​If you are an experienced business person and you want to be self-employed in your own business in New Zealand, applying for a work visa under the Entrepreneur Work Visa Category may be an option for you.

An Entrepreneur Work Visa will enable you to move to New Zealand and buy or establish your own business. It could be the first step on your pathway to applying for residence in New Zealand under the Entrepreneur Residence Category.
Minimum capital investment of NZD 100,000
 
You must provide evidence you have:
  • the funds and/or assets to make the capital investment outlined in your business plan
  • you have enough money to support yourself and any family who are coming to New Zealand with you, on top of your capital investment.

You must provide evidence that the funds and/or assets you intend to use for your capital investment are:
  • owned by you (or you and your partner)
  • earned or acquired lawfully.

Evidence you own the funds and/or assets to invest may include:
  • bank statements
  • title deeds
  • property valuations
  • share certificates
  • business ownership documents
  • asset valuations.

Evidence you earned or acquired the funds and/or assets lawfully, may include:
  • tax returns or certificates
  • pay slips
  • business financial statements
  • business shareholdings
  • dividends
  • receipts for property sales
  • bank certificates
  • share trading profits
  • evidence of gifted money
  • probate and other evidence of inherited money.
 
Your funds and/or assets can’t be borrowed or have a loan or bond against them.  It’s OK if you invested funds that were gifted to you, as long as they were gifted unconditionally and earned or acquired lawfully.
 
If you own an investment jointly with someone who isn’t your partner or dependent child, you can nominate the value of your share for your capital investment.
 
Capital investments exclude:
  • passive or speculative investments, like reserve funds or term deposits
  • items for your own use, like your car, boat or home
  • any salary or wages paid to you or your immediate family
  • residential property investments, unless they’re part of the business plan.
 
If your nominated funds are already in New Zealand, you must provide evidence that they were originally transferred to New Zealand through the banking system. 

Example of our engagement

  • Our firm will engage with you and your potential partner (if you have one) to set things up for your business.
  • We will also work with your partner to set up a company with the name you chose.  
  • We will work with an expert to write a proper business plan & will check it with you.
  • We will prepare a shareholder agreement between you and your partner to avoid confusion later.
  • We will prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between you and your partner.
  • We will prepare a commission agreement between you and your partner.
  • We will prepare job description and other employment matters for your employee(s) complying with NZ employment law (i.e. PAYE)
  • We will assist you to set up your company's IRD number & GST number.
  • We will assist you to set up your company’s bank account then link it with its IRD number.
  • We will assist you so you can register your logo to have a trademark right.
  • Once we prepared and gathered all the necessary forms and documents, we will get a specialist to check them before the submission.  
  • We will prepare a cover letter outlining your business idea and listing all the documents and justification before submitting everything to INZ.  
  • We will communicate with your case officer (CO) when asks for any clarification or further information (PPI letter) after the form/documents are accepted by INZ.  
  • We will advise you when he receives AIP (Approval In Principle) letter from INZ.  
  • We will advise you to begin your business (it would be around 3 to 4 months after your submission) & advise you a proper accountant to work with you.
  • In case your current visa expires while this application is being processed, we will advise you accordingly.
  • We will work with you to prepare documents and a cover letter to go with the application.  
  • When you are granted for further 2 years’ balance for Entrepreneur Work Visa (EWV), we will continue working with you for the next 2 years to make sure you are meeting the requirements for Entrepreneur Resident Visa (ERV).
  • After two years you receive EWV, we will work with you to prepare all the documents and a cover letter to apply for ERV including your family, if you have.
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