Buy an established NZ business with NZD $1 million for residence after 3 years, or NZD $2 million for residence after 12 months. The business rules, reserve funds, age limit, and what changed on 6 July 2026: franchises, company ownership and gifted funds.
Written by the ProVisas Editorial Team. ProVisas is a licensed New Zealand immigration advisory firm (IAA Licence 201301110).
The Business Investor Work Visa lets you buy into an established New Zealand business, run it, and move to residence. Invest at least NZD $1 million and you may be eligible for a resident visa after 3 years of running the business; invest at least NZD $2 million and you may be eligible after 12 months (immigration.govt.nz). Since 6 July 2026, franchise businesses can qualify, you can buy through a New Zealand resident entity rather than in your own name, and gifted funds are acceptable if they were lawfully earned (immigration.govt.nz). This guide covers both investment options, the business you can buy, the personal requirements, and how the visa leads to residence.
Both options are for buying into an existing business; neither covers starting one from scratch.
| Standard pathway | Fast-track pathway | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | NZD $1 million | NZD $2 million |
| Resident visa eligibility | After 3 years of running the business | After 12 months of running the business |
| Total time running the business | At least 3 years | At least 3 years, across both visas |
The fast track shortens the wait for residence, not the commitment. On the NZD $2 million option you still run the business for at least 3 years in total, with the time after your resident visa counting towards it.
The nominated business must meet every one of INZ’s requirements (immigration.govt.nz). It must:
Some business types are excluded outright: businesses directly involved in drop-shipping, gambling, tobacco or nicotine manufacturing (including vaping) or adult entertainment; convenience stores such as corner dairies; discount or value stores; fast food outlets; labour hire companies; home-based businesses; and businesses offering immigration advice or bought from an immigration adviser.
INZ will not pre-approve a business before you apply. You need a valuation from a qualified statutory accountant, financial due diligence confirmed by a qualified statutory accountant, and legal due diligence confirmed by a New Zealand lawyer, who must be a different lawyer from any lawyer acting on your immigration application.
Three changes, all aimed at making the visa usable for more real business purchases (immigration.govt.nz):
The personal requirements sit alongside the business ones (immigration.govt.nz):
The application fee starts from NZD $12,380, and INZ’s fees vary by where you apply, so confirm the current figure on its fee tool before lodging.
The visa runs for up to 4 years in two stages. In the establishment stage, the first 12 months, you buy the nominated business and start running it. Within the first 9 months you must give INZ evidence that you have bought the business and started running it; if you do not, the visa expires at the end of the 12-month establishment stage. The operating stage covers the rest of the 4 years, when you continue to run and grow the business while keeping at least the ownership share that INZ approved.
Through the Business Investor Resident Visa, which lets you stay in New Zealand indefinitely but carries conditions (immigration.govt.nz). You must keep running the business until you have met the 3-year requirement, counting the time already spent on the work visa, and then apply to have the conditions removed. After holding the Business Investor Resident Visa for at least 2 years and meeting all its conditions, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.
They suit different people. The Business Investor Work Visa is for someone who wants to own and run an operating business, with residence earned by running it. Active Investor Plus is a residence visa for investors placing at least NZD $5 million in approved investments, with no requirement to run a business yourself. If your plan is hands-on ownership of a business you understand, the Business Investor route is usually the closer fit; if you want your capital working without managing a company day to day, Active Investor Plus is the comparison to make.
Whichever you choose, the business or investment has to be right before the visa can be. If you are weighing a specific purchase, a licensed adviser can check it against INZ’s requirements before you sign anything, alongside your accountant and lawyer.
At least NZD $1 million in an established New Zealand business, which may lead to a resident visa after 3 years of running it, or at least NZD $2 million, which may lead to residence after 12 months. On top of the investment you need at least NZD $500,000 in reserve funds to support yourself and any family included in the application.
Yes, since 6 July 2026. A franchise can qualify if it meets the existing requirements, including at least 5 years of trading, at least 5 full-time equivalent staff, a purchase price of at least NZD $1 million and at least 25% ownership. Fast food outlets remain on INZ’s excluded list, so a fast food franchise still does not qualify.
Yes. You must be aged 55 or younger when you apply. You also need at least 3 years of acceptable business experience, meaning paid self-employment or paid senior management in a business, charity or non-governmental organisation that meets INZ’s thresholds for employees, revenue or turnover.
Yes, since 6 July 2026, as long as the gifted capital was lawfully earned. The funds must also be owned by you, or by you and the partner or dependent children in your application, and borrowed money is not acceptable except in certain circumstances. INZ lists evidence of gifted funds or assets as one way to show your money was lawfully acquired.
Up to 4 years. The first 12 months are the establishment stage, when you buy the business and start running it, and within the first 9 months you must give INZ evidence that you have bought and started running it, or the visa expires after the establishment stage. The rest of the 4 years is the operating stage.
Current as at 13 October 2026, based on Immigration New Zealand policy. For advice on your own situation, talk to a ProVisas Licensed Immigration Adviser (IAA Licence 201301110).
Last reviewed . Information may have changed since this article was reviewed. For your specific case, talk to a licensed immigration adviser.
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