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The low investor presence requirement does not satisfy the much higher five-year physical-presence test for citizenship.

Benefits

Resident status with a permanent-resident visa application after meeting the investment and presence conditions. Eligible partners and dependent children can be included.

Eligibility

Lawfully acquired funds, acceptable investments, fit-and-proper-person, health and character requirements. There is no English-language requirement for this investment category.

Requirements

At least NZD 5 million in qualifying Growth investments. Up to 20% may be philanthropy. Provide transfer and ownership evidence, keep the investment for 36 months and spend at least 21 days in New Zealand during that period.

A residence visa and an investment do not guarantee citizenship. Nationality requires a separate five-year residence and physical-presence assessment.

Benefits

Resident status with wider acceptable investment choices and a permanent-resident application after the category’s conditions are completed.

Eligibility

Applicants with lawful investment funds who satisfy health, character and fit-and-proper-person checks. Eligible family members can be included.

Requirements

NZD 10 million maintained for 60 months and normally 105 days of physical presence. Qualifying extra Growth investments can reduce the required days under the published rules.

Fast-track residence after 12 months does not remove the requirement to maintain the business undertaking for a total of three years.

Benefits

A work visa of up to four years. The standard route can support residence after three years, while the fast-track route permits a residence application after 12 months, with continuing business obligations.

Eligibility

Normally age 55 or younger, at least three years of relevant business experience, required English and a qualifying established business.

Requirements

At least NZD 1 million for the standard route or NZD 2 million for fast track, plus NZD 500,000 reserve funds. The business must meet the employee and operating-history rules, with one additional qualifying local job created.

Benefits

Resident status with work and study rights. A permanent-resident visa and citizenship require separate later eligibility.

Eligibility

Meet the selected pathway’s job, experience or qualification rules, with an eligible New Zealand skilled job or offer and the required English, health and character evidence.

Requirements

The points pathway requires six points. Skilled-work-experience and trades pathways have their own occupation, wage and experience thresholds, including qualifying New Zealand work. Do not use the former 140-point system.

Benefits

Permission for the approved course, with work rights only where the grant permits them. A subsequent work or residence application has separate criteria.

Eligibility

An offer of place, ability to pay fees and living costs, genuine study intentions and the required health and character evidence.

Requirements

Tuition evidence, normally NZD 20,000 per year for tertiary living costs, insurance and funds or a ticket for outward travel. The financial amount differs for school-level students.

Benefits

Temporary visitor permission for the stay granted, with limited study where permitted. It is not a local-employment or permanent-residence visa.

Eligibility

Genuine temporary visitors who can support themselves or have an acceptable sponsor, with onward travel and satisfactory health and character.

Requirements

Passport, purpose and itinerary, accommodation or sponsorship and financial evidence, plus a return or onward ticket or the funds to buy one.

The Entrepreneur Work Visa is closed to new applications. New business investors should assess the current Business Investor Work Visa instead.

Benefits

Continuation or a resident-stage application for qualifying existing entrepreneurs, without reopening the former entry route.

Eligibility

Existing holders and qualifying business operators who meet the applicable entrepreneur residence requirements. Ownership alone does not establish eligibility.

Requirements

Original visa conditions, ownership and operation records, business accounts, lawful capital and evidence of the specific residence pathway’s business and employment achievements.