Australian Business Visas

Australian Visas Ltd specialises in processing overseas business immigration visa applications to Australia .

Our Australian registered migration agents & expert migration consultants pride themselves on giving honest, reliable Australian immigration advice. We acknowledge not all situations are the same. We give realistic expectations on visa processing procedures and time frames.

Below we compare Australian Business visas for you to evaluate.

Please complete our Free online assessment if you wish to have one of our experienced Australian registered migration agents contact you, regarding your eligibility to apply for an Australian Business visa.

Overview of Australian Business Visas

On 1 March 2003, there were major changes to the Australian Business Skills category.

On this date, a number of Business Skills visa subclasses ceased and several new categories were introducted.

The Australian Business Skills visa suclasses were introduced to encourages successful business people to settle permanently in Australia and develop new or existing businesses.

Under the two-stage arrangements introduced on 1 March 2003, business migrants are granted a Business Skills (Provisional) visa for four years and, after establishing the requisite level of business or maintaining their eligible investment, are eligible to make an application for a Australian Business Skills permanent residence visa.

The majority of business skills entrants wil now enter Australia initially on a provisional (temporary) visa for 4 years and, after satisfactory evidence of a specified level of business or investment activity, may apply for permanent residence.

Australia is actively encouraging Business Skills entrants to set up business in regional, rural or low growth areas of Australia. Substantial concessions are available for these sponsored categories at both the provisional and permanent residence stages.

A direct permanent residence category is still available for high-calibre business migrants sponsored by State/Territory governments. This is known as the Australian Business Talent visa.

Australian Business Visa Subclasses

The Business Skills program is divided into four categories:

Business Owner, State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner, Senior Executive and State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive provisional holders.

All Australian business visa applicants are expected after a period of time in Australia, to provide valuable input to the Australian economy by becoming actively involved as owners or part owners at a senior level in businesses which do at least one of the following;

•  develop business links with international markets
•  create or maintain employment in Australia
•  export Australian goods or services
•  produce goods or services that would otherwise be imported
•  introduce new or improved technology
•  add to commercial activity and competitiveness within sectors of the    Australian economy

Provisional visa applicants also agree to;

•  obtain a substantial ownership interest in a business in Australia demonstrating at least    one of the characteristics referred to above; and
•  actively participate at a senior level in the day-to-day management of that business; and
•  continue to make such genuine efforts to hold a substantial ownership interest and    participate at a senior level in the day-to-day management of such a business

Business Owner category ;

State/Territory government sponsorship Business (Provisional)Visa (Temporary Business visa)

An Australian State or Territory government business agency is required to offer to sponsor a visa applicant.

Visa Requirement

To be eligible you need to show that;

•  You have been sponsored by an appropriate State or Territory government;
•  You have an overall successful business career;
•  For at least 2 out of the last 4 fiscal years immediately before the application is made,    you had an ownership interest in a main business, or main businesses that had an    annual turnover of at least $300,000 AUD or,
•  You have a sound and continuous employment record in a senior management role in a    qualifying business for at least four years immediately before an application is made and    have demonstrated a high level of management skill as a senior manager. You have    operational and active management responsibilities have management responsibilities    over other managers and would usually report directly to the general manager of the    corporation. It is expected the type of businesses which would be able to support such a    management structure would usually be businesses with an annual turnover of at least    $1,000,000AUD.
•  Your (or you and your spouse combined) business and personal assets have a net value    of at least $250,000 AUD which is available for transfer for the conduct or establishment    of a business in Australia and are lawfully acquired and are available for transfer to    Australia within 2 years of the grant of a State/Territory Sponsored Business owner    (Provisional) visa
•  You (or you and your spouse together) have business and personal assets, in addition to    the assets mentioned above, that are of a sufficient net value to settle in Australia ;
•  You are less than 55 years at the time of application or you are proposing to establish    or participate in a business that your sponsoring state or territory has determined is of    exceptional economic benefit to the state or territory;
•  You have not been engaged in a business where the provision of professional,    technical or trade services took up more than 50% of your time;
•  Neither you or your spouse have a history of involvement in business or investment    activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia ;
•  You have a realistic commitment to establish or participate in a qualifying business in    Australia and maintain a substantial ownership and direct and continuous involvement in    the management of that business;
•  You have demonstrated that there is a need to be temporarily in Australia to conduct or    establish the proposed business activity;
•  You have signed a declaration that you understand your obligations as the holder of a    State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) visa.

