Criteria for Approval

Entrepreneur Plus Category If you hold a Long Term Business Visa, and

• Have established and invested $0.5M in your business
• Created 3 new full-time jobs for New Zealanders
• Wish to apply for a residence visa sooner

then the Entrepreneur Plus Visa may be the best option for you.

Establishment of a business in New Zealand

• Established or purchased, or made a substantial investment in a business operating in New Zealand
• Been self-employed in your business in New Zealand
• Invested at least NZ$0.5 million into your established business
• Created a minimum of three new full-time jobs for New Zealand citizens or residents.

You will also need to ensure that your business complies with New Zealand employment and immigration law, and that you or any of your family members must not have applied for or been granted social welfare benefits in New Zealand. 

Please note that your application under the Entrepreneur Plus Category will not be approved if:

• The business that you have established and operated is different from the one included in your long-term business visa or permit application (or one modified with the written consent of the Business Migration Branch), unless
• The business that you have established would have met the requirements for a business plan under the Long Term Business Visa category, and
• The business that you have established required at least the same level of capital investment as your original proposal, and
• You have relevant experience for the new business.