New Zealand Pivots Immigration Strategy, Replacing Entrepreneur Visa with Hands-On Investor Program

In a significant shift in its economic immigration policy, New Zealand has officially retired its underperforming Entrepreneur Work Visa. Its replacement, the new Business Investor Visa (BIV) set to launch in November 2025, marks a strategic pivot from funding new startups to channeling foreign capital directly into the country's established businesses.

The government has framed this overhaul as a necessary modernization. The outgoing program, acknowledged for its low application volumes, high decline rates, and limited economic impact, targeted individuals aiming to launch new ventures. In contrast, the BIV is explicitly designed for experienced, wealthy investors ready to take an active role in existing New Zealand companies.

The new program offers two clear investment pathways:

• A NZ$1 million investment grants a temporary residence permit, with a pathway to permanent residency after three years.
• A NZ$2 million investment provides the same temporary permit but includes a fast track to permanent residency, achievable within just one year.

To ensure the investments deliver tangible economic benefits, the program mandates that applicants must either purchase a business outright or acquire a minimum 25% stake. Furthermore, the target company must employ at least five full-time staff. Certain sectors, including convenience stores, fast-food outlets, franchises, and adult entertainment venues, have been explicitly excluded from eligibility.

The criteria underscore the program's hands-on nature. Applicants must be 55 years or younger, meet English language requirements, and demonstrate relevant business experience. They are also required to hold at least NZ$500,000 in additional settlement funds and spend a minimum of 184 days each year in New Zealand to maintain their status. The visa application fee is set at $12,380, and successful applicants can be joined by their partners and dependent children.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford anticipates a conservative uptake of between 100 and 150 applicants in the first year. She characterized the change as part of a broader focus on "smart, flexible and nuanced immigration solutions" aimed at stimulating the economy by bringing in overseas investment to maintain and create jobs, grow incomes, and breathe new life into existing businesses.

This new visa is one element of a wider business immigration redesign, which recently included an update to the Active Investor Plus Visa. The government has also signaled plans for a future program tailored to startup entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, indicating a more segmented and targeted approach to business migration.

The introduction of the BIV coincides with ongoing political debates in New Zealand concerning foreign investment, particularly around potential changes to restrictions on residential property sales. Current Entrepreneur Work Visa holders will retain their pathways to permanent residence, and all pending applications will be processed under the existing rules, with detailed guidance for the new program expected in October 2025.

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