Business Owner (Provisional) visa
(Temporary Business visa)

To be eligible you need to show that;

•  You have an overall successful business career;
•  For at least 2 of the 4 fiscal years immediately before the application is made, you (or     you and your spouse together) have net assets in a qualifying business of at least     $200,000;
•  For at least 2 out of the last 4 fiscal years immediately before the application is made,     you had an ownership interest in a qualifying business, or main businesses that had an     annual turnover of at least $500,000 AUD;
•  Your (or you and your spouse combined) business and personal assets have a net value     of at least $500,000 AUD which is available for transfer within 2 years of the grant of a     Business owner (Provisional) visa;
•  You (or you and your spouse together) have business and personal assets, in addition to     the assets mentioned above, that are of a sufficient net value to settle in Australia ;
•  You are less than 45 years at the time of application.
•  You have vocational English;
•  You have not been engaged in a business where the provision of professional, technical     or trade services took up more than 50% of your time;
•  Neither you or your spouse have a history of involvement in business or investment     activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia ;
•  You have notified the appropriate regional authority of a state or territory of your business     history and intentions to develop a business in that state or territory;
•  You have a realistic commitment to establish or participate in a qualifying business in     Australia and maintain a substantial ownership and direct and continuous involvement     in the management of that business;
•  You have demonstrated that there is a need to be temporarily in Australia to conduct or     establish the proposed business activity;
•  You have signed a declaration that you understand your obligations as the holder of a     Business Owner (Provisional) visa.

State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive
(Provisional) visa (Temporary Business visa)

To be eligible you need to show that;

•  You have been sponsored by an appropriate State or Territory government;
•  You have an overall successful business career;
•  For at least 2 out of the last 4 fiscal years immediately before the application is made,     you occupied a position in the 3 highest levels of the management structure of a major     business (a major business for this category means a business (other than a Government     Business Enterprise) the annual turnover of which was not less than the equivalent of      $10,000,000 AUD in each of any 2 of the 4 fiscal years immediately preceding the     making of the application) in which you were responsible for strategic policy     development affecting a major component or a wide ranger of operations of that major     business;
•  Your (or you and your spouse combined) business and personal assets have a net value of     at least $250,000 AUD which is available for transfer for the conduct or establishment of     a business in Australia and are lawfully acquired and are available for transfer to     Australia within 2 years of the grant of a State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive     (Provisional) visa;
•  You (or you and your spouse together) have business and personal assets, in addition to     the assets mentioned above, that are of a sufficient net value to settle in Australia ;
•  You are less than 55 years at the time of application or you are proposing to establish or     participate in a business that your sponsoring state or territory has determined is of     exceptional economic benefit to the state or territory;
•  Neither you or your spouse have a history of involvement in business or investment     activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia
•  You have a realistic commitment to establish or participate in a qualifying business in     Australia and maintain a substantial ownership and direct and continuous involvement in     the management of that business;
•  You have demonstrated that there is a need to be temporarily in Australia to conduct or     establish the proposed business activity;
•  You have signed a declaration that you understand your obligations as the holder of a     State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) visa.

Senior Executive (Provisional) Visa
(Temporary Business visa)

To be eligible you need to show that;

