[Crunchmonkey]

My wife and I ( both in our 50's ) are interested in obtaining permanent residence in New Zealand by first applying for a Long Term Business Visa and Permit. I'm a ceramist and have been supporting myself for over 30 years in this field. While we do some wholesale sales most of the business is retail and generated on my website. The sales are mainly in the USA with 20% worldwide. We visited New Zealand in March and like the Wellington area best so thought this would be a good place to move to. With the sale of our house we will have enough to buy a home and set up shop easily.We will have no employees and would like to set up a studio in our home. My question is does this plan sound like it would be likely for us to obtain permanent residence in New Zealand ?
Thanks

[MB]

Crunchmonkey - I'm afraid I am going to do the slightly annoying thing here by making you think you have a meaty reply already, when in fact I just want to say welcome to the forum! :nice1

Your situation and your business sound very interesting -- and Welli sounds like a good bet for you both from what I understand - and I'm really looking forward to seeing what help you get from other members.

Great to have you here!

[Crunchmonkey]

Hey ! Thanks for the welcome Matt , that's never annoying.
Cheers
Paul

[veronica]

hi paul, pete and I came over two years ago on the LTBV and one of the things you have to do is show that you are benefitting NZ. one of the ways they like that to be is to actually have you employing people. can you include an employee or two in your plans?? (cleaner or someone) You have already cleared the main hurdle there by having run your own business and (presumably) kept books etc. we had to submit quite extensive business proposals/plans but were lucky that pete is a management accountant so we could organise all that ourselves. If there is any chance that you can speak to someone at the immigration in the business section in wellington then I think it would be worth the time and cost to do so. Its just a thought but could you come over on the talent visa or is that too specific for you.

[jdbob]

hi paul, pete and I came over two years ago on the LTBV and one of the things you have to do is show that you are benefitting NZ. one of the ways they like that to be is to actually have you employing people.

I noticed that bit as well. I wonder if employing people is the only thing that they consider as a benefit. What if your customers are outside NZ in which case you would be helping offset the trade deficit by bringing in money into the country :raebanana

[Crunchmonkey]

Yes Veronica I think employing some people would help but I'm not planing to hire anyone , the Wellington business section sounds like a good idea to look into, thanks. I also thought that exporting my goods , a small amount as it may be , would be a benefit to NZ.