BI8.15 Sufficient maintenance funds (04/07/2005)

1. Principal applicants must have, in addition to their investment capital, sufficient funds or assets to provide for their own maintenance and accommodation, and that of any partner and dependent child/ren included in the application, for a stay of at least two years in New Zealand
2. In determining the sufficiency of maintenance funds the business immigration specialist may have regard to the Household Economic Survey, which provides information on the average weekly household expenditure and is published by Statistics New Zealand (available at www.stats.govt.nz).
3. The business immigration specialist will take into account the personal circumstances of the applicant, such as the number of dependants.
4. In determining the sufficiency of maintenance funds the business immigration specialist shall have regard to the salary provided by a genuine offer of employment from a New Zealand employer, or current employment in New Zealand.

BI8.15.1 Ownership of maintenance funds

Funds may be owned either:

1. solely by the principal applicant; or
2. jointly by the principal applicant and partner and/or dependent children (see R2.1.30) who are included in the residence application.
3. The principal applicant may claim the full value of jointly owned funds or assets for assessment purposes provided a business immigration specialist is satisfied the principal applicant and partner have been living together for 12 months or more in a genuine and stable partnership (see R2.1.15, R2.1.15.1 (b) and R2.1.15.5 (a) (i)).
4. If funds or assets are held jointly by the principal applicant and a person other than their partner or dependent child, the principal applicant may only claim the value of that portion of the funds or assets for which they provide evidence of ownership.

BI8.15.5 Evidence of maintenance funds

Evidence of sufficient funds may include, but is not limited to:

1. New Zealand bank accounts showing a sufficient current balance; or
2. An offshore bank account showing a sufficient current balance, together with evidence that the funds can be accessed from New Zealand; or
3. A genuine offer of employment from a New Zealand employer, or current employment in New Zealand; or
4. Acceptable evidence of assets (either in New Zealand or offshore).

Effective 04/07/2005