Australian Immigration Business Skills and Investor Visas are available to businessmen, high net worth individuals, or Venture Capital firms, who have established business enterprises and/or are keen to invest in Australia. The country is one of the best and most stable economies in the world and is a highly attractive investment destination. Business or Investment Visas are given to experienced business persons who wish to migrate to Australia, and set up or invest in businesses there. The Government has made Business and Investor Immigration to Australia very encouraging from anywhere across the world.

Business and Investor Visas in Australia require certain guidelines to be met, which are different from the guidelines set for individuals and travellers. There are 6 types of Business and Investor Visas available to choose from. We will help you select the best category for you, based on the size of your investment and several other factors. The more you are willing to invest, the more the benefits offered by the Australian states and lesser the Eligibility criteria for Permanent Residency.

• Business Innovation Stream
• Investor Stream
• Significant Investor Stream
• Business Innovation Extension Stream
• Significant Investor Extension Stream
• Entrepreneur Stream

I. Business Innovation Stream:

Be nominated:

You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency, before being invited to apply for this visa. The State or Territory government agency that nominates you must not withdraw their nomination after you apply, or you will not be granted a visa.

Have business ownership:

For 2 out of 4 fiscal years immediately before you receive an invitation to apply, you must have had an ownership stake in 1 or 2 businesses that had at least AUD 750,000 turnover in each of those 2 years.

Whether you have 1 or 2 businesses, you must own at least:

51% of the total value of the business if the business has a turnover of less than AUD 400,000 per year

30% of the total value of the business if the business has a turnover of AUD 400,000 or more per year, or

10% of the total value of the business if the business is operated by a publicly listed company

If your business provides professional, technical or trade services, you must have spent less than half your time providing those services, rather than general management of the business.

Own personal and business assets:

When you are invited to apply for this visa, you, your partner, or you and your partner combined must have total net business and personal assets of at least AUD 1,250,000.

Your funds must be available to transfer to Australia within 2 years of being granted the visa.

Score at least 65 on the points test:

You must score at least 65 points on the points test. Your points are calculated for the below:

age

English language ability

qualifications

business experience

net personal and business assets

business turnover

innovation

special endorsement

Have a successful business career:

You must have a successful business career and a genuine desire to continuously own and manage a business in Australia.

Be under 55:

You will not receive an invitation if you are aged 55 or older at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa.  If you are older, a State or Territory might invite you to apply for this visa only if your business is of exceptional economic benefit.

Not have a history of involvement in unacceptable activities:

You and your partner must have had no history of involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia.

Have functional English:

All applicants aged 18 or over at the time of application must either have at least functional English, or you will have to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge.

Meet the health requirement:

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet thehealth requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia may also need to meet the health requirement.

Meet the character requirement:

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet thecharacter requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia must also meet the character requirement.

Sign the Australian values statement:

If you and your family members who have applied for the visa are 18 years or older at the time of application, you and your family members must

have read, or had explained to you, the ‘Life in Australia’ book;

sign an ‘Australian Values Statement’ that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws

Have no debt to the Australian Government:

If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.

Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused:

You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia.

II. Investor Stream Visa for Australia:

Be nominated:

You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency, before being invited to apply for this visa.

The State or Territory government agency that nominates you must not withdraw their nomination after you apply, or you will not be granted a visa.

Own and manage business and personal assets and investments:

You must have managed a qualifying business or investments to the value of at least AUD 1.5 million –

For at least 1 of the 5 fiscal years immediately before you are invited to apply, have directly managed one of the following:

a qualifying business in which you, your partner or you and your partner combined had at least 10% ownership interest, or

an eligible investment of at least AUD 1.5 million owned by you, your partner or you and your partner combined.

Have required assets –

For the 2 fiscal years immediately before you are invited to apply, you, your partner, or you and your partner together, have business and personal assets with a net value of at least AUD 2.5 million. These assets must have been lawfully acquired and be available for transfer to Australia within 2 years of the visa being granted.

