17 November 2009

Entrepreneur Plus Visa category already proves popular with potential emigrants to New Zealand

The New Zealand Herald has reported a surge in interest from potential emigrants to New Zealand only weeks away from the introduction of the new Entrepreneur Plus Visa category which will grant business emigrants to New Zealand residency almost immediately.

Under a new Entrepreneur Plus Visa category, which commences November 30, business migrants who create at least three fulltime jobs and invest NZ$500,000 in their business will be offered a fast track to New Zealand residency.

This new visa category has no time limit, unlike the Entrepreneur Visa category where migrants can apply for residency only after two years.

Already about 12,000 people have registered their interest in the scheme through the service's website, with 189 looking to invest NZ$1.5 million or more - a total potential investment of at least $283 million.

Immigration New Zealand said the most interest had come from migrants from the US, UK, India, Philippines, and Ireland. It has also received formal expressions of interest from 63 potential investors and 47 has been invited to apply.

The New Zealand Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with New Zealand visas.