Entrepreneur Residence Visa (BH)

Allows entrepreneurs who have successfully established a business in New Zealand under the Entrepreneur Work Visa to apply for residence.

Status: active
Updated: 2026-04-26
Also known as: BHEntrepreneur Residence Visa
Sources: BHBH1BH2BH2.1BH2.5BH2.10BH2.15BH2.20BH2.25BH3BH3.1BH4.1BH4.5BH4.10BH5.1BH5.5BH5.10BH7BH7.1BH7.10BH8BM1

At a glance

The Entrepreneur Residence Visa Category (BH) aims to attract migrants who can demonstrate they have been actively participating in business and contributing to New Zealand's economic development. [BH1] It enables entrepreneurs who have successfully established a business in New Zealand under the Entrepreneur Work Visa to apply for residence. BH2 sets out a summary of the requirements for this category; full eligibility criteria and application requirements are set out in the BH instructions. This page is a placeholder pending full ingestion of BH sub‑sections. [BH][BH2]

Under BH2.1, applicants must demonstrate they have successfully established a business that benefits New Zealand significantly, and have operated it for either two years (standard track) or six months (accelerated track) depending on the level of capital investment and job creation. The six‑month track requires at least NZ$500,000 capital investment and the creation of at least three full‑time jobs for New Zealand citizens or residents. Applicants must also comply with employment and immigration law, invest at least the capital amount stated in their business plan, and meet fit‑and‑proper‑person requirements. [BH2.1]

How to apply

Applicants must have held an Entrepreneur Work Visa and meet the requirements of the BH instructions. Under BH3, applicants who hold a Long Term Business Visa (LTBV) granted under the former Long Term Business Category may also apply for residence under BH, provided they meet all other BH requirements. [BH][BH3]

BH3.1 requires that the business on which the residence application is based must be consistent with the original business proposal (or a subsequently modified proposal approved by a business immigration specialist) that supported the Entrepreneur Work Visa or LTBV. If the business is different, the application will be declined unless certain conditions are met. See the Interpretation & edge cases section for the full rule and exceptions. [BH3.1]

To apply for residence under this category, the principal applicant must submit an application that addresses all the requirements of BH2.1. They must provide evidence of having been self‑employed in the business for the required period (two years or six months), and hold the appropriate visa at the time of application. If the applicant does not hold an Entrepreneur Work Visa or Long Term Business Visa, they must demonstrate they meet the Entrepreneur Work Visa requirements. Evidence of the business benefiting New Zealand significantly, compliance with immigration and employment law, and the capital investment must be included. [BH2.1] The appropriate fee and immigration levy must be paid at the time the application is lodged. [BH2.20]

Temporary visa during residence processing (BH8)

If the principal applicant holds a valid Entrepreneur Work Visa or Long Term Business Visa and their Entrepreneur Residence Visa application is under assessment by Immigration New Zealand, they may apply for a multiple entry Specific Purpose or Event work visa valid for 9 months. This temporary visa allows the applicant to continue operating the business while the residence application is processed. The Specific Purpose or Event work visa will carry the same work conditions as the applicant's existing Entrepreneur Work Visa or Long Term Business Visa. [BH8]

To be eligible for this bridging visa, the applicant must:

hold a valid Entrepreneur Work Visa or Long Term Business Visa; and
have an Entrepreneur Residence Visa application under assessment by INZ; and
be applying for the Specific Purpose or Event visa to continue to operate the business identified in their business proposal or subsequently modified with the consent of a business immigration specialist. [BH8]

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate successful establishment of their business in accordance with the conditions of their Entrepreneur Work Visa, among other criteria specified in the BH instructions. Full criteria are pending ingestion. [BH]

Successfully establishing a business (BH4.1): Under BH4.1, a principal applicant will be considered to have successfully established a business in New Zealand if they have established, purchased, or made a substantial investment in a business operating in New Zealand; and have been self-employed in that business for at least:

2 years if applying under the standard track (BH2.1(a)(i)); or
6 months if applying under the accelerated track (BH2.1(a)(ii)). [BH4.1]

Evidence of successful establishment (BH5.1): All documents submitted to prove that the principal applicant has established a business in New Zealand must be produced by a reliable independent agency. Evidence may include, but is not limited to, a certificate of incorporation, audited accounts, GST records, and other tax records. The business immigration specialist may request any other documents to support the application. [BH5.1]

Standard two‑year track (BH2.1.1):

Have been self‑employed in the business for at least two years immediately before the residence application is made.
Hold an Entrepreneur Work Visa, Long Term Business Visa, or another visa that allows self‑employment.
If the applicant does not hold an Entrepreneur Work Visa or Long Term Business Visa, they must meet the requirements for an Entrepreneur Work Visa (as set out at BB3.1). [BH2.1]

Accelerated six‑month track (BH2.1.5):