Investment in Australia:

You must make (on or after the time of application for this visa), a complying significant investment of at least AUD 2.5 million. You must hold complying significant investments continuously for the life of your provisional visa.

It must be invested in the following proportions:

at least AUD 500,000 in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies

at least AUD 750,000 in approved managed funds. The managed funds must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange

a ‘balancing investment’ of at least AUD 1.25 million in managed funds

The managed funds can invest in a range of assets, including companies listed on the Australian stock exchange, Australian corporate bonds or notes, annuities and commercial real estate.

You are prohibited direct investment in residential real estate. Indirect investment is strictly limited in residential property through managed funds.

You must not use investments as security or collateral for a loan.

Have the right experience:

You must have at least 3 years’ experience managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments and have a successful record of eligible investment or qualifying business activityhave demonstrated a high level of management skill in relation to the eligible investment or qualifying business activity

Score at least 65 on the points test:

You must score at least 65 points on the points test. Your points are calculated for the below:

age

English language ability

qualifications

business experience

net personal and business assets

business turnover

innovation

special endorsement

Intend to live in a specific State or Territory:

You must have a genuine intention to live for at least 2 years in the State or Territory in which you have made the investment application.

Be under 55:

You will not receive an invitation if you are aged 55 or older at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa.  If you are older, a State or Territory might invite you to apply for this visa only if your business is of exceptional economic benefit.

Not have a history of involvement in unacceptable activities:

You and your partner must have had no history of involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia.

Have functional English:

All applicants aged 18 or over at the time of application must either have at least functional English, or you will have to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge.

Meet the health requirement:

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet thehealth requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia may also need to meet the health requirement.

Meet the character requirement:

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet thecharacter requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia may also be asked to meet the character requirement.

Sign the Australian values statement:

If you and your family members who have applied for the visa are 18 years or older at the time of application, you and your family members must

have read, or had explained to you, the ‘Life in Australia’ book;

sign an ‘Australian Values Statement’ that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws

Have no debt to the Australian Government:

If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.

Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused:

You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia.

III. Significant Investor Stream Visa for Australia:

Be nominated:

You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency, or Austrade before being invited to apply for this visa.

The State or Territory government agency that nominates you must not withdraw their nomination after you apply, or you will not be granted a visa.

Be able to invest at least AUD 5 million:

You must make (on or after the time of application for this visa), a complying significant investment of at least AUD 5 million when you are invited to, and have a genuine intention to hold that investment for the life of your provisional visa. It must be invested in the following proportions:

at least AUD 1 million in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies

at least AUD 1.5 million in approved managed funds. The managed funds must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange

a ‘balancing investment’ of at least AUD 2.5 million in managed funds

The managed funds can invest in a range of assets, including companies listed on the Australian stock exchange, Australian corporate bonds or notes, annuities and commercial real estate.

You are prohibited direct investment in residential real estate. Indirect investment is strictly limited in residential property through managed funds.

You must not use investments as security or collateral for a loan.

Not have a history of involvement in unacceptable activities:

You and your partnermust have had no history of involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia.

Have functional English:

All applicants aged 18 or over at the time of application must either have at least functional English, or you will have to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge.

Meet the health requirement:

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet thehealth requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia may also need to meet the health requirement.

Meet the character requirement:

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet thecharacter requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia may also be asked to meet the character requirement.

Sign the Australian values statement:

If you and your family members who have applied for the visa are 18 years or older at the time of application, you and your family members must

have read, or had explained to you, the ‘Life in Australia’ book;

sign an ‘Australian Values Statement’ that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws

Have no debt to the Australian Government:

If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.

Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused:

You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia.

IV. Business Innovation Extension Stream:

Hold this visa:

You must hold a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Innovation stream and have held it for at least three years, unless COVID-19 concessions apply.

Demonstrate a need for you to be resident in Australia to operate the main business:

You must be able to demonstrate your business activities are of a nature that will require a substantial presence in Australia to operate your business and manage its day-to-day affairs.

