Business Migration Visa Program
Australian Business Innovation and Investment Visas Categories
Business Innovation and Investment (Temporary)
This category is for successful business innovators and investors who intend to invest or enter into business in Australia and contribute to the growth of the Australian economy.
BUSINESS INNOVATION STREAM
This provisional visa is for people with business skills. Stay for up to four years and three months. It lets you operate a new or existing business in Australia. You must score at least 65 on the points test; provide proof of your business success (annual turnover, ownership stake); and you, your partner, or you and your partner together, have total net business and personal assets of at least AUD1,500,000.
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 we will be unable to grant you a visa.
For two out of four fiscal years immediately before you receive an invitation to apply, you must have had an ownership stake in one or two businesses that had at least AUD750,000 turnover in each of those two years.
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 AUD1,250,000. Your funds must be available to transfer to Australia within two years of us granting the visa.
With this visa, you can operate a new or existing business in Australia, bring eligible members of your family with you, and apply for a permanent residency if certain requirements are met. Will not receive an invitation if you are aged 55 or older at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa. Meet character and health requirements.
INVESTOR STREAM
This provisional visa requires you to have a qualifying business, or eligible invest at least AUD1.5 million. Stay for four years and three months.
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 we will be unable to grant you a visa.
Have business and personal assets of AUD2.5 million. Make an investment of AUD1.5 million in your nominating State or Territory.
On invitation for the visa, must make, on or after the time of application, a complying significant investment of at least AUD2.5 million. Must hold complying significant investments continuously for the life of your provisional visa.
It must be invested in the following proportions:
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. Cannot directly invest in residential real estate. There is a limit indirect investment in residential property through managed funds. Must not use investments as security or collateral for a loan.
You must have at least three years' experience managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments; have a successful record of eligible investment or qualifying business activity; and have demonstrated a high level of management skill in relation to the eligible investment or qualifying business activity. You must score at least 65 points on the points test. You must have a genuine intention to live for at least two years in the State or Territory in which you have made the investment application.
With this visa, you can carry out business and investment activity in Australia, bring eligible members of your family with you, and apply for a permanent residency if certain requirements are met. Will not receive an invitation if you are aged 55 or older at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa. Meet character and health requirements.
SIGNIFICANT INVESTOR STREAM
This provisional visa is for people who invest at least AUD5 million in Australian investments that meet certain requirements and maintain investment activity in Australia. Stay for four years and three months. 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 or Austrade that nominates you must not withdraw their nomination after you apply, or we will be unable to grant you a visa.
On invitation for the visa, must make, on or after the time of application, a complying significant investment of at least AUD5 million. Must hold complying significant investments continuously for the life of your provisional visa.
It must be invested in the following proportions:
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. Direct investment in residential real estate is prohibited. Indirect investment in residential property through managed funds is strictly limited. You must not use investments as security or collateral for a loan.
Must have had no history of involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia. With this visa, you can carry investment activity in Australia and apply for a permanent residency if certain requirements are met.
BUSINESS INNOVATION EXTENSION STREAM
This provisional visa lets holders of the Business Innovation stream extend their stay in Australia for two more years, or up to four more years if COVID-19 concessions apply. Stay for six years after the date of the grant of the original Business Innovation stream that you held at the time of application; or eight years after the date of the grant of the original Business Innovation stream if the visa that you held at the time of application was a Business Innovation Extension stream and COVID-19 concessions apply.
You must hold, or in certain cases must have held a Business Innovation stream, hold, or in certain cases must have held a Business Innovation Extension stream, have held the Business Innovation stream for at least three years, not have held more than one Business Innovation stream visa, and be nominated by a State or Territory government agency.
You must hold a Business Innovation stream and have held it for at least three years, unless COVID-19 concessions apply. 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. Your main business must have been operating actively in Australia for at least two years immediately before applying for this visa, unless COVID-19 concessions below apply. You must have maintained your commitment to stay directly involved in the day-to-day management and decision-making of the business. You must have a current nomination from a State or Territory agency before being invited to apply for this visa. 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.
The 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.
