-shipping, fast food outlets, franchises, gambling, home-based businesses, immigration advisory services, and tobacco/nicotine-related ventures.
Economic Impact and Goals
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford stated that the new visa aims to bring overseas investment to maintain and create jobs, grow incomes, and revitalise existing businesses across the country. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich welcomed the initiative, viewing it as a positive step for supporting foreign investment and attracting international expertise, thereby ensuring business continuity and offering more succession planning options for New Zealand business owners. Rich also highlighted the focus on individual skills and experience over the previous visa’s prescriptive business plans as a notable improvement.
The government anticipates attracting between 100 to 150 successful applicants in the first year, suggesting it is a targeted, “small, niche category” designed to meet specific economic needs. The success of the BIV may also be influenced by the availability of suitable businesses for sale, with approximately 185 businesses currently on the market that could potentially meet the criteria.
The introduction of the Business Investor Visa is part of a broader strategy by the New Zealand government to modernise its visa settings and stimulate economic growth through smart, flexible, and nuanced immigration solutions.
