Business Innovation
and Investor Visa
(Subclass 188)

Business Innovation stream

This visa is for applicants with business skills who want to establish, develop and manage a new or existing business in Australia. Applicants must be nominated by a state or territory government.

What are the requirements for the 188 visa (Business Innovation stream)?

• You must be under 55, unless you are invited state or territory to apply for the visa on the basis of having a business of exceptional economic benefit.
• You must be nominated by a state or territory, or Austrade before being invited to apply for this visa.
• You must have a successful business career and a genuine desire to continuously own and manage a business in Australia.
• You must own personal and business assets of at least AUD 1.25 Million.
• You must score at least 65 on the points test CLICK TO TAKE THE POINTS TEST NOW!
• You must have had no involvement in unacceptable activities.
• You and your partner must have no involvement in business or investment activities that are generally considered unacceptable in Australia.
• You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet the health requirement.
• You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with must meet the character requirement.
• Applicants aged 18 years of age or older must have read the Life in Australia book and sign an Australian Values Statement.
• Applicants aged 18 or over at the time of application must have at least functional English or pay the second instalment application fee.
• You must have no debt to the Australian Government.
• You must not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused as visa cancellation could affect your eligibility.

Investor stream

This visa is for applicants who want to make a designated investment of at least AUD 2.5 million in an Australian state or territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia. Applicants must be nominated by a state or territory government.

What are the requirements for the 188 visa (Investor stream)?

• You must be under 55 years of age, unless you are invited state or territory to apply for the visa on the basis that your investment will be of exceptional economic benefit.
• You must first lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) and if you are nominated by an Australian state or territory government you can apply for this visa.
• You must have a genuine intention to live for at least 2 years in the state or territory in which you have made an investment.
• You must have at least 3 years’ experience managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments and a genuine commitment to your business investment or activity in Australia.
• You must have managed investments of AUD 1.5 million or a qualifying business.
• You must have assets of AUD 2.25 million which must be available for legal transfer to Australia within 2 years of the visa being granted.
• You must make an investment of AUD 2.5 million in your nominating state or territory.
• You must score at least 65 on the points test CLICK TO TAKE THE POINTS TEST NOW!
• You must have had no involvement in unacceptable activities.
• You and your partner must have no involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia.
• You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet the health requirement.
• You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with must meet the character requirement.
• Applicants aged 18 years of age or older must have read the Life in Australia book and sign an Australian Values Statement.
• Applicants aged 18 or over at the time of application must have at least functional English or pay the second instalment application fee.
• You must have no debt to the Australian Government.
• You must not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused as visa cancellation could affect your eligibility.

Significant Investor stream

This visa is for applicants who are willing to invest at least AUD 5 million into complying significant investments in Australia and want to maintain business and investment activity in Australia. Applicants can be nominated by a state or territory government or Austrade on behalf of the Australian government.