New Zealand is a popular destination for successful individuals and companies seeking to establish a business in New Zealand.

In response to the global economic recession, New Zealand has opened its doors to 'business migrants', people from overseas who are looking for opportunities to invest in New Zealand businesses. New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key recently stated that 'the door is open for investors'.

Applicants have the opportunity to be granted New Zealand residency via a selection of business categories - Long-Term Business Visa, Entrepreneurs and the two Migrant Investment Categories; Investor Plus (Investor 1 Category), and Investor (Investor 2 Category).

Long Term Business Category
If you want to come to New Zealand to establish a business without living here permanently, or as the first step to gaining residence under the Entrepreneur Category you will probably need to apply for a Long Term Business Visa. You will also need a Long Term Business Permit to allow you to set up and operate your business once you arrive in New Zealand.

A Long Term Business Visa or Permit will allow you to stay in New Zealand as a self-employed person for up to three years.

To be eligible to come to New Zealand under the Long Term Business Category, there are a number of conditions you need to meet before you get here. And there are other conditions you must meet while you’re here.

To enter New Zealand you need:

• to be in good health and of good character
• to have a reasonable standard of English
• to have a sound business plan
• evidence that you have enough money aside from investment funds to support yourself and any partner or children coming with you
• to have the right visa for your visit.

If the NZIS approve your application under the Long Term Business Category, in the first instance they will grant you a Work Permit that expires after nine months. This allows you the time to take steps to establish your business. Before the nine months have expired you can apply for a further Work Permit to take your stay up to a total of three years.

To gain a further permit, you need to show:

• you’re making reasonable progress in setting up your business. This could include:
• a certificate of incorporation or other documents that provide evidence of the business’ constitution
• audited accounts
• GST records
• other tax records
• documents showing property lease or purchase by the business
• invoices for business equipment and supplies
• other documents such as employment agreements, bank statements, invoices from phone and power companies.

During your time here you must also keep within New Zealand laws.

Entrepreneur Category
The NZIS states that to be eligible for residence in New Zealand under the Entrepreneur Category, you need to have successfully established, and be self-employed or working in, a business that is benefiting New Zealand.

You may have applied for, and gained, a Long Term Business Visa or Permit so that you could establish the business, and now wish to apply for residence. Or you may have held a Work Permit granted under another category that allowed you to establish your own business and you now want to apply for residence.

If so, you:

• must have established, purchased, or made a substantial investment of at least 25 per cent in a business operating in New Zealand
• must have been self employed or, if you’re a part-owner, have worked, in that business for two years before you apply for residence as an entrepreneur
• or any partner or children who are with you must not have sought social welfare assistance.

Migrant Investor Category
The NZIS states the aim of the Migrant Investment Policy is to attract financial capital to local firms or government by providing residence to people who wish to make a significant financial
contribution to New Zealand's economy.

The policy is divided into two categories:

• Investor Plus (Investor 1 Category) - for migrants investing NZ$10 million in New Zealand with no maximum age, business experience, settlement funds or English language requirements.
• Investor (Investor 2 Category) - for migrants investing NZ$1.5 million in New Zealand, plus settlement funds of NZ1 million and are under 65 years of age and meet English Language requirements.

There are a number of requirements that you and your family members will need to meet for a residence visa or permit under the Migrant Investor Category and this is all outlined in the official NZIS guides, self assessment forms and documents included in the Business Categories Pack.

New Zealand Settler Investments provides all the professional expertise to support our immigration clients to achieve sound Private Equity Investments in New Zealand businesses and to obtain NZ residency. We engage registered Immigration Law Advocates who provide expertise to our immigration clients on visa's and residency applications.

We focus on providing private equity investment opportunities involving management buyouts, acquisition or expansion capital and providing business succession solutions to investors wanting to achieve eligibility for NZ residency.

If you would like to know how easy you can become a permanent resident of New Zealand through a Private Equity Investment – contact NZ Settler Investments today!