Individuals who have shown ability within business as business owners, investors, or senior executives are highly sought after by the Australian Government.
The Business Skills Program, for those applicants not sponsored by a State or Territory Government, involves a two-stage process in which a provisional temporary visa is granted initially. After a candidate has lived in Australia for a period of time and satisfies the relevant criteria (usually once a business has been established) permanent residency can follow.
If you would like detailed information on any of the visas outlined below please visit
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA).
Business Owner (Provisional) 160
This 4 year visa is worth considering if you own (or have owned) a business. You should look at applying if you:
- Have had a successful career in business, and for 2 of the previous 4 fiscal years, have at least 10% ownership and assets of at least A$200,000 in a business
- Have been involved directly and continually in daily management of the business, and have made decisions affecting its direction and overall performance
- Have at least A$500,000 of net personal and business assets lawfully acquired and capable of being transferred to Australia within 2 years after the grant of visa
- Have had a yearly turnover of at least A$500,000 for at least 2 out of last 4 fiscal years from your main business(es)
- Are younger than age 45, with enough additional net assets to reside in Australia
- Can notify an Australian State or Territory Government of your business intentions
- Can show that in order to establish or do business you need to be in Australia
- Can maintain substantial ownership in a qualifying business in Australia, and set up or take part in its active management
- Have vocational English
The Business Owner (Residence) visa is the permanent visa that this Provisional visa usually leads to.
Senior Executive (Provisional)
You should look into applying for this 4 year visa if you plan on taking part in business management and ownership in Australia, and have experience of working at a senior level in business. It’s a good option if you:
- Have had a successful career in business and have at least A$500,000 of net personal and business assets lawfully acquired and capable of being transferred to Australia within 2 years after the grant of visa
- Are younger than age 45, with enough additional net assets to reside in Australia
- Can notify an Australian State or Territory Government of your business intentions
- Can show that in order to establish or do business you need to be in Australia
- Can maintain substantial ownership in a qualifying business in Australia, and set up or take part in its active management
- Have held a position in the 3 highest management levels of a major business, with a yearly turnover of at least $50m, for at least 2 in the 4 years before your visa application, and was responsible for strategic policy development in that business
- Have vocational English
The Business Owner (Residence) visa is the permanent visa that this Provisional visa usually leads to.
Business Owner (Residence) 890
This is the permanent residency visa that you can apply for if you hold one of the provisional visas outlined above. It’s worth considering if:
- For at least 2 years immediately prior to your application you have had at least 10% ownership in at least 1 main business in Australia, and have been directly and continually involved in daily management of your main business, and have made decisions affecting its direction and overall performance
- You have obtained an Australian Business Number, and submitted Business Activity Statements to the ATO for each business for the period outlined above
- Throughout 1 year prior to application your net assets in your main business(es) were at least A$100,000
- Throughout 1 year prior to application your personal and business assets in Australia were at least A$250,000
- For 1 year prior to application your main business(es) had a turnover of at least A$300,000
- For at least 1 year in the 2 years immediately prior to application you were in Australia as the holder of Business Skills provisional visa.
Investor (Provisional) 162
With a history of business or investment success behind you this 4 year visa may be a good option. It’s worth investigating if you:
- Have a record of eligible investment activity and a successful overall career in business
- Have net personal and business assets throughout the 2 fiscal years immediately prior to application of at least A$2,250,000
- Have been involved directly in managing a qualifying business with an ownership interest of at least 10% of its total value, or have maintained direct involvement in managing eligible investments valued at least A$1,500,000 throughout at least 1 of the 5 fiscal years before application
- Can invest A$1,500,000 in a State and Territory Government interest bearing bond (a Designated Investment) prior to the granting of your visa. These funds must be legally owned by you and your spouse, unencumbered, and accumulated from the qualifying business or eligible investment activities
- Have direct involvement in managing at least 1 qualifying business or eligible investments for a total of at least 3 years , and overall have a high level of management skill in relation to an eligible investment or qualifying business activity
- Are younger than age 45, with enough net assets to reside in Australia
- Can notify an Australian State or Territory Government of your business intentions
- Have vocational English
The Investor (Residence) visa is the permanent visa that this Provisional visa usually leads to.
Investor (Residence) 891
This is the permanent residency visa that you can apply for if you hold the Investor (Provisional) visa described above. It’s worth looking into if:
- You intend to continue to maintain in Australia investment or business activity after grant of your permanent residency
- For at least 4 years prior to application you have maintained a designated investment of A$1,500,000
- For at least 2 in the 4 immediately prior to your application you were in Australia as the holder of an Investor (Provisional) visa