Subclass 188 - Investor Stream

Subclass 188- Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa

Investor Stream

The Investor stream of the subclass 188 visa provides a pathway to permanent residency for people who have experience in managing a business or investments, and are able to make an investment in Australia for at least 4 years. If you wish to apply for this visa, which is valid for up to five years, you must first lodge an Expression of Interest. If this is successful, and you are nominated by a State or Territory, you will be invited to lodge an application for this visa. The minimum requirements for this stream are set out below:

Applicant

At the time that you are invited to apply for this visa, you must:

be under 55 years of age (unless your proposed investment or business activity is considered to be of exceptional economic benefit to the nominating State or Territory)
score at least 65 on the innovation points test (which takes into account your age, English competency, qualifications, experience, turnover and assets, amongst other factors)
be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency, and genuinely intend to live in that State or Territory for at least two years

NOTE: You may need to meet additional criteria in order to qualify for nomination by your chosen State/Territory’s government

Business Investment Experience

At the time that you are invited to apply for this visa:

you (and your spouse/de facto partner, if applicable) must have had no involvement in unacceptable business or investment activities
you must have a high level of skill (and a successful record) in managing eligible investments and/or qualifying businesses. This includes a minimum of three years of direct involvement in the management of at least one such business or investment
in at least one out of the last five financial years, you directly managed
- eligible investments owned by you (and/or your spouse or de facto partner, if applicable) totalling at least AU$2.5 million OR
- a qualifying business, where you (and/or your spouse or de facto partner, if applicable) owned at least 10% of the business’s total value)

NOTE: An investment is eligible if you own it for the purpose of producing a return in the form of income or capital gain, and not for personal use. Acceptable investments include ownership of a business, cash on deposit, stocks or bonds, real estate, or gold or silver bullion.

A qualifying business is operated for the purpose of making profit by providing goods and/or services (other than rental property) to the public. It is not operated for the purpose of speculative or passive investment.

Net Assets

During the two financial years immediately before you are invited to apply, you (and/or your spouse or de facto partner, if applicable) must have personal and business assets with a net value of at least AU$2.5 million. These assets must have been legally acquired, and be available for legal transfer to Australia within two years of the date that your visa is granted.

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