•  You have an overall successful business career;
•  For at least 2 out of the last 4 fiscal years immediately before the application is made,     you occupied a position in the 3 highest levels of the management structure of a major     business (a major business for this category means a business (other than a     Government Business Enterprise) the annual turnover of which was not less than the     equivalent of $50,000,000 AUD in each of any 2 of the 4 fiscal years immediately     preceding the making of the application) in which you were responsible for strategic     policy development affecting a major component or a wide ranger of operations of that     major business;
•  Your (or you and your spouse combined) business and personal assets have a net value of     at least $500,000 AUD which is available for transfer for the conduct or establishment of     a business in Australia and are lawfully acquired and are available for transfer to     Australia within 2 years of the grant of a Senior Executive (Provisional) visa;
•  You (or you and your spouse together) have business and personal assets, in addition     to the assets mentioned above, that are of a sufficient net value to settle in Australia ;
•  You are less than 45 years at the time of application;
•  You have vocational English;
•  Neither you or your spouse have a history of involvement in business or investment     activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia
•  You have a realistic commitment to establish or participate in a qualifying business in     Australia and maintain a substantial ownership and direct and continuous involvement in     the management of that business;
•  You have demonstrated that there is a need to be temporarily in Australia to conduct or     establish the proposed business activity;
•  You have signed a declaration that you understand your obligations as the holder of a     Senior Executive (Provisional) visa.

State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) Visa
(Temporary Business visa)

To be eligible you need to show that;

•  You have been sponsored by an appropriate State or Territory     government;
•  You have a total of at least 3 years experience of direct involvement in     managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments;
•  For at least one of the 5 fiscal years immediately before the application     is made:
      •  You have maintained direct involvement in either managing a           qualifying business in which you (or you and your spouse           together) had an ownership interest of at least 10% of the total           value of the business; or
      •  You maintained direct involvement in managing your (or you or           your spouse's combined) eligible investments, the total value of           which was at least $750,000;
•  For at least 2 out of the last 4 fiscal years immediately before the     application is made, the net value of your (or you and your spouse's)     assets was at least $1,125,000;
•  You have demonstrated a high level of management skill in relation to     an eligible investment or qualifying business activity;
•  At the time of decision, you have made a Designated Investment of     $750,000;
•  You are less than 55 years at the time of application or you are     proposing to establish or participate in a business that your     sponsoring state or territory has determined is of exceptional     economic benefit to the state or territory;
•  Neither you or your spouse have a history of involvement in business or     investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally     acceptable in Australia ;
•  You have a realistic commitment to continue to maintain a business or     investment activity in Australia after the designated investment has     matured;
•  You have demonstrated that there is a need to be temporarily in     Australia to conduct or establish the proposed business activity;
•  You have signed a declaration that you understand your obligations as     the holder of a State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) visa.

Investor (Provisional) Visa (Temporary Business visa)

To be eligible you need to show that;

•  You have an overall successful record of eligible investment or     qualifying business activity.
•  You have a total of at least 3 years experience of direct involvement in     managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments;
•  For at least one of the 5 fiscal years immediately before the application     is made:
•  You have maintained direct involvement in either managing a     qualifying business in which you (or you and your spouse together)     had an ownership interest of at least 10% of the total value of the     business; or
•  You maintained direct involvement in managing your (or you and your     spouse's combined) eligible investments, the total value of which was at     least $1,500,000;
•  For the 2 fiscal years immediately before the application is made, the     net value of your (or your and your spouse's combined) assets was at     least $2,250,000;
•  You have demonstrated a high level of management skill in relation to     an eligible investment or qualifying business activity;
•  At the time of decision, you have made a Designated Investment of     $1,500,000;
•  You are less than 45 years at the time of application.
•  You have vocational English;
•  Neither you or your spouse have a history of involvement in business or     investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally     acceptable in Australia ;
•  You have notified the appropriate regional authority of a State or     Territory of your business history and intentions to develop a business     in that State or Territory;
•  You have a realistic commitment to continue to maintain a business or     investment activity in Australia after the designated investment has     matured;
•  You have signed a declaration that you understand your obligations as     the holder of an Investor (Provisional) visa.

In addition, the Business Skills program also has two categories for persons who are in Australia on temporary visas, other than the Business Skills (Provisional) visas:

Established Business in Australia
(Permanent Residence Visa)

This category is for people temporarily in Australia who are owners or part owners of a business; and

Business people who have established a business in Australia can only apply to migrate under the Established Business in Australia category while they are in Australia with a temporary visa other than a bridging visa or a criminal justice visa.

They will need to show they have had at least a 10 percent ownership in an Australian business, for at least 18 months prior to their application.

