Regional Visas

Business Innovation and Investment Provisional Visa (Subclass 188)

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Business Innovation and Investment Provisional Visa (Subclass 188) is a provisional visa which allows the holder to remain in Australia for 4 years and 3 months. Further, this visa category allows the holder to: (1) own and manage a business; (2) conduct business and investment activities; and (3) undertake entrepreneurial activity in Australia. The criteria to be satisfied depends on the stream the applicant is applying under:

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188 Visa has the following visa streams:

Business Innovation Stream

Business Innovation Visa stream is intended for businessmen and entrepreneurs to manage a new or existing business in Australia.

Investor Stream

Investor Visa is a temporary visa requires you to invest AUD1.5 million in an Australian state or territory and retain business and investment in Australia.

Significant Investor Stream

This visa is for people who invest AUD5 million in Australian investments that meet certain requirements and retain business and investment in Australia.

Premium Investor Stream

This visa is for people who are nominated by Austrade and who invest AUD15 million in Australia.

Entrepreneur Stream

This visa allows the holder to carry out entrepreneurial activities in Australia and stay for up to 4 years and 3 months.

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The common criteria for Business Innovation and Investment Provisional Visa are that the applicant and spouse/de facto partner must not have a history of involvement in business or investment activities generally not acceptable in Australia, and the nominating state/territory government agency has not withdrawn the nomination. The applicant and each member of the family must satisfy health and character requirements.

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Permanent Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 888)

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Permanent Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 888) is a permanent visa which allows the holder to remain in Australia permanently to continue:

(1) owning and managing a business;

(2) conducting business and investment activities; and

(3) entrepreneurial activity in Australia.

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The criteria to be satisfied depends on the stream the applicant is applying under:

​Business Innovation stream

888 Visa holder is intended for businessmen and entrepreneurs to manage a new or existing business in Australia and stay in Australian indefinitely

​Investor stream

Business Innovation and Investment Provisional (subclass 188) visa holder is required to invest AUD1.5 million in an Australian state or territory. Visa holder can stay indefinitely in Australian and continue business and investment operations. 

​Significant investor stream

Business Innovation and Investment Provisional (subclass 188) visa holders that invest AUD5 million in Australian investments and meet certain requirements are permitted to retain business and investment in Australia indefinitely. 

​Premium Investor stream

This visa is for people in the who are in Business Innovation and Investment Provisional (subclass 188) stream to stay indefinitely and maintain investment activities in Australia  

​Entrepreneur Stream

This visa allows the holder to carry out entrepreneurial activities in Australia and stay indefinitely.

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Eligibility 

To be eligible for the 888 Visa,  the applicant or spouse/de facto partner:

(1) is nominated by the state/territory or the Australian government;

(2) continues to hold a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188); and

(3) satisfied the requirements of that visa in the stream first applied.

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Business Talent Visa (Subclass 132) 

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Business Talent Visa (Subclass 132) is a permanent resident visa allowing the holder to remain and travel in and out of Australia indefinitely. This visa category is for establishing a new or developing an existing business in Australia.

132 Visa has two streams which are Significant Business History Stream or the Venture Capital Entrepreneur Stream (VCE). 

SBH stream is for high calibre overseas business owners and/or part-owners who want to establish or develop an existing business in Australia. To be eligible for SBH stream, the applicant must have 

• net personal and business asset of AUD1,500,000

• an annual business turnover of at least AUD3,000,000 in the two of four fiscal years before the application

VCE stream is for people who have received at least AUD 1 million in funding from an Australian venture capital firm and that funding is for the start-up, product commercialization or business development of a promising high-value business idea. For the VCE stream, the applicant must have 

• sourced venture capital funding from a member of the Australian Venture Capital Association Limited

• under 55 years of age for SBH stream,

• being sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a state or territory government,

• having significant business and personal assets,

• having a commitment to maintain business in Australia,

• having a successful business career.

Once the visa expires, the Business Talent Visa applicant can apply for an RRV (Resident Return Visa) to continue living and conduct business in Australia. The spouse/de facto partner and dependent children can be included in the application.

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BUSINESS OWNER VISA (SUBCLASS 890)

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Business Owner Visa (Subclass 890) is a permanent resident visa which allows the holder to lawfully remain in Australia, and travel in and out of the country unlimitedly, for 5 years from the date the visa was granted. Eligible applicants are those business owners who have held a Business (Provisional) Visa for at least two years. These qualifying subclasses include Subclass 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, or 165.

After the initial visa expires, you must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV) if you wish to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident. Your spouse, children or dependents may be included in the application.

To be eligible for 890 Visa, you, your spouse/de facto partner, or both must:

(1) have held lawfully acquired assets of at least a net value of AUD100,000 in the business throughout the period of 12 months ending immediately before the date of the application;

(2) have a business turnover of at least AUD300,000 in the last 12 months prior to the application; and

(3) have employed at least 2 Australian citizens or permanent residents full-time not related to the applicant.

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State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa (Subclass 892)

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State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa (Subclass 892) visa is similar to the Business Owner (Residence) Subclass 890 except that it requires sponsorship by an appropriate regional authority of a state or territory government of Australia. Other qualifying criteria are lower because of this sponsorship.

The 892 visa holder is allowed to : 

• to own and manage a business in Australia

• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence

• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

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Eligibility 

1. The current holder of the following visa subclasses:

• Business Owner (Provisional) visa (subclass 160)

• Senior Executive (Provisional) visa (subclass 161)

• Investor (Provisional) visa (subclass 162)

• State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) visa (subclass 163)

• State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) visa (subclass 164)

• State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) visa (subclass 165)

2. have lived in Australian on that visa for minimum 1 year in the 2 years immediately before the application is made while holding this visa

3. have owned and managed a business in Australia for at least 2 years immediately before the application is made