Application form - Significant Business Assets

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What sensitive assets are you buying?

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See website for further information on National Interest
Variation of consent

This application is for existing consent holders who want to:

  • Change the wording of an existing consent.
  • Vary special conditions (including time extensions to comply with conditions).
  • Revoke conditions of consent (including where consent would no longer be required due to changes to the Overseas Investment Act 2005).

See the page Variations to consent or conditions on our website for more information.

Note: It is not possible to vary some types of exemption. Please contact us about this before applying.


Before you begin
  • Original consent details
  • Fee
  • Evidence and documents such as:
    • Check that you are filing the correct application. See website for further information on variations of consent.
    • Have all your information ready, including a marked up version of the original consent showing requested variations. For a complete list of what you'll need to tell and send us, see Information required for variation application.
    • Please read our tips on how to make the assessment process easier.
Fee, payment and timeframe

If your application can be accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment fee from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here.

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no application was required.

Discretionary exemption

This application is for people who are seeking an exemption from:

The exemption may relate to one or more of the following:

The power to grant discretionary exemptions is limited, and in many cases a consent application will be more appropriate. Exemptions must meet the criteria set out in section 61E of the Act and be for one of the purposes in section 61B of the Act. In many instances, an application for consent under the Act will be more appropriate than an application for exemption.
We strongly recommend that you contact us prior to applying for a discretionary exemption under section 61D of the Act.

Before you begin
  • Check you are applying for the correct exemption. See website for further information on discretionary exemptions.
  • Have all your information ready, including an explanation of the exemption you seek and the entities it covers, the reasons for requesting the exemption, and details of any transactions, investor, interests, rights or assets the exemption would apply to.
  • Prepare a signed Discretionary Exemption application form.
  • Please read our tips on how to make the assessment process easier.
Fee, payment and timeframe

If your application can be accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment fee from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here.

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no application was required.

Farm land advertising exemption

The Act requires that farm land, or interests in farm land, are offered on the open market to people in New Zealand before an overseas person may enter into an agreement to acquire it.

If you require an exemption from the farm land offer criterion we recommend that you contact us prior to applying for an exemption under section 20 of the Act.

Read about farm land advertising exemptions here.

Before you begin
  • Check you are applying for the correct exemption. See website for further information on farm land advertising exemptions.
  • Have all your information ready, including an explanation of the exemption you seek and the entities it covers, the reasons for requesting the exemption, and details of any transactions, investor, interests, rights or assets the exemption would apply to.
  • Prepare a signed Farm land advertising exemption form.
  • Please read our tips on how to make the assessment process easier.
Fee, payment and timeframe

If your application can be accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment fee from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here.

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no application was required.

Significant business asset

This pathway is for people and entities who want to invest in New Zealand securities, assets or businesses, or establish a business in NZ valued at over $100 million.


Tax information required

Because you are applying for consent to invest in a significant business asset, you are required to provide tax information to Inland Revenue before we can accept your consent application for processing.
See below for more details, and our website for more information about this requirement.

Before you begin
  • Check that you are applying for the correct consent. See Investing in significant business assets.
  • Complete the Application Form. You will be asked to upload this at the end of this online form.
  • Complete and submit the Tax information form. You will need your auto-generated confirmation email from the Overseas Investment team to be able to complete this online form. We'll ask you to upload the Overseas Investment team confirmation email on the uploads page of this form.
  • Ask the vendor to complete the Significant Business Assets only section in the Vendor Information Form.
  • Have all your other information ready. For a complete list of what you'll need to tell and send us, see Information required for a consent application.
  • Please read our tips on how to make the assessment process easier.
Fee, payment and timeframe

A lodgement fee is required for all consent applications. More information on lodgement fees can be found here. Please allow up to 5 working days for the lodgement invoice to be issued to you.
The lodgement fee must be paid before the webform is submitted.

If your application is accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment and monitoring fee (where applicable) from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee (and monitoring fee where applicable) are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, consent is declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no consent was required.

Benefit to New Zealand - land only

This pathway is for people who:

  • want to invest in sensitive land, and
  • who can show that their investment will, or is likely to, benefit New Zealand.

Before you begin
Fee, payment and timeframe

A lodgement fee is required for all consent applications. More information on lodgement fees can be found here. Please allow up to 5 working days for the lodgement invoice to be issued to you.
The lodgement fee must be paid before the webform is submitted.

If your application is accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment and monitoring fee (where applicable) from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee (and monitoring fee where applicable) are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, consent is declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no consent was required.

Benefit to New Zealand, including a significant business asset

This pathway is for people wanting to invest in a significant business asset that will result in the investor having an interest in sensitive land, e.g. the land a factory is on.


Tax information required

Because you are applying for consent to invest in a significant business asset, you are required to provide tax information to Inland Revenue before we can accept your consent application for processing.
See below for more details, and our website for more information about this requirement.

Before you begin
Fee, payment and timeframe

A lodgement fee is required for all consent applications. More information on lodgement fees can be found here. Please allow up to 5 working days for the lodgement invoice to be issued to you.
The lodgement fee must be paid before the webform is submitted.

If your application is accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment and monitoring fee (where applicable) from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee (and monitoring fee where applicable) are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, consent is declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no consent was required.

Intention to reside

This pathway is for people who are intending to move to New Zealand indefinitely and want to invest in sensitive land.


Before you begin
Fee, payment and timeframe

A lodgement fee is required for all consent applications. More information on lodgement fees can be found here. Please allow up to 5 working days for the lodgement invoice to be issued to you.
The lodgement fee must be paid before the webform is submitted.

If your application is accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment and monitoring fee (where applicable) from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee (and monitoring fee where applicable) are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, consent is declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no consent was required.

