Business Skills visa pathways

The Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Investor Stream) is for applicants who don’t wish to necessarily become involved in business in Australia but would rather make an investment into complying investments to then meet the requirement for the permanent Subclass 888 visa further down the track.

The requirements for the initial subclass 188 investor visa are that the applicant must have:

• State nomination by an Australian State or Territory government agency before being invited to apply for this visa,
• at least 3 years’ experience of direct involvement in managing a qualifying business or eligible investments,
• demonstrate a high level of management skill in relation to the eligible investment or qualifying business activity,
• in 1 out of the last 5 financial years had either managed a business in which they had at least a 10% share OR eligible investments to the value of A $ 1.5 m,
• be under 55 years of age unless a State/Territory is prepared to offer an age waiver,
• in each of the 2 fiscal years immediately preceding the application the applicant (or the applicant and spouse combined) had net assets of at least the equivalent of A $ 2.5m
• 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 able to obtain a minimum of 65 points on the Innovation Points Test,
• Provide evidence of Functional English.

Invest in Australia

If you were invited to apply on or after 1 July 2021

If you were invited to apply for this visa on or after 1 July 2021, you must make (on or after the time of application for this visa), a complying significant investment of at least AUD2.5 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 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.

This visa is temporary and valid for 5 years. To be eligible for the Permanent Resident Subclass 888 visa the complying investment of AUD2.5 million needs to have been held for the duration of the temporary visa. In addition, the Principal Applicant needs to have lived in the nominating State or Territory for at least 2 years in the 5 year period.

Similar to the 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.