Have maintained ownership interest in your nominated main business: 

Your main business must have been operating actively in Australia for at least 2 years immediately before applying for this visa, unless COVID-19 concessions apply.

Have maintained your commitment:

You must have maintained your commitment to stay directly involved in the day-to-day management and decision-making of the business.

Be nominated:

You must have a current nomination from a State or Territory agency before being invited to apply for this visa.

Not have a history of involvement in unacceptable activities:

You and your partnermust have had no history of involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia.

Have functional English:

All applicants aged 18 or over at the time of application must either have at least functional English, or you will have to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge.

Meet the health requirement:

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet thehealth requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia may also need to meet the health requirement.

Meet the character requirement:

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet thecharacter requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia may also be asked to meet the character requirement.

Sign the Australian values statement:

If you and your family members who have applied for the visa are 18 years or older at the time of application, you and your family members must

have read, or had explained to you, the ‘Life in Australia’ book;

sign an ‘Australian Values Statement’ that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws

Have no debt to the Australian Government:

If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.

Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused:

You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia.

V. Significant Investor Extension Stream:

Have not held more than one Significant Investor Extension stream visa:

You must not have held more than one Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Significant Investor Extension stream visa.

Continue to hold your complying significant investment:

You must continue to hold your complying significant investment in accordance with the complying investment framework in place at the time you applied for this visa.

Not have a history of involvement in unacceptable activities:

You and your partnermust have had no history of involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia.

Have functional English:

All applicants aged 18 or over at the time of application must either have at least functional English, or you will have to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge.

Meet the health requirement:

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet thehealth requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia may also need to meet the health requirement.

Meet the character requirement:

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet thecharacter requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia may also be asked to meet the character requirement.

Sign the Australian values statement:

If you and your family members who have applied for the visa are 18 years or older at the time of application, you and your family members must

have read, or had explained to you, the ‘Life in Australia’ book;

sign an ‘Australian Values Statement’ that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws

Have no debt to the Australian Government:

If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.

Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused:

You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia.

V. Entrepreneur Stream:

Receive an invitation to apply:

First, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). If an Australian State or Territory government agency accepts your EOI and nominates you, you will be invited to apply for this visa.

Be nominated:

You must be nominated by a State or Territory government agency before being invited to apply for this visa. If the State or Territory government agency that nominates you withdraws their nomination after you apply, you will not be granted the visa.

Be under 55:

You will not receive an invitation if you are aged 55 or older, at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa. If you are older, a State or Territory might invite you to apply for this visa only if your business is of exceptional economic benefit.

Have a complying entrepreneur activity:

You must be undertaking, or proposing to undertake, a complying entrepreneur activity in Australia. You must have a genuine intention to continue this activity.

A complying entrepreneur activity must relate to an innovative idea that will lead to:

• the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia, or
• the development of an enterprise or business in Australia

This activity must not relate to any of the following categories:

• residential real estate
• labour hire
• purchase of an existing enterprise or a franchise in Australia

Be endorsed by a recognised body:

You must be endorsed by your nominating State or Territory government agency to develop your entrepreneurial concepts.

Have competent English:

You must have at least competent English.

Meet the health requirement:

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet thehealth requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia may also need to meet the health requirement.

Meet the character requirement:

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet thecharacter requirement. Family members who are not going to Australia may also be asked to meet the character requirement.

Sign the Australian values statement:

If you and your family members who have applied for the visa are 18 years or older at the time of application, you and your family members must

have read, or had explained to you, the ‘Life in Australia’ book;

sign an ‘Australian Values Statement’ that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws

Have no debt to the Australian Government:

If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.

Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused:

You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia.

Other Recommended Posts:

• Subclass 188 Business Innovation & Investment Provisional Visas
• New Changes to Business Innovation and Investment Program visas for 2021
• New Taskforce to Create Jobs by Attracting Business and Talent to Australia
• Invest in Australia’s Greener Economic Pastures