Australian business visa and investor visa categories
Quick overview of the Australian Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188)
To apply you must be:
Subclass 188 visa are not a permanent visa. They are provisional residence visas for up to 4 years and 3 months, and you must meet the onshore requirements to then apply for and progress to permanent residence
With a SC 188 visa you can:
- carry out business and investment activity in Australia
- stay in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months
- bring members of your family with you
| Visa Stream | Overview | Key eligibility Criteria |
| Business Innovation Stream | - Provisional Residence visa allows you to operate a new or existing business in Australia
- You must operate a new or existing business in Australia.
- You can stay in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months.
- You must first be nominated by an Australian state or territory government.
| - score at least 65 on the points test (and be under age 55)
- Provide evidence of your business success (annual turnover, ownership stake)
- have total net business and personal assets of at least AUD800,000
- Processing Time
75% of applications: 18 months
90% of applications: 20 months
|
| Investor Stream | - This provisional residence visa requires you to invest AUD1.5 million in an Australian state or territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
- Stay Up to 4 years and 3 months.
| - You must invest AUD1.5 million in an Australian state or territory
- Have net personal assets of AUD2.25 million
- score at least 65 on the points test (and be under age 55)
- You must first be nominated by an Australian state or territory government.
- Processing Time
75% of applications: 20 months
90% of applications: 21 months
|
| Significant Investor Stream | - This visa is for people who invest AUD5 million in Australian investments that meet certain requirements and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
- Stay Up to 4 years and 3 months.
| - You must invest AUD5 million in complying significant investments in Australia.
- You can stay in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months.
- You must first be nominated by an Australian state or territory government.
|
| Business Innovation Extension stream | - This temporary visa lets holders of the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Innovation stream extend their stay for 2 more years.
- Stay 2 more years
| - If you have had your Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Innovation stream for at least 3 years you can extend it for 2 more years
- You can only have held 1 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188)
|
| Significant Investor Extension Stream | - This visa lets Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Significant Investor stream holders extend their stay for 2 more years.
- Stay Up to 2 years after the expiry of your Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Significant Investor stream
| - You must have held a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Significant Investor stream for 3 years
- You can stay in Australia for up to 8 years in total.
- You must have a current nomination from an Australian state or territory government.
|
| Premium Investor Stream | - This visa is for people who are nominated by Austrade and who invest AUD15 million in Australia.
- Stay Up to 4 years and 3 months
| - You must invest AUD15 million in Australian investments that meet certain requirements
- You must first be nominated by Austrade on behalf of the Australian government
|
| Entrepreneur Stream | - This visa lets you carry out entrepreneurial activities in Australia.
- You can stay for up to 4 years and 3 months.
| - You must have a funding agreement with a third party to carry out entrepreneurial activities.
- You can stay in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months.
- You must first be nominated by an Australian state or territory government.
|
Research and information
Each of the streams have a specific set of requirements you must follow after visa grant, in order to progress to a permanent residence visa
NEXT STEPS
Register with us and a consultant will then assist you in determining your eligibility for the visa, and will explain all the requirements, costs, and onshore process to progress to permanent residence