Have been self‑employed in the business for at least six months before the residence application.
Have made a capital investment of at least NZ$500,000 in the business.
Have created at least three ongoing and sustainable full‑time jobs for New Zealand citizens or residents.
Hold an Entrepreneur Work Visa or Long Term Business Visa at the time the residence visa application is made.
Provide evidence of how the investment funds were used and how they benefited or increased the value of the business.
Provide evidence that the jobs meet the definition of full‑time employment (employment contracts, wage and salary records, or business turnover).
If not previously supplied, evidence that the investment capital stated in the business plan was transferred directly from the applicant's bank account(s) through the banking system to New Zealand. [BH2.1]

All applicants must also demonstrate:

The business benefits New Zealand significantly (see criteria below). [BH2.1]
Compliance with New Zealand employment and immigration law as detailed below.
The same or greater amount of capital has been invested in the business as set out in the business plan (see BB3.5.10).
Fit and proper person requirements are met [BM1].
Have not accessed welfare assistance: the principal applicant and any partner or dependent child/ren included in the application must not have applied for and been granted welfare assistance under the Social Security Act 1964 while in New Zealand during the currency of their temporary visas. [BH2.25]

Criteria for a business benefiting New Zealand significantly (BH4.10)

Under BH4.10, a business is considered to add significant benefit to New Zealand if it can demonstrate that it has promoted New Zealand's economic growth through at least one of the following: [BH4.10]

introducing new, or enhancing existing, technology, management or technical skills; [BH4.10]
introducing new, or enhancing existing, products or services; [BH4.10]
creating new, or significantly expanding existing, export markets; [BH4.10]
creating sustained and ongoing full time employment for one or more New Zealand citizens or residents; [BH4.10]
the revitalisation of an existing New Zealand business that has led to significantly increased financial performance; or [BH4.10]
introducing productivity-enhancing spillover benefits or increased capacity utilisation (such as significant net new job creation). [BH4.10]

The business must also be trading profitably on the date the application is lodged, or a business immigration specialist must be satisfied that it clearly has the potential to become profitable within the following 12 months. [BH4.10]

For definitions of "new products or services" and "trading profitably", see BH4.5 (which references BB6).

Evidence that the business is benefiting New Zealand (BH5.5)

Evidence that the principal applicant's business is benefiting New Zealand may include, but is not limited to: [BH5.5]

audited accounts
tax records
export/import documentation, such as letters of credit
employment records

The business immigration specialist may request any other documents to support the application. [BH5.5]

English language requirement

Principal applicants in the Entrepreneur Residence Visa Category must meet the minimum standard of English as set out in the BF2 instructions. Partners and dependent children aged 16 years and over included in the application must also meet the minimum standard of English, or, where instructions allow, pre-purchase ESOL tuition. [BH2.10]

See the English Language Requirement for Business Visas page for full details.

Compliance with employment and immigration law

Businesses established in New Zealand, and any person associated with the business who can influence recruitment, employment, or supervision of workers, must comply with all relevant employment and immigration law. This includes, but is not limited to:

paying employees no less than the applicable minimum wage or other contracted industry standard;
meeting holiday and special leave requirements and other minimum statutory criteria, such as occupational safety and health obligations; and
only allowing people to work in the business who are lawfully entitled to work in New Zealand and who comply with their visa conditions. [BH2.5]

A business is considered non‑compliant with employment or immigration law if it fails to meet the generic compliance requirements set out in other immigration instructions (see BH2.5(d)). [BH2.5]

Under BH5.10, a business immigration specialist may request evidence that the principal applicant has complied with all relevant employment and immigration law in New Zealand. The specialist has discretion to determine what evidence is sufficient to demonstrate compliance, and may request any documents they consider relevant. [BH5.10]

Health and character requirements

Principal applicants and partners and/or dependent children included in the application must meet health requirements (see A4) and character requirements (see A5). [BH2.15]

Interpretation & edge cases

This category is part of the previous Business Immigration Instructions and applies only to applications lodged under the transitional provisions. Applicants should refer to the Business Immigration Instructions (BA) for overarching framework. [BH]

The two‑track system under BH2.1 allows eligible entrepreneurs to accelerate their pathway to residence where they can meet higher thresholds of capital investment and job creation. For the six‑month track, the three full‑time jobs must be for New Zealand citizens or residents and be ongoing and sustainable; casual or short‑term positions do not qualify. The capital investment amount is measured at the time of application; the investment must have been transferred directly through the banking system and demonstrated through banking records.