Visa requirements

To be eligible to apply to migrate to Australia under the Established Business in Australia category you will need to show that:

•  You are the holder of a temporary substantive visa - that is, a visitor,     student or temporary resident visa other than a special purpose,     border, diplomatic, domestic worker or transit visa;
•  You have been in Australia for a minimum of 9 months cumulatively in     the 12 months before the date of application;
•  You have held an ownership interest of at least 10% in one or more     main businesses in Australia for at least 18 months immediately before     applying;
•  Your (or your and your spouse's) total net assets in Australia for the 12     months prior to application were greater than AUD$250,000;
•  Your (or your and your spouse's) net assets in business in Australia for the     12 months prior to application were greater than AUD$100,000;
•  You have been actively involved in, and directly responsible for, the     day to day management and overall performance of your main     business(es);
•  You have an overall successful business career;
•  You have not been involved in business or investment activities     considered unacceptable in Australia ; and
•  You score at least 105 points in the established business in Australia     points test.

The points test categories are age, language ability, business attributes and net assets.

Regional Established Business in Australia
(Permanent Residence Visa)

This visa is for people temporarily in Australia who are owners or part owners of a business in a designated area of Australia.

Under the Regional Established Business in Australia (REBA) category, you need to:

•  be in Australia and hold a Business (Long Stay) 457 visa;
•  have had an ownership interest in a main business* in a designated     area** of Australia for at least two years immediately before you     apply (and continue to have an interest of that kind);
•  be registered with a state/territory government authority which will     provide sponsorship when the application is decided.

Main Business - to qualify:

•  you (or you and your spouse) must own at least 10% of its value;
•  you must be actively involved in its day-to-day management; and
•  it must be active, providing goods and/or services to the public and not     set up primarily for speculative or passive investment purposes.

You may have up to two main businesses.

Designated areas:

All of Victoria , South Australia , Tasmania , Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory

New South Wales - entire state except Sydney , Newcastle and Wollongong

Queensland - entire state except  Brisbane , Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast

Western Australia - entire state except Perth metropolitan region

Business Talent (Permanent Residence Visa)

Business Talent visa holders have permanent residence from date of initial entry to Australia . As they are high calibre business migrants, it is expected that they quickly become actively involved in business in Australia .

The Business Talent applicant must sign a declaration that they agree to meet certain obligations.

To be eligible to apply for permanent residence from your provisional visa you need to show;

•  You have been sponsored by a State or Territory Government
•  You have an overall successful business career;
•  For at least 2 of the 4 fiscal years immediately before the application is     made, you (or you and your spouse together) have net assets in a     qualifying business, in which you had an ownership interest, of at     least $400,000;
•  For at least 2 out of the last 4 fiscal years immediately before the     application is made, your main business, or main businesses that had     an annual turnover of at least $3,000,000 AUD;
•  Your (or your and your spouse combined) business and personal assets     have a net value of at least $1,500,000 AUD which are lawfully     acquired and capable of being transferred to Australia within 2 years of     the grant of a Business Talent (Migrant) visa;
•  You are less than 55 years at the time of application or you are     proposing to establish or participate in a business that your sponsoring     state or territory has determined is of exceptional economic benefit to     the state or territory;
•  Neither you or your spouse have a history of involvement in business or     investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally     acceptable in Australia ;
•  You have a realistic commitment to establish or participate in a     qualifying business in Australia and maintain a substantial ownership     and direct and continuous involvement in the management of that     business;
•  You have signed a declaration of acknowledging your obligations as the     holder of a Business Talent visa

State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa (Permanent Residence Visa)

To be eligible to apply for permanent residence from your provisional visa you need to show;

