Business Visas

About the service

The Business Visa program is designed to provide business people and investors with the opportunity to obtain permanent residency in Australia.

All applicants must first apply for a subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) visa. Applicants may in time become eligible to apply for a permanent visa after they have successfully operated a business or maintained their investment in Australia for a set period and met certain other requirements. This is a five-year visa and applicants must (with some exceptions) be under the age of 55 at the time of invitation to apply.

The Business Visa regime is complicated and ever changing, often due to political and economic imperatives. This makes for a particularly challenging environment. Our primary role is to help you understand the regime and to ensure that the correct visa pathway is selected. Once the visa is selected we lodge an ‘Expression of Interest (EOI)’ for you and, if you are then ‘invited’ to apply by the Department of Home Affairs, we will prepare and lodge the appropriate visa for you. We will keep the department updated in relation to significant and relevant business changes that may effect your application.

To assist applicants to select the correct visa pathway, we need to have a deep understanding of the motives driving the move, whether these are personal or financial, as well as an appreciation of your business / investment background. Lodging an EOI is the first step to being invited to apply for a visa. Timing is vital as caps apply to the number of Business visas that can be granted in any one financial year. Picking the right moment to submit the EOI can mean the difference between success and failure.

As with all our visa services, we will advise you on the evidence needed to support your visa application, prepare and lodge the visa application and support you through processing period (which can be a significant period of time). We keep the department updated in relation to significant and relevant business changes that might effect your application.

Australia needs ambitious and innovative individuals to boost the economy and to contribute to the future prosperity of this great country. We are keen to make this happen for you!

Provisional Business Visa Options

The 188 visa is comprised of five main streams, all of which require state or territory government nomination.

Arrange a Consultation

Business Innovation Stream

This is the stream for those looking to start, or takeover an existing business in Australia.

LEARN MORE

Business Innovation Stream

This visa is for business owners who have a genuine and realistic commitment to be involved as the owner of a new or existing business in Australia. The visa is for a period of up to 5 years and can be extended if the criteria for permanent residency are not met withing the initial visa period.

Basic Eligibility;
  • You must be under 55 when invited to apply
  • You and any partner must have business and / or personal assets of at least $1.25m available for transfer to Australia within 2 years of the visa grant
  • Your business must have had a turnover of at least $750,000 in at least two of the last four financial years
  • Meet health and character requirements
  • Score at least 65 points on the points test
  • Be nominated by a state- each state has their own individual requirements which must be met in addition to the federal requirements

Investor Stream

This is the visa stream for people who have at least $1.5m to invest in compliant investment plans in Australia.

LEARN MORE

Investor Stream

This visa is for business owners or those with funds to invest in Australia. This visa is be ideal for those not wishing to be involved in the active management of a business in Australia, but who are content to invest funds in complying investments for the duration of their visa. The visa is for a period of up to 5 years.

Basic Eligibility:

  • You must be under 55 when invited to apply

  • In at least 1 of the last 5 financial years, you must have either had at least a 10% ownership interest in a business, or held eligible investments of at least $1.5m

  • In the two years before you are invited to apply you must have net business and / or personal assets of at least $2.5m

  • You must make a designated investment of at least $1.5m into complying Australian investments before the visa is granted

  • Meet health and character requirements

  • Score at least 65 points on the points test

  • Be nominated by a state- each state has their own individual requirements which must be met in addition to the federal requirements

Significant Investor Stream

This is the stream for those applicants able to invest at least $5m in compliant investment plans in Australia and who may be over 55 years of age.

LEARN MORE

Significant Investor Stream

This is very similar to the Investor stream but applicants must have at least $5m available to invest in complying significant investments in Australia. The advantage over the Investor stream is that no age limit or points test apply to this visa. The visa is for a period of up to 5 years.

Basic Eligibility:

  • You must make a complying Australian investment of at least $5m before the visa is granted and the investment must be held for the duration of the visa

  • Meet health and character requirements

  • Be nominated by a state- each state has their own individual requirements which must be met in addition to the federal requirements

Entrepreneur Stream

This is the stream for business innovators and entrepreneurs with a great business idea who perhaps don't have a business background or history.