Applicants who enter the two‑year track but do not hold an Entrepreneur Work Visa or Long Term Business Visa must demonstrate they meet all Entrepreneur Work Visa criteria even though they are not applying for that visa. This effectively imports the Entrepreneur Work Visa requirements into the residence assessment. [BH2.1]

Any material change to the business from the original business plan may be scrutinised to ensure it still benefits New Zealand significantly and meets the capital and employment commitments. Immigration officers retain discretion to request additional evidence. [BH2.1]

Despite the strict compliance obligation, a business immigration specialist may approve an application that otherwise meets all requirements where a breach of employment or immigration law is of a minor nature and the applicant provides evidence that the cause and consequences of the breach have been remedied. In determining the nature of a breach, the specialist may consult with WorkSafe New Zealand, the Labour Inspectorate, other sections of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and/or the Accident Compensation Corporation. [BH2.5]

English language requirement: The BH2.10 instruction explicitly requires principal applicants to meet the minimum standard of English under BF2. Partners and dependent children aged 16 years and over must also satisfy the English requirement or pre-purchase ESOL tuition. This is a mandatory requirement, and no waiver is available. [BH2.10]

Consistency with business proposal (BH3.1)

An Entrepreneur Residence Visa application will be declined if the business was established while the principal applicant held an Entrepreneur Work Visa (or Long Term Business Visa), and the business is different from the business proposal that was the basis for that work visa. A difference includes any change not approved by a business immigration specialist. [BH3.1]

However, the application may still be approved despite a difference if all of the following are satisfied:

the business as established would have met the requirements for a business plan under the Entrepreneur Work Visa Category;
the business required the same or a greater level of capital investment compared to the original business proposal;
the applicant has relevant experience for the new business; and
the business has provided a significant benefit to New Zealand equal to or greater than the original business, as determined by a business immigration specialist (see BH4.10). [BH3.1]

Additionally, if the business has not met any of the goals in the original business plan, or has not realised the stated goal in any of the categories claimed for points under the Entrepreneur Work Visa points scale, the residence application will be declined unless the applicant can demonstrate that:

the failure was due to extraordinary circumstances outside the applicant's control;
the circumstances were not foreseeable; and
the failure was not due to a lack of planning or realistic goals on the part of the applicant or their adviser. [BH3.1]

Holders of a Long Term Business Visa must also meet these requirements to qualify for residence under the Entrepreneur Residence Visa Category. [BH3.1]

Definitions: For definitions of terms used in the Entrepreneur Residence Visa Category, see BH4.5 (which refers to BB6 definitions for both the Entrepreneur Work Visa and Entrepreneur Residence Visa categories). [BH4.5]

Approval in principle (BH7)

BH7.1 provides the general rules for approval in principle under the Entrepreneur Residence Category. Principal applicants who meet the criteria for the Entrepreneur Residence Category will be advised that:

their application has been approved in principle;
resident visas may be granted once the principal applicant submits evidence that they and any partner or dependent children aged 16 or over meet the English language requirements (see BF); and
applications for a resident visa may be declined if the requirements listed in the approval in principle letter are not presented within the timeframe specified by a business immigration specialist. [BH7.1]

Under BH7.1.1, principal applicants who qualify under the accelerated six-month track (BH2.1(a)(ii)) will additionally be advised that their resident visas will be granted subject to conditions under section 49(1) of the Immigration Act 2009. [BH7.1]

Resident visa conditions (BH7.10)

For the accelerated six‑month track under BH2.1(a)(ii), a resident visa is granted subject to conditions under section 49(1) of the Immigration Act 2009. [BH7.10]

The principal applicant must comply with the following conditions:

be self‑employed in the business for a minimum of two years (including time spent operating the business while holding an Entrepreneur Work Visa);
retain the investment and maintain the three new full‑time jobs for New Zealand citizens or residents for a minimum of two years (including time spent as an Entrepreneur Work Visa holder); and
notify the nearest INZ branch of any change of New Zealand address during the period the conditions are imposed. [BH7.10]

Any accompanying partner and dependent children are subject to the condition that the principal applicant complies with their conditions. [BH7.10]

Notification and reminder: Principal applicants receive a letter explaining the conditions, how to have them lifted, the timeframe, and that failure to comply may result in deportation liability under section 159 of the Immigration Act 2009. [BH7.10] INZ attempts to contact the applicant three months before the conditions period ends to request evidence of meeting conditions. Evidence must be provided no later than three months after the conditions are due to be lifted. [BH7.10]

Evidence of meeting conditions: The principal applicant must show that they have been self‑employed in the business for at least two years (inclusive of time under the Entrepreneur Work Visa) and have retained the investment and maintained the three full‑time positions for at least two years. [BH7.10] If the applicant fails to retain the investment or maintain the jobs, a business immigration specialist may consider whether the failure was beyond the applicant's control (e.g. unforeseen economic conditions) and, if satisfied, may deem the conditions met. [BH7.10]

The evidence must be produced by a reliable independent agency or professional (such as a solicitor or chartered accountant) who is independent of both the business and the applicant's immigration adviser or lawyer. [BH7.10] Suitable evidence includes, but is not limited to: Certificate of Incorporation, financial accounts, GST records, tax records, employment agreements, IRD employee schedules, payslips, job specifications, letters of appointment, evidence of employees' New Zealand citizenship or residence (passport, birth certificate), property purchase or lease documents, invoices for business equipment and supplies, and any other documents a business immigration specialist considers relevant. [BH7.10]

Compliance and non‑compliance: If a business immigration specialist is satisfied the conditions have been met, the conditions are cancelled and the applicant is notified in writing. [BH7.10] If the conditions are not complied with, the resident visa holder may become liable for deportation under section 159 of the Immigration Act 2009. [BH7.10]