Australia Business Visa Program

For successful business owners, investors, and senior executives seeking to settle in Australia, the Australian Business Visa Program offers a promising pathway to explore business opportunities in the country. There are two main avenues for entry into Australia:

  • Provisional Visa: This visa renders you eligible for permanent residency in Australia once you have established a business in the country.
  • Direct Permanent Residence: This option is available for applicants sponsored by a State or Territory government.

Provisional Visa: A Two-Stage Pathway to Permanent Residency

Under Australian immigration law, applicants entering Australia through the provisional visa stream must undergo a two-stage process to obtain permanent residency. This involves:

  1. Holding a Business Skills Provisional Visa for a period of four years.
  2. Satisfying ongoing requirements during this period.
  3. Applying for a Business Skills Residence Visa after fulfilling the provisional visa conditions.

Direct Permanent Residence: Business Talent Visa

The second stream, offering direct permanent residence, is available to applicants sponsored by a State or Territory government. This category is known as the Business Talent Visa and allows for immediate permanent residency without the provisional stage.

The Australian Business Visa Program thus provides flexible and robust options for business professionals aiming to contribute to and benefit from Australia's dynamic economic landscape.

Business Skills Program

The Business Skills Program is divided into four distinct categories:

  • Owners or part owners of a business
  • Senior executive employees of large businesses
  • Individuals or business owners willing to invest in Australia
  • People with significant business history who have obtained sponsorship from a State or Territory government

Stage 1: Temporary Business Visa

There are five eligibility streams for the 188 Business Visa:

  • 188A Visa (Business and Innovation Stream)
  • 188B Visa (Investor Stream)
  • 188C Visa (Significant Investor Stream)
  • 188D Visa (Premium Investor Stream)
  • 188E Visa (Entrepreneur Stream)

Stage 2: Permanent Business Visa

The 888 Visa is the Permanent Business Innovation and Investment Visa, providing direct permanent residence for business applicants sponsored by a State or Territory government. This includes:

  • 888 Visa (Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent))

The Australian Business Visa Program provides flexible and robust options for business professionals aiming to contribute to and benefit from Australia's dynamic economic landscape.

Business Talent (Subclass 132) Visa

Business professionals have several visa options available to them through the Australian government. These opportunities are reserved for legitimate business individuals, and the requirements can be stringent, making qualification challenging but attainable for established and legitimate enterprises.

Eligibility for an Australian Business Visa

To determine eligibility for an Australian business visa, consider the following types of visas available for business ventures in Australia:

Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment Provisional Visas

This category is designed for business owners and investors looking to establish their business in Australia and is valid for up to 4 years. The criteria for each stream are detailed below:

188A Visa (Business and Innovation Stream)

The subclass 188A visa suits overseas business owners and investors willing to invest in a new or existing business in Australia. It is a provisional visa valid for up to 4 years. Applicants must be under 55 years of age or provide exceptional benefit to the state.

188B Visa (Investor Stream)

This temporary visa requires applicants to hold it for 4 years before becoming eligible for permanent residence. The visa applicant must invest 1.5 million AUD in government bonds for up to 4 years. Applicants must be under 55 years of age or provide exceptional benefit to the states.

188C Visa (Significant Investor Stream)

This visa is for those willing to make a minimum investment of 5 million AUD and meet the significant investment requirements. There is no age limit for this visa. Applicants must maintain active business and investment activities in Australia and be nominated by a State or Territory government.

188D Visa (Premium Investor Stream)

This temporary visa is available for those willing to invest a minimum of 15 million AUD in a “premium investment” in Australia. It is suitable for individuals who will maintain a business and active investment presence in Australia.

188E Visa (Entrepreneur Stream)

This visa is for business owners who have received a funding agreement from a third party for at least 200,000 AUD. The agreement must be aimed at entrepreneurial activities expected to commercialize a product or service in Australia or develop a business in Australia. Applicants must be nominated by a State or Territory government.

