Moving to a new country can be overwhelming, and starting a business in a new country even more so.
But New Zealand is actually one of the easiest places in the world to start a business.
Making sure you’re dotting all your i’s and crossing all your t’s, like looking into business licences and business insurance in NZ, will help keep the process as seamless as possible.
You’re probably wondering where to begin.
Let’s break it down.
Can You Actually Work There?
Before you start planning your business, you need the right to live and work in New Zealand. The requirements depend on where you’re from.
If you’re from countries like the UK, the US, Canada, or most of Europe, you can visit New Zealand without a visa for up to three months (six months if you’re British). You’ll just need something called an NZeTA, which is basically an electronic travel permit.
But here’s the thing: you can’t run a business on a visitor visa.
For longer stays, you’ll need a proper work visa. The Accredited Employer Work Visa got some updates in 2025 that make things easier. They removed wage requirements and reduced the work experience needed from three years to two years.
If you have serious money to invest, there’s the Active Investor Plus Visa. You need to invest either NZD$5 million or NZD$10 million, depending on which option you choose. The good news is they dropped the English language requirement in 2025.
Setting Up Your Business
Once you can legally work in the country, setting up a business is pretty straightforward. You can get everything sorted within a week.
- Pick your business structure. Most people choose between being a sole trader, a partnership, or a company. This matters because it affects your taxes and personal liability. It’s expensive to change later, so think it through.
- Register your business. If you’re starting a company, you register online with the Companies Office. It costs between NZD$90 and NZD$150. When you register, you automatically get a New Zealand Business Number, which you’ll use for all your business dealings.
- Sort out your taxes. Once your business makes more than NZD$60,000 a year, you need to register for GST. That’s New Zealand’s version of sales tax at 15%. The upside is you can claim GST back on business expenses.
Do You Need Special Licences?
Here’s where it gets a bit tricky. New Zealand doesn’t require a general business licence, but many industries have their own rules.
If you’re planning to sell food, you need to register with the Ministry for Primary Industries. Want to sell alcohol? You need either an on-licence or an off-licence. Construction work? Different licences again.
Financial services, health and beauty, transport – they all have their own requirements.
The rules can change depending on where in New Zealand you are, so check with your local council. They’ll tell you exactly what you need for your type of business.
What About Insurance?
New Zealand doesn’t make business insurance mandatory. But that doesn’t mean you should skip it.
The Insurance Council of New Zealand recommends getting at least commercial property insurance and business interruption cover. If you deal with customers or give professional advice, you should also look at public liability or professional indemnity insurance.
Why? Because small businesses don’t have big cash reserves. One bad incident could wipe you out. If someone gets hurt on your premises or you make a costly mistake, insurance could save your business
Starting a business in New Zealand as a newcomer is definitely doable. The country wants entrepreneurs and makes the process relatively simple.
In a nutshell, here’s what you need to remember: sort out your visa situation first, choose your business structure carefully, check what licences you need for your industry, and don’t forget about insurance protection.
The process might seem like a lot, but it’s actually much simpler than most countries.
With some planning and maybe some help from professionals when you need it, you could be running your business sooner than you think. Goodluck. We’re rooting for you.
Also Read: Moving from the UK to New Zealand Your Comprehensive Guide