LEARN MORE

Entrepreneur Stream

This visa is for startup and early- stage entrepreneurs who have been endorsed to develop their concepts and been nominated by a state or territory. The visa is for a period of up to 5 years.

Basic Eligibility:

  • You must be under 55 when invited to apply

  • You must be proposing to undertake a complying entrepreneur activity in Australia. The activity must relate to an innovative idea that will lead to the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia.

  • Meet health and character requirements

  • Be nominated by a state- each state has their own individual requirements which must be met in addition to the federal requirements. All require that you have a viable business plan and evidence of funding

Entrepreneur Stream

This visa is for business owners who have a genuine and realistic commitment to be involved as the owner of a new or existing business in Australia. The visa is for a period of up to 5 years and can be extended if the criteria for permanent residency are not met within the initial visa period.

Basic Eligibility;

  • You must be under 55 when invited to apply
  • You and any partner must have business and / or personal assets of at least$1.25m available for transfer to Australia within 2 years of the visa grant
  • Your business must have had a turnover of at least $750,000 in at least two ofthe last four financial years
  • Meet health and character requirements
  • Score at least 65 points on the points test
  • Be nominated by a state- each state has their own individual requirements which must be met in addition to the federal requirements

Get Consultation

Why Clients Choose Us

Streamlining the Process

Navigating the business visa landscape and identifying the best way forward can be a relentlessly confusing task. We take that stress out of your hands.

Understanding your Goals

In most cases, securing visas is only one small part of a larger, much more complex equation. We take the term to learn about your broader objectives, needs, constraints and limitations. 

Acting with Integrity

Our core aim is to provide the highest possible level of service for our clients. This means making sure everyone is on the same page, providing accurate advice and remaining completely transparent.

Forming Relationships

We want our clients to feel confident in our ability to support their ongoing visa needs. By forming strong relationships with our clients, we inspire trust and reliability.

Request a Quote

Case Studies

Techbuyer (Aus) Pty Ltd

Starting a subsidiary company in Australia and then helping the first critical team member to move from the UK to Australia.

Read Case Study

DGA Ltd

Establishing a subsidiary of a UK business in Australia and moving critical staff to Australia for the medium to long-term.

Read Case Study

Pipeline Induction Heat Ltd (PIH)

Moving highly specialised staff to Australia for short-term deployments of three to six months.

Read Case Study

What our clients say about us

“Excellent guidance on the visa process from Richard at ABVCo, this could have been a stressful mobilization of our team of specialist workers – But Richard ensured that the whole process was straightforward and worked in a diligent and timely manner – even allowing for the time difference and the pandemic.”

Alison A, Project Personnel Manager

Johnny Depp,

Head of Logistics, GreatCompany

"Richard and the team at ABVCo provided us with a very comprehensive and professional service. All aspects of the process and application were handled with the upmost of care and attention, with Richard successfully guiding us through the complex requirements needed to achieve our goals."

Simon A Country Manager

Johnny Depp,

Head of Logistics, GreatCompany

I have been in touch with Richard at ABVCo for over 4 years now. Over this time he's assisted our clients obtain temporary and permanent visas to allow them to work in Australia. The regulatory requirements around GPs getting visas in Australia is complex so it's great to have someone I can trust implicitly to help!

Emma C Managing Director

Johnny Depp,

Head of Logistics, GreatCompany

"Richard at ABVCo has assisted us with our visa processes from the commencement of our business in Australia. He offers professional, expert advice in a friendly and efficient manner and always provides a first-class service"

Rachel C HR Manager

Johnny Depp,

Head of Logistics, GreatCompany

"We have just gone through the TSS visa application with Richard and the Visa Approved within a week!!A big thanks to Richard at ABVCo. I can highly recommend! With his expert advice and attention to detail, we received a result faster than I could have imaged. 5 Stars all the way"

Adele M Director

Johnny Depp,

Head of Logistics, GreatCompany

Let’s talk about your relocation

Book a free consultation.

By submitting this form you confirm that you have read the disclaimer and accept the Website Terms of Use. You also confirm that you have read and agree the content of the Initial Consultation tab.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.