Special forestry test (one-off consent)

Use this pathway to purchase forestry land and continue to operate it as forestry land with existing arrangements remaining in place.


Before you begin
Fee, payment and timeframe

A lodgement fee is required for all consent applications. More information on lodgement fees can be found here. Please allow up to 5 working days for the lodgement invoice to be issued to you.
The lodgement fee must be paid before the webform is submitted.

If your application is accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment and monitoring fee (where applicable) from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee (and monitoring fee where applicable) are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, consent is declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no consent was required.

Special forestry test (standing consent)

Use this pathway to purchase existing forestry land and continue to operate it with existing arrangements remaining in place.

Note: You must have a pre-application meeting with us before applying for a standing consent.


Before you begin
Fee, payment and timeframe

A lodgement fee is required for all consent applications. More information on lodgement fees can be found here. Please allow up to 5 working days for the lodgement invoice to be issued to you.
The lodgement fee must be paid before the webform is submitted.

If your application is accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment and monitoring fee (where applicable) from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee (and monitoring fee where applicable) are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, consent is declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no consent was required.

Residential land development (one-off consent)

This pathway is for investors wanting to increase the supply of housing, invest in a business that uses land for non-residential purposes and/or invest in a business that uses land incidentally for residential purposes.


Before you begin
Fee, payment and timeframe

A lodgement fee is required for all consent applications. More information on lodgement fees can be found here. Please allow up to 5 working days for the lodgement invoice to be issued to you.
The lodgement fee must be paid before the webform is submitted.

If your application is accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment and monitoring fee (where applicable) from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee (and monitoring fee where applicable) are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, consent is declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no consent was required.

Residential land development (standing consent)

This pathway is for investors wanting to increase the supply of housing, invest in a business that uses land for non-residential purposes and/or invest in a business that uses land incidentally for residential purposes.


Before you begin
Fee, payment and timeframe

A lodgement fee is required for all consent applications. More information on lodgement fees can be found here. Please allow up to 5 working days for the lodgement invoice to be issued to you.
The lodgement fee must be paid before the webform is submitted.

If your application is accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment and monitoring fee (where applicable) from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee (and monitoring fee where applicable) are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, consent is declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no consent was required.

Fishing quota

This pathway is for investors who want to acquire fishing quota or an interest in fishing quota. Please contact us to before you apply online.


Note

Please contact us to discuss before proceeding with this application.


Apartments off the plans

This pathway is for people who want to buy apartments off the plans as investments and not live in them.


Before you begin


Developers seeking exemption certificate

Developers constructing large apartment developments can apply for an exemption certificate, which allows them to sell up to 60 per cent of the apartments in the development to overseas people as investment properties. The overseas people do not need to apply for consent to buy these apartments.


Before you begin
Fee, payment and timeframe

If your application can be accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment fee from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here.

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no application was required.

Exemption from the definition of non-NZ government investor

This exemption allows an entity or entities to be exempt from the definition of non-NZ government investor if the national interest assessment would be required solely because of their government ownership or control.

The power to grant an exemption from the definition of non-NZ government investor under section 20AA is at the Minister of Finance's discretion.

Before you apply, we strongly recommend that you are familiar with the criteria set out in:

  • regulation 64D of the Overseas Investment Regulations 2005, and
  • section 20AA(2) of the Overseas Investment Act 2005.
Before you begin
  • Check you are applying for the correct exemption. See website for further information on exemptions from the definition of non-NZ government investor.
  • Have all your information ready, including an explanation of the exemption you seek and the entities it covers, the reasons for requesting the exemption, and details of any transactions, investor, interests, rights or assets the exemption would apply to.
  • Prepare a signed non-New Zealand government investor exemption application form.
  • Please read our tips on how to make the assessment process easier.
Fee, payment and timeframe

If your application can be accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment fee from Land Information New Zealand to the specified contact person. This invoice will have 10 day payment terms (note not working days). If the invoice is not paid by the due date your application may be lapsed and the assessment timeframe will not commence until payment is made in full.

Read more about fees here.

Assessment timeframes vary according to the application type. You can find information about the application assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no application was required.

Standalone investor approval

This pathway is for individuals and/or entities who seek an Investor Test assessment under section 29A(1) of the Act before applying for one or more consents.


Before you begin
Fee, payment and timeframe

The application fee is NZD $25,500.00 (incl. GST).

If your application can be accepted, an invoice will be sent for the assessment fee from the Overseas Investment Office to the specified contact person.

You can find information about the assessment timeframe here.

Note:

  • We will start to process your application when we receive all the information we need and the correct application fee (and monitoring fee where applicable) are paid in full.
  • The Overseas Investment team will not refund fees if an application is withdrawn, consent is declined or lapsed or the Overseas Investment team finds that no consent was required.

Investment under a purchasing programme

This pathway is for investors who are buying a property under the terms of a purchasing programme. Do not use this form unless you have confirmed with LINZ that this is the appropriate form to use.


You will need the following to complete this form
  • Signed Applicant signature form
  • Signed Investor Test statutory declaration
  • Signed True and Correct statutory declaration
  • Curriculum vitae for each individual with control, and each individual relevant overseas person
  • Colour scan or photo of passport
  • Visa label or eVisa
  • If the applicant is not an individual (eg: if it is a company, limited partnership, or trust), an ownership structure diagram, evidence of incorporation or establishment, and the relevant constitution, trust deed or other similar document
Fees

No fees are payable.


Online form last updated December 2024.


Latest changes, as at December 2024 (expand for details)

The following changes have been made:

  • simplified application submission webform for variations and exemptions created

  • new application form templates for exemption application pathways

If you have feedback about the webform, please send it to oio@linz.govt.nz with "Webform feedback" at the start of the subject title.