All applicants – you and your partner and dependent children (if applicable) – must meet our health, character and English language requirements (see below). You – the principal applicant – must also have at least three years' business experience. The other requirements are set out below.
Age
You (the principal applicant) must be aged 65 or younger.
Investment and settlement funds and/or assets
You must nominate funds and/or assets equivalent to at least NZ$1.5 million for investment funds, and NZ$1 million for settlement funds. You will need to be able to provide evidence showing that your investment and settlement funds and/or assets are owned by you or jointly by you and your partner and/or dependent children. You will also need to be able to provide evidence showing that your intended investment funds:
- are unencumbered, ie not subject to any mortgage, lien, charge and/or encumbrance (whether equitable or otherwise) or any other creditor claims
- have been earned or acquired legally
- are transferable through the banking system (we will not be able to approve your application if you are unable to transfer funds to New Zealand through the banking system).
You will need to be able to provide verifiable documents to show that the funds you transfer to New Zealand came from the funds and/or assets that you nominate. You will need to place your investment funds in an acceptable investment(s) in New Zealand.
English language requirements
We require people to have a reasonable standard of English to ensure they have the best opportunity to settle successfully into work and life in New Zealand.
Principal applicant
To meet our English language requirements you must:
We may still require you to provide an IELTS certificate to confirm you meet our English language requirements.
Partner and dependent children
To meet our English language requirements partners and dependent children aged 16 or more included in your application must meet the same requirements as the principal applicant (see above).
However, if your partner and/or dependent children do not yet meet the minimum standard of English, they can pre-purchase ESOL tuition in New Zealand. You purchase this tuition from us, on behalf of New Zealand’s Tertiary Education Commission. The residence visa or permit will only be granted once you have paid the tuition charge. Payment of this tuition charge is not due until your application is approved.
After residence is approved
If your residence application is approved you (the principal applicant) will have to retain your investment funds in an acceptable investment(s) for four years, and spend at least 146 days each year in New Zealand in years 2, 3 and 4 of your four-year investment period.
Also, if you were awarded 1 point for English language ability (IELTS 3) you will have to complete 20 hours of English language tuition at a New Zealand registered school or tertiary education provider.
Express an interest, then apply
If you think you meet the requirements and would like to express an interest, you will need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. You will not have to submit any evidence with your EOI. If we invite you to apply for residence you will need to provide evidence with your application. Find out .