New Zealand Business Investor Work Visa: What Counts as an Acceptable Investment?

Securing a Business Investor Work Visa requires nominating an acceptable New Zealand business that meets strict regulatory, financial, and operational standards. As immigration specialists, we provide an in-depth, structured, and compliance-focused guide to help investor migrants confidently prepare a high-quality application that aligns with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) requirements.

Understanding Acceptable Investments for a Business Investor Work Visa

When applying for a New Zealand Business Investor Work Visa, you must nominate an established, lawful, and compliant New Zealand business in which you intend to invest. The investment must not only meet INZ’s eligibility criteria but also be supported by strong legal and financial due diligence.

Key Eligibility Criteria for an Acceptable Business Investment

Minimum Business Requirements

To qualify as acceptable, the business you intend to invest in must:

• Be established and trading for at least five years

• Operate lawfully within New Zealand and hold all required registrations, licences, and regulatory approvals

• Comply with immigration, employment, and business standards, ensuring ongoing legal operation

• Have a purchase price of at least NZD $1 million, excluding property value and GST

• Provide at least 25% ownership to you, the investor, after acquisition

• Employ at least 5 full-time equivalent staff, demonstrating economic contribution

• Not be owned by you or any family member

• Not have been used in any investment-based visa application within the last 10 years, including:

  • Business Investor Work Visa

  • Business Investor Resident Visa

  • Entrepreneur Work Visa

  • Entrepreneur Resident Visa

Excluded Business Types: What You Cannot Invest In

Certain business activities are categorically prohibited for Business Investor Work Visa investments. These excluded businesses include:

Businesses Directly Involved in:

• Drop-shipping operations

• Gambling or casino-related activities

• Manufacturing of tobacco, vaping, or nicotine products

• Adult entertainment services

• Convenience stores such as dairies

• Immigration advisory services or businesses linked to immigration advisers

• Discount or value stores (e.g., $2 shops)

• Fast-food outlets and takeaway chains

• Franchised businesses

• Labour-hire and recruitment companies

• Home-based businesses operating solely from a residential address

Don’t miss this: New Zealand Business Investor Visa Now Open for Application

Compliance With Employment, Immigration, and Business Standards

Your nominated business must consistently demonstrate compliance with all New Zealand legal obligations. Specifically, the business and its key individuals must:

• Not be present on any immigration or employment stand-down list

• Have resolved any past non-compliance issues if previously listed

• Not provide false, misleading, or withheld information to INZ

• Not allow unlawful work, including breaches of visa conditions

• Employ staff lawfully, ensuring all workers hold valid visas

• Not be convicted of immigration-related or serious criminal offences

• Meet the Companies Act 1993 requirements for directors and managers

• Not charge unlawful recruitment, training, or equipment fees to AEWV staff

If compliance investigations are pending for the business or its key people, your visa application may be placed on hold until INZ confirms the outcome.

Mandatory Due Diligence Requirements

Before applying, you must complete comprehensive legal and financial due diligence to demonstrate understanding of the business’s viability, risks, and financial position.

You must submit:

• A completed Business Proposal form, detailing:

  • Business eligibility

  • Ownership structure

  • Financial health

  • Operational readiness

  • Risks identified and mitigated

• A valuation completed by a qualified statutory accountant

• Supporting documentation requested in the proposal form

• Confirmation that you fully understand the legal and financial risks associated with the investment

• A statutory accountant’s confirmation of financial due diligence

• A New Zealand lawyer’s confirmation of legal due diligence

Note: If you are using an immigration lawyer, the lawyer conducting due diligence must be a different individual, although they may belong to the same firm.

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