BD5.1 Change of nominated business requirements

1. During the Establishment stage, a Business Investor work visa holder may make one request to change the business they will purchase.
2. A request to change the nominated business may be approved if a business immigration specialist is satisfied that the Business Investor work visa holder:
   1. was unable to purchase the business they initially nominated due to a material change in circumstances outside their control; and
   2. has nominated a new business to purchase that meets the requirements set out in BD2.5; and
   3. has conducted due diligence on that new nominated business (see BD2.10); and
   4. will be actively involved (see BD9.1) in running that new nominated business following its purchase; and
   5. has acceptable capital investment funds sufficient to purchase that new nominated business (see BD2.15); and
   6. has obtained professional or occupational registration in New Zealand if registration is required for operating the new business or intends to obtain such registration if required; and
   7. intends to create ongoing full time equivalent employment for one additional New Zealand citizen or resident (see BD9.40); and
   8. continues to meet the fit and proper person requirements (see BM1); and
   9. will be able to purchase the new nominated business and begin operating it within the first 9 months of the Establishment stage of their Business Investor work visa.
3. A request to change the nominated business must be declined if allowing the purchase of that business would create an unacceptable risk to the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration or employment laws or policies or international reputation (see BD9.70).
4. A request to change the nominated business must be made within the first six months of the Establishment stage of their Business Investor work visa.
5. A request to change the business nominated to be purchased must be made on a form provided for that purpose on the Immigration New Zealand website and accompanied by:
   1. a completed Business Proposal form provided for that purpose on the Immigration New Zealand website; and
   2. supporting evidence that demonstrates the requirements in (b) above are met.
6. If a request to change the nominated business is approved, the conditions relating to work specified on the Business Investor work visa holder’s visa may be varied as required.

Effective 24/11/2025