COVID-19 concessions
With this visa, you can operate a new or existing business in Australia, bring eligible members of your family with you, apply for a permanent if certain requirements are met.
SIGNIFICANT INVESTOR EXTENSION STREAM
This provisional visa lets holders of a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Significant Investor stream holders extend their stay in Australia for up to 4 more years. Extend your stay for up to 4 more years. This means you can stay in Australia for a total of 8 years from the date of grant of your Subclass 188 visa in the Significant Investor stream. You must hold a Subclass 188 visa in the Significant Investor stream for at least 3 years, or a Subclass 188 visa in the Significant Investor Extension stream. You cannot have held more than 1 Subclass 188 visa in the Significant Investor Extension stream. You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.
PREMIUM INVESTOR STREAM
This provisional visa is for people who are nominated by Austrade and who invest at least AUD15 million in Australian investments and/or philanthropic contributions. You must be nominated by Austrade, be invited to apply for this visa, invest at least AUD15 million in Australian investments and/or philanthropic contributions that meet certain requirements, and have a genuine intention to hold the investment for the whole period of the visa (except any part of the investment that is a philanthropic contribution).
You must be nominated by Austrade before being invited to apply for this visa. Austrade must not withdraw their nomination after you apply, or we will be unable to grant you a visa. Receive an invitation to apply, if Austrade accepts your EOI and nominates you, we will invite you to apply for this visa. After you lodge your application, you must make a complying premium investment of at least AUD15 million. You must have net assets of at least AUD15 million. These assets could belong to you, your partner, or you and your partner combined. They must be legally acquired, unencumbered, and available to make the complying premium investment in Australia. You and your partner must not have a history of involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia. You and family must agree not to bring any action against the Commonwealth for any loss relating to your complying premium investment.
With this visa, you can carry out business and investment activity in Australia, stay in Australia for up to four years and three months, and apply for a permanent residency if certain requirements are met.
ENTREPRENEUR STREAM
This provisional visa lets you carry out entrepreneurial activities in Australia. Must be endorsed by your nominating State or Territory government agency to develop your entrepreneurial concepts if invited to apply for this visa.
Must be nominated by a 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 we will be unable to grant you a visa. You must be undertaking, or proposing to undertake, a complying entrepreneur activity in Australia. You must have a genuine intention to continue this activity. This activity must not relate to residential real estate, labour hire, or purchase of an existing enterprise or a franchise in Australia.
With this visa, you can carry out entrepreneurial activity in Australia, bring eligible members of your family with you, and apply for a permanent residency if certain requirements are met. Will not receive an invitation if you are aged 55 or older at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa. Meet character and health requirements.
Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent)
BUSINESS INNOVATION STREAM
This visa lets holders and certain people who have held a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Business Innovation stream or the Business Innovation Extension stream, or holders of a subclass 444 (Special Category) visa, or certain holders of a subclass 457 (Business (Long Stay) visa, stay permanently in Australia.
You must have a current nomination from a state or territory government agency. When you applied for your Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa, an expression of interest was lodged. A state or territory saw your expression of interest and nominated you. You do not need to provide a new Expression of Interest. But the state or territory needs to confirm that your nomination is still current.
You must have owned and managed a business in Australia. Your main business or businesses (or the business or businesses of your spouse or de facto partner, or of you and your spouse or de facto partner together), had an annual turnover of at least AUD300,000 in the 12 months immediately before the application was made. You might not need to have a turnover of AUD300,000 if the nominating State or Territory government agency has determined that there are exceptional circumstances.
Meet the assets and employee’s requirement, for the 12 months immediately before you apply, you or your partner (or you and your partner together) must show at least two, first the assets of AUD200,000 net value in your main business (or 2 main businesses) in Australia; second personal and business assets in Australia of AUD600,000 net value, or third equivalent of at least 2 full-time eligible employees in your main business. If you want to meet the employee rule, your employees must work in your main business (or main businesses) and be Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or holders of valid New Zealand passports, and not be members of your family. You might not need to meet the assets and employee’s requirement if the nominating State or Territory government agency has determined that there are exceptional circumstances.
When operating your business in Australia, you and your partner must have followed the Commonwealth laws and the laws of the states or territories where your business operated, this includes laws about taxation, superannuation and workplace relations.