188A & 188B Points Test (Business Innovation)

A points-based system determines the eligibility of applicants, requiring a minimum of 65 points.

888 Visa (Business Innovation and Investment Permanent)

This visa is the second stage of a Business Innovation and Investment visa, leading to permanent residency. Applicants can apply for this visa after holding a 188 provisional visa for 2 years in the Business Innovation stream or 4 years in the investment stream.

132 Visa for Business Talent

Experienced and successful business owners can apply for the subclass 132 visa, a permanent visa designed for existing business owners or part-owners abroad. Applicants' genuineness, commitment, and willingness to manage a new or existing business in Australia will be assessed.

Processing Time for Business Visa in Australia

VISA TYPE STREAM (IF AVAILABLE) 75% OF APPLICATIONS PROCESSED IN 90% OF APPLICATIONS PROCESSED IN
Visitor visas
600 Visitor Business Visitor 9 days 20 days
132 Business Talent Significant Business History 24 months Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
132 Business Talent Venture Capital Entrepreneur Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Significant Investor Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Investor 18 months 20 months
188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Business Innovation 18 months 22 months
188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Premium Investor Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
188 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Entrepreneur Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
890 Business Owner Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
891 Investor Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
892 State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner 19 months 21 months
893 State/Territory Sponsored Business Investor Unavailable due to low volume of applications. Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

Factors Influencing the Processing Time of Australian Business Visas

All business visa applications are evaluated individually by authorities. The processing time for each application is typically lengthy. Several factors can affect the processing time for an individual application, including:

  • Whether the application is complete and includes all supporting documentation.
  • The response time of applicants to requests for additional information. Delays in response will extend the processing time accordingly.
  • The time taken by the Department to assess the information provided by the applicant and verify the evidence submitted.
  • The time taken by the Department to obtain relevant information from external agencies, particularly in cases involving health, nationality, or background checks.
  • The number of available places for permanent visa applications.
  • The time taken by applicants to attend a citizenship ceremony or obtain a citizenship certificate for citizenship-related applications.

Criteria for State Sponsorship Eligibility

State sponsorship requirements vary between Business Owner Visas and Investor Visas. The key requirements are:

Business Owner Visa:

  • Applicants must be under 55 years of age, unless their business proposition offers exceptional benefits to the nominated State or Territory.
  • A score of 65 is required on the points test.
  • Applicants must have an ownership interest in a business with a minimum turnover of 500,000 AUD for two out of the four fiscal years immediately preceding the application.
  • Ownership requirements:
    • 51% ownership for businesses with a turnover of less than 400,000 AUD per annum.
    • 30% ownership for businesses with a turnover of 400,000 AUD or more per annum.
    • 10% ownership for publicly listed companies.
  • The applicant's overall business career must be successful.
  • Applicants must demonstrate a genuine desire to own and manage a business in Australia.
  • If the business provides professional, trade, or technical services, the owner must not have spent more than half of their time providing these services.
  • Applicants, their partner, or combined must possess business and personal assets totaling at least 800,000 AUD, lawfully acquired and transferable to Australia within two years of the visa grant.
  • Applicants must not engage in unacceptable business or investment activities.

Investor Visa:

  • Applicants must be under 55 years of age, unless their business proposition offers exceptional benefits to the nominated State or Territory.
  • A score of 65 is required on the points test.
  • Applicants must have at least three years of experience managing an eligible business or investment.
  • Applicants must have a successful record of business activity or investment management.
  • Applicants must demonstrate a genuine desire to own and manage a business in Australia.
  • Income earned from investments in Australia will be subject to Australian taxation laws.
  • Applicants must comply with residency guidelines.
  • Working rights are permitted for additional applicants, such as partners or family members.
  • Two businesses can be combined to meet the eligibility criteria.

Obtaining an Australian Business visa is generally considered challenging. However, adhering to legislative and regulatory guidelines, with the assistance of a qualified business visa migration agent, can significantly enhance the chances of approval.

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