New Zealand•OceaniaBIV-RV — Business Investor Resident Visa
At a Glance
Varies
NZD $14,890
Indefinite
Not renewable
Renewal
Not renewable
Family
Dependents allowed
PR Pathway
None
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote not required
Overview
Permanent residence for Business Investor Work Visa holders who have actively run a NZD $1M+ NZ business for 1-3 years.
The Business Investor Resident Visa (BIV-RV) is Immigration New Zealand's permanent-residence step for holders of a Business Investor Work Visa who have actively run an approved NZ business. Issued under the BI Residence Category, it converts a successful business establishment into indefinite residence and rewards active investors over passive capital.
Applicants invest NZD $1M and run the business for 3 years (standard), or NZD $2M for 12 months (fast-track). Both routes require employing 5+ FTE staff plus 1 new full-time job for a NZ citizen or resident, 184+ days/year in NZ, and a solvent business. The visa fee is NZD $14,890; stay is indefinite, partner and dependent children up to 24 can be included.
This visa is ideal for experienced business owners who have already invested NZD $1M+, actively managed an NZ company for 1-3 years, and want permanent residence with family.
Cost Breakdown
Stay & Extensions
| Status type | Permanent / indefinite |
Conversion Paths
Visas you can typically switch to from this status.
New ZealandRequirements
PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS
Hold a current Business Investor Work Visa
Actively run the same business for 3 years (NZD $1M invested) or 12 months (NZD $2M invested)
Employ at least 5 full-time-equivalent staff
Create and maintain for 12+ months at least 1 new full-time job for a NZ citizen or resident
Spend at least 184 days per year in NZ while on the Business Investor Work Visa
Keep the business solvent and compliant with tax, employment and legal obligations
Maintain the originally approved ownership proportion of the business
Be a fit and proper person and meet health and character requirements
KEY CRITERIA
Experience
3+ years
Investment
1,000,000 NZD
Min. Savings
500,000 NZD
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Passport or identity certificate plus two photos
Birth certificates for principal applicant and dependents
Audited accounts and financial statements for the business
Bank statements showing regular business revenue and expenses
GST and other tax records
Employment agreements and anonymised employee records
Property lease documents for the business site
Accountant's statement confirming business solvency and tax compliance
Lawyer's statement confirming the business complies with all legal obligations
Evidence the business employs at least 5 full-time-equivalent staff
Evidence of professional or occupational registration where required
Relationship evidence for partner (e.g. marriage certificate) and IELTS or equivalent English evidence for family members aged 16+
Advantages & Considerations
Key Benefits
- Indefinite permanent residency — live, work and study in NZ without time limit
- Continue running your own business with full ownership
- Partner can live, work and study in NZ without restriction
- Dependent children up to age 24 can be included in the application
- Fast-track pathway available at the NZD $2M investment level (12 months instead of 3 years)
- Pathway onward to a Permanent Resident Visa (nz-prv) after meeting residence conditions
- Recognises active business management — no passive-investment-only requirement
Worth Knowing
- NZD $14,890 application fee plus the prior NZD $12,380 Business Investor Work Visa cost
- Must have employed 5+ FTE staff and created 1 new full-time NZ-citizen/resident job sustained for 12+ months
- Requires spending 184+ days per year in NZ during the qualifying work-visa period
- Principal applicant must be 55 or younger and provide IELTS 5.0 (or equivalent) English evidence
- Solvency, tax and legal compliance must be certified by both an accountant and a lawyer
- Cannot apply without a current Business Investor Work Visa
- Minimum NZD $1,000,000 invested in an existing NZ business (excluding property and GST)
- Loss of the originally approved ownership proportion in the business disqualifies the application
Application Process
Hold a current Business Investor Work Visa and meet the active-management period (3 years or 12 months)
Gather evidence of business activity
audited accounts, GST records, bank statements, employment agreements, ownership records
Obtain an accountant's statement of solvency and a lawyer's statement of legal compliance
Document employment of 5+ FTE plus 1 new full-time job for a NZ citizen/resident maintained 12+ months
Include partner and dependent children (24 or younger) and supply their identity, health, character and English evidence
Submit the residence application via Immigration Online with the NZD $14,890 fee
Respond to any Immigration New Zealand requests for further evidence during processing
Related visas
More visas in New Zealand
Investment visas in other countries
- Treaty Investor
United States
- Strategic Investor Permit (Άδεια Στρατηγικού Επενδυτή - B.1)
Greece
- Investment Visa
Kiribati
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