Meet the residence requirement, you must have been physically present in Australia for at least one year in the two years immediately before you apply as the holder of a Business Innovation stream, or Business Innovation Extension Stream, or Special Category Visa 444, in certain cases, a 457 visa. You and your partner must not have been involved in any business or investment activities that are unacceptable in Australia. 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.
Business Talent (Permanent)
SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS HISTORY STREAM
This visa is for experienced business owners, to operate a new or existing business in Australia. You must have assets of AUD1.5 million and business turnover of AUD3 million, be nominated by an Australian state or territory government, and be invited to apply for the visa.
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 else immigration will be unable to grant you a visa. If you are nominated for the visa, immigration will invite you to apply. All state and territory government agencies have their own criteria for deciding who they will nominate. Contact the state or territory agency directly to find out more about their nomination process and what they want from you.
You must be able to demonstrate an overall successful business career and a genuine desire to own and manage a business in Australia. You or your partner must not have had any involvement in business activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia.
For at least two of the four fiscal years before you were invited to apply, you, your partner, or you and your partner combined, must have had an ownership interest in one or more qualifying businesses in which your net value was at least AUD400,000. If the qualifying business is a publicly listed company, your shareholding must have been at least 10 percent of the total issued capital.
The business and personal assets of you, your partner, or you and your partner combined, must be at least AUD1.5 million lawfully acquired and available for transfer to Australia within two years after the visa is granted.
Your total annual turnover must be at least AUD3 million from at least 1 business and no more than 2 businesses and for at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you were invited to apply for this visa. Your ownership interest must be either 51% or more of a business with turnover of less than AUD400,000 per year, or 30% or more of a business with turnover of more than AUD400,000 per year, or 10% or more of a publicly listed company. The total net assets of you, your partner, or you and your partner combined, must be at least AUD400,000 from the ownership interest in one or more qualifying businesses, gained over at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you were invited to apply for this visa.
With this visa, you can establish a new or develop an existing business in Australia, stay in Australia permanently, and bring family members with you.
VENTURE CAPITAL ENTREPRENEUR STREAM
This visa is for people who have sourced venture capital funding from a member of the Australian Investment Council (AIC) (formerly known as the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL)). You must have funding of at least AUD1 million from an Australian venture capital firm, be nominated by an Australian state or territory government and be invited to apply.
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 else immigration will be unable to grant you a visa. If you are nominated for the visa, immigration will invite you to apply. All state and territory government agencies have their own criteria for deciding who they will nominate. Note not all state or territory agency will nominate under this category.
Have business acumen and ambition, you must have a genuine and realistic commitment to maintain a direct and continuous involvement in the day-to-day management of the eligible business and maintain a substantial ownership interest in your business or investment.
Meet our venture capital requirement, you must have secured at least AUD1 million in funding for a high-value business idea and entered into an enforceable agreement with an Australian venture capital firm for the funding. You must follow the terms of your venture capital agreement after you enter Australia. The venture capital firm must be a member of the Australian Investment Council (AIC) (formally known as the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL)). The category of membership must be that of Venture Capital Membership. Funding must be for business development or expansion of a business in Australia, the commercialisation of a product in Australia, and early phase start-up of a business in Australia.
With this visa, you can establish a new or develop an existing business in Australia, stay in Australia permanently, and bring family members with you.
Contact William for further advice on the Business Migration Program options.
William E Diez (Principal)
LLB, BLJS (SCU), Grad.Dip.Law (SCU),
Grad.Cert.Mig.Law (ANU), MARN 0958792
Level 17, 327-329 Pitt Street, SYDNEY, NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA, OR
Suite 8, 176-180 Salisbury Road, CAMPERDOWN, NSW 2050 AUSTRALIA
Telephone: 02 9550 3029
Mobile: 0459 172 522
Email: immigration@williamdiez.com.au
Skype: WilliamsMigration
Outside Australia: +61 2 9550 3029
This category is for successful business innovators and investors who intend to invest or enter into business in Australia and contribute to the growth of the Australian economy.
