Moving Your Business to New Zealand: Visa Routes for Founders and Investors

This guide covers the 2 verified routes for founders and investors moving a business to New Zealand. Every figure comes from our program review dated September 15, 2026. Rules change often, so treat this as a starting point and confirm the details with an expert before you commit money or time.

Active Investor Plus Visa (AIP)

The Active Investor Plus Visa was substantially overhauled on April 1, 2025 — thresholds were cut, the English-language requirement was removed, and minimum-residency-day requirements were reduced. Two categories exist: Growth (NZ$5 million, more active involvement expected) and Balanced (NZ$10 million, more passive). A further change on December 4, 2025 removed DIMS as an acceptable Growth-category investment vehicle.

Who it suits: High-net-worth investors, particularly those willing to take the more active "Growth" category. Minimum investment: NZ$5,000,000 (Growth category) or NZ$10,000,000 (Balanced category). Active involvement: Growth category: Yes; Balanced category: more passive. What you receive: Leads to a resident visa. Family: Yes — partner and dependent children. Path to permanent residence: Yes — pathway to residence.

Worth knowing: The programme was overhauled on 1 April 2025, so older guidance on thresholds, English requirements and residency days is out of date. The DIMS investment vehicle was removed from the Growth category on 4 December 2025.

Business Investor Visa

The Business Investor Visa opened in November 2025 as a new route for experienced operators, offering two tiers: a NZ$1 million investment on a 3-year work-to-residence track, or a NZ$2 million investment on a faster 12-month track. This is distinct from the Active Investor Plus Visa, which is aimed at more passive high-net-worth investors.

Who it suits: Experienced business operators wanting to acquire or run an existing New Zealand business. Minimum investment: NZ$1,000,000 (3-year work-to-residence) or NZ$2,000,000 (12-month fast-track). Active involvement: Yes. What you receive: Work-to-residence visa. Family: Yes — partner and dependent children. Path to permanent residence: Yes.

Worth knowing: This visa replaced the Entrepreneur Work Visa, which is closed to new applicants.

No longer available

Entrepreneur Work Visa (Closed, since 2025). Replaced by the Business Investor Visa in November 2025.

This guide is directional guidance only and is not legal or immigration advice. A consulting session will tell you which route fits your business and what to prepare first.