Don’t Know How to Apply for an Australian Business Visa?
Visas and Immigration in Australia for Foreign Entrepreneurs and Investors
Foreign business owners and investors seeking to come to Australia to conduct business and/or invest can choose among several available visa options depending on their eligibility and duration of stay. New Zealand passport holders can travel to Australia without a visa and obtain a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) (SCV) upon arrival at the airport.
At present, foreign entrepreneurs and investors can choose among the following visa categories:
For temporary residency
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188)
with 5 eligibility streams:
- Subclass 188A (Business Innovation Stream)
- Subclass 188B (Investor Stream)
- Subclass 188C (Significant Investor Stream)
- Subclass 188D (Premium Investor Stream)
- Subclass 188E (Entrepreneur Stream)
For permanent residency
Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 888)
with 5 eligibility streams:
- Subclass 888A (Business Innovation Stream)
- Subclass 888B (Investor Stream)
- Subclass 888C (Significant Investor Stream)
- Subclass 888D (Premium Investor Stream)
- Subclass 888E (Entrepreneur Stream)
For short-term stay
- Business Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
Business Visa Options in Australia for Foreign Entrepreneurs and Investors
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188)
-For foreign investors and business owners seeking to establish business operations in Australia. As a provisional residence visa, only valid for up to 5 years. To progress to Subclass 888 (Permanent) Visa, you must meet the onshore requirements after successfully fulfiling the provisional residence pathway.
Subclass 188 visa allows foreign entrepreneurs to perform the following in Australia legally:
- carry out business and/or investment activity/ies
- stay for a maximum of 5 years
- bring eligible family members with them
- apply for a Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Visa (subclass 888)
General Eligibility Requirements
To be qualified for any of the 5 visa streams under subclass 188 visa, you must:
- submit expression of interest (EOI) in SkillSelect
- be nominated by a state/territory government agency or Austrade
- be invited to apply for the visa
- not have any criminal records or history of involvement in illegal business and/or investment activities
- have functional English
- meet the health and character requirements
| Business Visa Stream | Definition | Eligibility Requirements | Visa Validity | Average Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 188A (Business Innovation Stream) | For individuals with business skills to operate a new or existing business in Australia | -score at least 65 on the points test -provide proof of business success (annual turnover, ownership interest) -have a total net business and personal assets of at least AU$1.25 million -be under 55 years old | Up to 5 years | Can be around 13 to 28 months, depending on certain factors |
| Subclass 188B (Investor Stream) | For investors who can invest at least AU$2.5 million in an Australian state/territory and maintain business or investment activity in Australia | -score at least 65 on the points test -be nominated by a state/territory to invest at least AU$2.5 million -have net business, investment, and personal assets of at least AU$2.5 million | Up to 5 years | Can be around 26 months to 39 months |
| Subclass 188C (Significant Investor Stream) | For investors who can invest at least AU$5 million and maintain investment activity in Australia | -be invited to apply for this visa -be nominated by a state/territory government agency or Austrade to invest at least AU$5 million in a significant investment where qualified -intend to live in the state/territory where nominated | Up to 5 years | Can be around 8 months to 26 months |
| Subclass 188D (Premium Investor Stream) | For investors nominated by Austrade and can invest at least AU$15 million in Australian investments and/or philanthropic contributions | -be invited to apply for this visa -be nominated by Austrade -invest at least AU$15 million in Australian investments and/or philanthropic contributions -intend to hold the investment for the entire validity of the visa (except philanthropic contributions) | Up to 4 years and 3 months | Not available |
| Subclass 188E (Entrepreneur Stream) | For entrepreneurs (startups and early stage businesspeople) who have been endorsed to develop their concepts | -must have a funding agreement with a third party to carry out entrepreneurial activities -undertake, or propose to undertake, a complying entrepreneurial activity -be able to provide a business plan for the entrepreneurial activity/ies | Up to 5 years | Can be around 3 months to 7 months |
Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 888)
-For foreign investors and business owners with existing businesses and/or investments in Australia who intend to continue their activities indefinitely.
Eligibility Requirements
You must hold a relevant stream of subclass 188 (provisional) business visa, subclass 444 (special category) visa, or subclass 457 (long stay) business visa to be qualified to apply for permanent residency through subclass 888 (permanent) business visa.
Additionally, you must have adhered to the following throughout your stay in Australia:
- have held your business and/or complying investment for the required duration
- meet the residency requirement
- not have been involved in illegal business and/or investment activities
- have followed Australian laws
- continue to meet health and character requirements
Business Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
-For businesspeople seeking to come to Australia to attend business matters for a maximum of 3 months (for a single visit). Multiple entry visas can be granted, subject to a maximum of 3 months per visit.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the subclass 600 visa, you must meet the following requirements:
- express your intent to travel to Australia solely for short-term business activities
- be outside Australia when you applied and when your application was processed
- meet the health and character requirements
- have enough funds to support yourself throughout your stay
- must only perform short-term business activities
Visa holders are prohibited to work or provide services to a business/organisation in Australia throughout their stay, and must only conduct short-term business activities such as:
- make general business/employment enquiries;
- negotiate, enter into, or review business contracts;
- perform activities as part of an official government visit; and/or
- attend conferences/trade fairs (must not be paid by the organisers to take part).
Obtain Your Australian Business Visa With Ease
Processing your Australian visa can be complicated and overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start and don’t have the necessary resources to get you moving in the right direction for your application to get approved. At Company Set Up Australia, our visa specialists and immigration consultants are equipped with the right tools and solid expertise to help you secure the most ideal immigration route, quickly and effectively.