BUSINESS INNOVATION STREAM
This provisional visa is for people with business skills. Stay for up to four years and three months. It lets you operate a new or existing business in Australia. You must score at least 65 on the points test; provide proof of your business success (annual turnover, ownership stake); and you, your partner, or you and your partner together, have total net business and personal assets of at least AUD1,500,000.
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 we will be unable to grant you a visa.
For two out of four fiscal years immediately before you receive an invitation to apply, you must have had an ownership stake in one or two businesses that had at least AUD750,000 turnover in each of those two years.
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 AUD1,250,000. Your funds must be available to transfer to Australia within two years of us granting the visa.
With this visa, you can operate a new or existing business in Australia, bring eligible members of your family with you, and apply for a permanent residency if certain requirements are met. Will not receive an invitation if you are aged 55 or older at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa. Meet character and health requirements.
INVESTOR STREAM
This provisional visa requires you to have a qualifying business, or eligible invest at least AUD1.5 million. Stay for four years and three months.
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 we will be unable to grant you a visa.
Have business and personal assets of AUD2.5 million. Make an investment of AUD1.5 million in your nominating State or Territory.
On invitation for the visa, must make, on or after the time of application, a complying significant investment of at least AUD2.5 million. Must hold complying significant investments continuously for the life of your provisional visa.
It must be invested in the following proportions:
- at least AUD500,000 in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies
- at least AUD750,000 in approved managed funds. The managed funds must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- a ‘balancing investment’ of at least AUD1.25 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. Cannot directly invest in residential real estate. There is a limit indirect investment in residential property through managed funds. Must not use investments as security or collateral for a loan.
You must have at least three years' experience managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments; have a successful record of eligible investment or qualifying business activity; and have demonstrated a high level of management skill in relation to the eligible investment or qualifying business activity. You must score at least 65 points on the points test. You must have a genuine intention to live for at least two years in the State or Territory in which you have made the investment application.
With this visa, you can carry out business and investment activity in Australia, bring eligible members of your family with you, and apply for a permanent residency if certain requirements are met. Will not receive an invitation if you are aged 55 or older at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa. Meet character and health requirements.
SIGNIFICANT INVESTOR STREAM
This provisional visa is for people who invest at least AUD5 million in Australian investments that meet certain requirements and maintain investment activity in Australia. Stay for four years and three months. 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 or Austrade that nominates you must not withdraw their nomination after you apply, or we will be unable to grant you a visa.
On invitation for the visa, must make, on or after the time of application, a complying significant investment of at least AUD5 million. Must hold complying significant investments continuously for the life of your provisional visa.
It must be invested in the following proportions:
- at least AUD1 million in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies
- at least AUD1.5 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 AUD2.5 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. Direct investment in residential real estate is prohibited. Indirect investment in residential property through managed funds is strictly limited. You must not use investments as security or collateral for a loan.
Must have had no history of involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia. With this visa, you can carry investment activity in Australia and apply for a permanent residency if certain requirements are met.
BUSINESS INNOVATION EXTENSION STREAM
This provisional visa lets holders of the Business Innovation stream extend their stay in Australia for two more years, or up to four more years if COVID-19 concessions apply. Stay for six years after the date of the grant of the original Business Innovation stream that you held at the time of application; or eight years after the date of the grant of the original Business Innovation stream if the visa that you held at the time of application was a Business Innovation Extension stream and COVID-19 concessions apply.
You must hold, or in certain cases must have held a Business Innovation stream, hold, or in certain cases must have held a Business Innovation Extension stream, have held the Business Innovation stream for at least three years, not have held more than one Business Innovation stream visa, and be nominated by a State or Territory government agency.
You must hold a Business Innovation stream and have held it for at least three years, unless COVID-19 concessions apply. 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. Your main business must have been operating actively in Australia for at least two years immediately before applying for this visa, unless COVID-19 concessions below apply. You must have maintained your commitment to stay directly involved in the day-to-day management and decision-making of the business. You must have a current nomination from a State or Territory agency before being invited to apply for this visa. 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.
The 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.
