Business Visa Investor Stream

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for 188 visa under the investor stream, you must:

  • Be under 55 years of age (this requirement can be waived if the proposed investment provides outstanding economic benefit to the nominating state or territory).
  • Achieve at least 65 in the point-test
  • Possess a high level of management skills to undertake a qualifying business activity
  • Be committed to continue business and investment in Australia once the original investment is matured
  • Have a genuine intention to stay for at least 2 years in the state or territory under which the designated investment has been made
  • Have been involved directly for at least 3 years in managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments
  • Have a combined ownership interest (with your partner) of at least 10% in a qualifying business OR eligible investment of at least AUD 1.5 million owned by you for at least one of the five fiscal years
  • Make a designated investment of at least AUD 1.5 million in a state or territory government for at least 4 years from the date of issue
  • Have legally attained investment, net business and personal assets of at least AUD 2.25 million for legal transfer to Australia within two years of visa being granted
  • Have had no participation or association with unacceptable activities in Australia

States / Territories

AU-WA

Fees: $750

Processing Time: Relatively quick

Preferred Industries:

  • Commit a significant amount of new capital investment;
  • Generate skilled employment or a large number of new jobs;
  • Develop export markets or replace imports;
  • Introduce new skills, expertise, technologies or innovations;
  • Locate the business activity in a regional area; and
  • Have a significant flow on effect to other sectors of the economy

Restricted Industries:

  • Residential estate
  • Labour Hire
  • Purchasing of existing
    business or franchise
AU-NT

Fees: No Fees

Processing Time: Relatively quick

Preferred Industries: Of direct economical benefit to local state/territory via entrepreneurial activity (entrepreneurial streams only)

Restricted Industries:

  • Residential estate
  • Labour Hire
  • Purchasing of existing business or franchise
AU-SA

Fees: $500-$750

Processing Time: Relatively quick

Preferred Industries: Of direct economical benefit to local state/territory via entrepreneurial activity (entrepreneurial streams only)

Restricted Industries: On-selling imports (obtaining goods from other states to sell in SA)

AU-QLD

Fees: $550-$750

Processing Time: Relatively quick

Preferred Industries: Of direct economical benefit to local state/territory via entrepreneurial activity (entrepreneurial streams only)

Restricted Industries:

  • Residential estate
  • Labour Hire
  • Purchasing of existing business or franchise

AU-NSW

Fees: $820-$1270 + GST

Processing Time: 1-4 Weeks

Preferred Industries: Of direct economical benefit to local state/territory via entrepreneurial activity (entrepreneurial streams only)

Restricted Industries:

  • Small scale property development
  • Small scale freight forwarding and warehousing
  • Commodity and scrap metal export
  • Passive investment

AU-ACT

Fees: $600-$1100

Processing Time: 4 Weeks

Preferred Industries: Of direct economical benefit to local state/territory via entrepreneurial activity (entrepreneurial streams only)

Restricted Industries:

  • Residential estate
  • Labour Hire
  • Purchasing of existing
    business or franchise

AU-VIC

Fees: No Fees

Processing Time: 4 Weeks

Preferred Industries: Of direct economical benefit to local state/territory via entrepreneurial activity (entrepreneurial streams only)

Restricted Industries:

  • Small scale property development
  • Small scale freight forwarding and warehousing
  • Commodity and scrap metal export
  • Passive investment

AU-TCA

Fees: No Fees

Processing Time: Relatively quick, but must meet with Migration Tasmania first

Preferred Industries:

  • Aquacultural
  • Agricultural
  • Minerals and Mining Industry
  • Forestry and Timber
  • Antarctic and Marine Science
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Creative Industry

Restricted Industries:

  • Residential estate
  • Labour Hire
  • Purchasing of existing business or franchise