Global Impact Visa

Back to Atlas

The Global Impact Visa (GIV) in New Zealand is a unique visa program introduced in 2017, designed to attract high-profile entrepreneurs and visionaries to establish global-scale businesses in the country.
What are the main aims and objectives?
The main objectives of the Global Impact Visa (GIV) are to attract high-profile entrepreneurs, investors, and visionaries who can create, support, and incubate global-scale ventures that will positively impact New Zealand's economy and society. By offering these individuals a pathway to permanent residence, the GIV aims to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and enhance the country's global reputation. With the support of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship, the GIV program also seeks to build a community of like-minded changemakers, who can collaborate and contribute to New Zealand’s long-term success. 
How does the program work?

Global Impact Visa (GIV) is a three-year open work visa that enables participants in the Edmund Hillary Fellowship to work and live in New Zealand. The visa provides up to 400 individual pioneering entrepreneurs and investors to create and support innovation-based ventures and start-up teams from New Zealand.   

There are two stages to the application process: 

  1. Submit an application, and be accepted into, the Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) 

  1. Apply for a Global Impact Visa.  

Requirements for Global Impact Visa: 

  • The applicant would require an offer letter from EHF. 

  • NZ$36,000 maintenance funds are a pre-requisite that will help the applicant to support himself/herself and family for the first year. 

  • Health, character and English language requirements have to be fulfilled by the candidate. 

The Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) is a collaboration between the Hillary Institute for International Leadership, a not-for-profit organisation that identifies and celebrates mid-career leaders from around the world; and Kiwi Connect, an organisation promoting and connecting high-impact entrepreneurship in New Zealand. 

EHF has been designed as an end-to-end programme that gives entrepreneurs, start-up teams and investors a platform to incubate and grow innovative ventures. 

Participation in the programme provides Fellows with: 

  • Access to a supportive local and global network of investors, advisors, partners and mentors 

  • A community of visionary entrepreneurial leaders and a diverse group of Fellows in each cohort 

  • Connection to centres of excellence in different regions of New Zealand 

  • Regular events, demo days, retreats learning and sharing opportunities, and a platform to tell your story 

  • Help to identify the best integration support for yourself and immediate family 

  • Access to investment and scaling opportunities in NZ and overseas 

  • Access to top talent, universities, accelerators and incubators, policy makers, investment and Research & Development grants. 

  • In return, Fellows are expected to contribute towards New Zealand entrepreneurship ecosystems and actively work on, or invest in, ventures within New Zealand that have the potential for widespread global impact. 

The Fellowship has 100 places available each year for international candidates, and will also accept up to 20 New Zealand entrepreneurs and investors every year. 

Upon completion of the three-year programme, international Fellows become part of the EHF alumni community, and are eligible to apply for permanent residence. To be eligible to apply for permanent residence, you must remain in the Edmund Hillary Fellowship for 30 months, and maintain the support of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship 

What is the overall cost?
The New Zealand government does not publish the exact cost of running the Start-up Visa Program. However, there are no major costs associated with visa schemes outside of the administrative costs of processing applications, conducting background checks and maintaining the program’s infrastructure. Indeed, it is highly likely that any costs that do exist will be outweighed by the economic benefits associated with the program.  
How was it implemented?

The Global Impact Visa (GIV) was developed as part of a unique partnership between the New Zealand government and the Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF). The government recognized the need for a new type of visa to attract innovative individuals who could make a significant, positive impact on New Zealand's economy, society, or environment. The EHF, a fellowship program designed to incubate solutions to global problems, was seen as the perfect partner in this endeavor. 

The visa was developed with the goal of fostering innovation, promoting entrepreneurship, and facilitating the growth of New Zealand’s start-up ecosystem. Its development was a result of detailed research, consultation, and collaboration between the government, EHF, and other stakeholders. It was designed to be flexible and to accommodate the unique needs of high-impact entrepreneurs, investors, and start-up teams. The GIV represents a new approach to immigration, one that values potential impact over traditional metrics of wealth or education. 

What impact has been measured?

In 2021, the New Zealand government published an evaluation of the Global Impact Visa which measured its impact over a three-year period. The report found that pilot was progressing well and that there was strong potential for the pilot to deliver greater outcomes in the future if support for integration is improved. In particular: 

  • There were 521 fellows created through the program, 404 of which came from abroad 

  • Fellows created at least 157 jobs and 61 new organizations 

  • Fellows invested at least $53.2 million in New Zealand-based organisations 

  • Fellows Supported New Zealand-based organizations to raise capital of at least $576 million 

  • Fellows have taken on at least 84 governance roles in New Zealand 

  • The pilot has built an attraction and selection process that has delivered a full quota of high quality International Fellows that offer skills and access to networks that are not typically available in New Zealand 

  • Most fellows report high levels of commitment to New Zealand and intend to apply for permanent residency when they are able to and contributing to the New Zealand economy 

What lessons can be learned?
Benefits of the program have been seen across New Zealand but more so in the main population centers. Additionally, the program and Fellowship is reportedly not well known across the country or even within the innovation ecosystem. Stakeholders who were aware of the program had mixed views about the scale and type of outcomes observed during the pilot. Some stakeholders were underwhelmed by the aggregated outcomes that the pilot delivered. The impact report also found that integration and visibility of the Fellows could be improved.  

CURATED BY

Dave Moskovitz

Chair
GEN NZ
New Zealand