COVID-19 concessions
- If during the COVID-19 concession period, you hold or held a:
- Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Business Innovation stream that was granted on or before 30 June 2019; or
- Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Business Innovation Extension stream, and your Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Business Innovation stream was granted on or before 30 June 2019
With this visa, you can operate a new or existing business in Australia, bring eligible members of your family with you, apply for a permanent if certain requirements are met.
SIGNIFICANT INVESTOR EXTENSION STREAM
This provisional visa lets holders of a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Significant Investor stream holders extend their stay in Australia for up to 4 more years. Extend your stay for up to 4 more years. This means you can stay in Australia for a total of 8 years from the date of grant of your Subclass 188 visa in the Significant Investor stream. You must hold a Subclass 188 visa in the Significant Investor stream for at least 3 years, or a Subclass 188 visa in the Significant Investor Extension stream. You cannot have held more than 1 Subclass 188 visa in the Significant Investor Extension stream. You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.
PREMIUM INVESTOR STREAM
This provisional visa is for people who are nominated by Austrade and who invest at least AUD15 million in Australian investments and/or philanthropic contributions. You must be nominated by Austrade, be invited to apply for this visa, invest at least AUD15 million in Australian investments and/or philanthropic contributions that meet certain requirements, and have a genuine intention to hold the investment for the whole period of the visa (except any part of the investment that is a philanthropic contribution).
You must be nominated by Austrade before being invited to apply for this visa. Austrade must not withdraw their nomination after you apply, or we will be unable to grant you a visa. Receive an invitation to apply, if Austrade accepts your EOI and nominates you, we will invite you to apply for this visa. After you lodge your application, you must make a complying premium investment of at least AUD15 million. You must have net assets of at least AUD15 million. These assets could belong to you, your partner, or you and your partner combined. They must be legally acquired, unencumbered, and available to make the complying premium investment in Australia. You and your partner must not have a history of involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia. You and family must agree not to bring any action against the Commonwealth for any loss relating to your complying premium investment.
With this visa, you can carry out business and investment activity in Australia, stay in Australia for up to four years and three months, and apply for a permanent residency if certain requirements are met.
ENTREPRENEUR STREAM
This provisional visa lets you carry out entrepreneurial activities in Australia. Must be endorsed by your nominating State or Territory government agency to develop your entrepreneurial concepts if invited to apply for this visa.
Must be nominated by a 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 we will be unable to grant you a visa. You must be undertaking, or proposing to undertake, a complying entrepreneur activity in Australia. You must have a genuine intention to continue this activity. This activity must not relate to residential real estate, labour hire, or purchase of an existing enterprise or a franchise in Australia.
With this visa, you can carry out entrepreneurial activity in Australia, bring eligible members of your family with you, and apply for a permanent residency if certain requirements are met. Will not receive an invitation if you are aged 55 or older at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa. Meet character and health requirements.
Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent)
BUSINESS INNOVATION STREAM
This visa lets holders and certain people who have held a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Business Innovation stream or the Business Innovation Extension stream, or holders of a subclass 444 (Special Category) visa, or certain holders of a subclass 457 (Business (Long Stay) visa, stay permanently in Australia.
You must have a current nomination from a state or territory government agency. When you applied for your Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa, an expression of interest was lodged. A state or territory saw your expression of interest and nominated you. You do not need to provide a new Expression of Interest. But the state or territory needs to confirm that your nomination is still current.
You must have owned and managed a business in Australia. Your main business or businesses (or the business or businesses of your spouse or de facto partner, or of you and your spouse or de facto partner together), had an annual turnover of at least AUD300,000 in the 12 months immediately before the application was made. You might not need to have a turnover of AUD300,000 if the nominating State or Territory government agency has determined that there are exceptional circumstances.
Meet the assets and employee’s requirement, for the 12 months immediately before you apply, you or your partner (or you and your partner together) must show at least two, first the assets of AUD200,000 net value in your main business (or 2 main businesses) in Australia; second personal and business assets in Australia of AUD600,000 net value, or third equivalent of at least 2 full-time eligible employees in your main business. If you want to meet the employee rule, your employees must work in your main business (or main businesses) and be Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or holders of valid New Zealand passports, and not be members of your family. You might not need to meet the assets and employee’s requirement if the nominating State or Territory government agency has determined that there are exceptional circumstances.
