How to apply – General (Active) Investor category-Part 1

Applying for residence under the General (Active) Investor category is a two step process:

  1. You submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), providing they with information about yourself, but not providing any documents.
  2. If they accept your Expression of Interest and send you an Invitation to Apply, you submit an application, with which you provide evidence for your claims.

EOI – a points-based system

They use a points system to judge the ability of a potential investor migrant to contribute to New Zealand businesses. You claim points on your EOI for your age, business experience, and investment funds. All of the EOIs that they receive are placed in a ‘pool’ – a collection of EOIs from interested people. When they make a selection from the pool, those with the highest points total in their EOI may be invited to apply for residence.

You cannot apply for residence under this category unless you are invited.

Selection of Expressions of Interest

A selection of EOIs under the General (Active) Investor Category took place on Wednesday, 12 March 2008. The selection point was 95, and one EOI was selected.

How to express interest

The first step you have to take is to complete a General (Active) Investor Category Expression of Interest (INZ 1148) PDF. Use the General Active Investor Category Guide (INZ 1149) PDF to help you fill in this form.

Claiming points on your EOI

Once you are sure you meet minimum requirements, you can look into how many points you can claim. Meeting the basic requirements will entitle you to 95 points – if you are aged between 45 and 54 (5 points), you have four years’ business experience (40 points), and you have NZ$2.5 million to invest in New Zealand for four years (50 points). 95 points is enough for your EOI to enter the pool. The points that you claim on top of that 95 will increase your chance of being selected.

Age

You can claim points on your EOI for your age:

  • 20-29 years – 25 points
  • 30-34 years – 20 points
  • 35-39 years – 15 points
  • 40-44 years – 10 points
  • 45-54 years – 5 points.

Business experience

The minimum four years’ business experience will entitle you to 40 points. You can claim more points if you have more business experience, and bonus points if the experience is in certain areas. The points you can claim for business experience are:

  • 4-5 years – 40 points
  • 6-9 years – 45 points
  • 10-14 years – 50 points
  • 15-19 years – 55 points
  • 20+ years – 60 points

Bonus points for business experience

You can claim bonus points if your business experience is in one or more of these areas:

  • Export linkages – 5 points if you have owned or managed a lawful business enterprise that has exported to at least one country or has imported from New Zealand, for at least 12 months
  • Entrepreneurship – 5 points if you have established a new lawful business enterprise that you still operate or have sold as a going concern, having operated that business for at least 12 months.
  • Management skills – 5 points if you have been responsible for managing a lawful business enterprise which has at least 10 full-time employees and/or an annual turnover equivalent to NZ$2.5 million, for at least 12 months; or you hold a Master of Business Administration qualification, which would qualify for 55 points as a recognised qualification under the Skilled Migrant Category .