•  You have been sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a     State or Territory Government;
•  You are the holder of a Business Owner (Provisional), a State/Territory     Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional), a Senior Executive     (Provisional), a State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive     (Provisional), an Investor (Provisional), a State/Territory Sponsored     Investor (Provisional) or a Business (Long stay) Independent Executive     visa;
•  You have had, and continue to have, an ownership interest and direct     and continuous management, in one or more actively operating main     businesses in Australia for at least 2 years immediately before the     application is made; and
•  For each of these businesses and Australian Business Number has been     obtained and all Business Activity Statements required by the Australian     Taxation Office for the period have been submitted to the Australian     Taxation Office and are included in the application;
•  Unless the appropriate regional authority has determined that there are     exceptional circumstances, you meet at least 2 of the following 3     requirements:
      •  Throughout the 12 months immediately before the application is           made, your (or your and your spouses) main business or main           businesses employed at least the equivalent of one full-time           employee who is and Australian Citizen, Australian permanent           resident or New Zealand passport holder, and who is not a           member of your family unit;
      •  Throughout the 12 months immediately before the application is           made, the net value of your (or your and your spouses combined)           personal and business assets in Australia has been at least           $250,000;
      •  Throughout the 12 months immediately before the application is           made the net value of your (or your and your spouse's combined)           assets in the main business or main businesses in Australia is at           least $75,000;
•  In the 12 months immediately before the application is made, your     main business or businesses together, had a turnover of at least     $200,000
•  Neither you or your spouse have a history of involvement in business     activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in     Australia;
•  You have been in Australia as the holder of one of the qualifying visas     for a total of at least one year in the 2 years immediately before the     application is made.

Business Owner (Permanent Residence Visa)

To be eligible to apply for permanent residence from your provisional visa you need to show;

•  You are the holder of a Business Owner (Provisional), a State/Territory     Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional), a Senior Executive     (Provisional), a State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive     (Provisional), an Investor (Provisional), a State/Territory Sponsored     Investor (Provisional) or a Business (Long stay) Independent Executive     visa;
•  You have had, and continue to have, an ownership interest and direct     and continuous management, in one or more actively operating main     businesses in Australia for at least 2 years immediately before the     application is made; and
•  For each of these businesses and Australian Business Number has been     obtained and all Business Activity Statements required by the Australian     Taxation Office for the period have been submitted to the Australian     Taxation Office and are included in the application;
•  Throughout the 12 months immediately before the application is made,     the net value of your (or your and your spouse's combined) assets in     the main business or businesses in Australia is at least $100,000;
•  In the 12 months immediately before the application is made, your     main business or businesses together, had a turnover of at least     $300,000;
•  Throughout the 12 months immediately before the application, your (or     your and your spouse's) main business or main businesses employed     at least the equivalent of 2 full-time employees who are Australian     Citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand passport holder,     and who is not a member of your family unit;
•  Throughout the 12 months immediately before the application is made,     the net value of your (or your and your spouses combined) personal and     business assets in Australia has been at least $250,000;
•  Neither you or your spouse have a history of involvement in business     activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in     Australia
•  You have been in Australia as the holder of one of the qualifying visas     for a total of at least one year in the 2 years immediately before the     application is made.

State/Territory Sponsored Investor
(Permanent Residence Visa)

To be eligible to apply for permanent residence from your provisional visa you need to show;

•  You have been sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a     State or Territory Government;
•  You are the holder of a State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional)     visa;
•  Neither you or your spouse have a history of involvement in business     activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in     Australia;
•  You have been resident, as holder of a State/Territory Sponsored     Investor (Provisional) visa, in the State or Territory in which the     sponsoring appropriate regional authority is located for a total of at     least 2 years in the 4 years immediately before the application is made;
•  You genuinely have a realistic commitment to continue to maintain a     business or investment activity in Australia ;
•  At the time of decision, the designated investment made by and held in     the names of you (or you and your together) has been held continuously     for at least 4 years.

Investor (Permanent Residence Visa)

To be eligible to apply for permanent residence from your provisional visa you need to show;

•  You are the holder of an Investor (Provisional) visa
•  Neither you or your spouse have a history of involvement in business    activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in    Australia;
•  You have been resident, as holder of a Investor (Provisional) visa, for a     total of at least 2 years in the 4 years immediately before the    application is made;
•  You genuinely have a realistic commitment to continue to maintain a    business or investment activity in Australia ;
•  At the time of decision, the designated investment made by and held in    the names of you (or you and your together) has been held    continuously for at least 4 years.