When operating your business in Australia, you and your partner must have followed the Commonwealth laws and the laws of the states or territories where your business operated, this includes laws about taxation, superannuation and workplace relations.
Meet the residence requirement, you must have been physically present in Australia for at least one year in the two years immediately before you apply as the holder of a Business Innovation stream, or Business Innovation Extension Stream, or Special Category Visa 444, in certain cases, a 457 visa. You and your partner must not have been involved in any business or investment activities that are unacceptable in Australia. 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.
Business Talent (Permanent)
SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS HISTORY STREAM
This visa is for experienced business owners, to operate a new or existing business in Australia. You must have assets of AUD1.5 million and business turnover of AUD3 million, be nominated by an Australian state or territory government, and be invited to apply for the visa.
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 else immigration will be unable to grant you a visa. If you are nominated for the visa, immigration will invite you to apply. All state and territory government agencies have their own criteria for deciding who they will nominate. Contact the state or territory agency directly to find out more about their nomination process and what they want from you.
You must be able to demonstrate an overall successful business career and a genuine desire to own and manage a business in Australia. You or your partner must not have had any involvement in business activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia.
For at least two of the four fiscal years before you were invited to apply, you, your partner, or you and your partner combined, must have had an ownership interest in one or more qualifying businesses in which your net value was at least AUD400,000. If the qualifying business is a publicly listed company, your shareholding must have been at least 10 percent of the total issued capital.
The business and personal assets of you, your partner, or you and your partner combined, must be at least AUD1.5 million lawfully acquired and available for transfer to Australia within two years after the visa is granted.
Your total annual turnover must be at least AUD3 million from at least 1 business and no more than 2 businesses and for at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you were invited to apply for this visa. Your ownership interest must be either 51% or more of a business with turnover of less than AUD400,000 per year, or 30% or more of a business with turnover of more than AUD400,000 per year, or 10% or more of a publicly listed company. The total net assets of you, your partner, or you and your partner combined, must be at least AUD400,000 from the ownership interest in one or more qualifying businesses, gained over at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you were invited to apply for this visa.
With this visa, you can establish a new or develop an existing business in Australia, stay in Australia permanently, and bring family members with you.
VENTURE CAPITAL ENTREPRENEUR STREAM
This visa is for people who have sourced venture capital funding from a member of the Australian Investment Council (AIC) (formerly known as the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL)). You must have funding of at least AUD1 million from an Australian venture capital firm, be nominated by an Australian state or territory government and be invited to apply.
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 else immigration will be unable to grant you a visa. If you are nominated for the visa, immigration will invite you to apply. All state and territory government agencies have their own criteria for deciding who they will nominate. Note not all state or territory agency will nominate under this category.
Have business acumen and ambition, you must have a genuine and realistic commitment to maintain a direct and continuous involvement in the day-to-day management of the eligible business and maintain a substantial ownership interest in your business or investment.
Meet our venture capital requirement, you must have secured at least AUD1 million in funding for a high-value business idea and entered into an enforceable agreement with an Australian venture capital firm for the funding. You must follow the terms of your venture capital agreement after you enter Australia. The venture capital firm must be a member of the Australian Investment Council (AIC) (formally known as the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL)). The category of membership must be that of Venture Capital Membership. Funding must be for business development or expansion of a business in Australia, the commercialisation of a product in Australia, and early phase start-up of a business in Australia.
With this visa, you can establish a new or develop an existing business in Australia, stay in Australia permanently, and bring family members with you.
Contact William for further advice on the Business Migration Program options.
William E Diez (Principal)
LLB, BLJS (SCU), Grad.Dip.Law (SCU),
Grad.Cert.Mig.Law (ANU), MARN 0958792
Level 17, 327-329 Pitt Street, SYDNEY, NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA, OR
Suite 8, 176-180 Salisbury Road, CAMPERDOWN, NSW 2050 AUSTRALIA
Telephone: 02 9550 3029
Mobile: 0459 172 522
Email: immigration@williamdiez.com.au
Skype: WilliamsMigration
Outside Australia: +61 2 9550 3029