Permanent Australian business visa options


Business visas are offered through Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship for people “who have established the required level of business in Australia while holding a provisional visa”. Additionally, high-calibre business people may qualify for direct permanent residence visas.

There are three categories of migrants who can apply for permanent business visas: high-calibre business people, business owners and investors.

High-calibre business people

Business Talent (Migrant) (Subclass 132)

This is a visa for high-calibre business people who are owners or part owners of an overseas business and have a genuine and realistic commitment to participate in the management of a new or existing business in Australia.

High-calibre business migrants must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants must be less than 55 years old
  • Applicants must be sponsored by an Australian state or territory government
  • Applicants are expected to show evidence of an overall successful business career and net assets in a qualifying business of AU$400,000 for at least two of the four fiscal years immediately prior to application.
  • Applicants must provide evidence that the annual turnover of their main business (or two main businesses combined) was at least AU$3,000,000 in at least two of the four fiscal years immediately leading up to application.
  • There must be no record that the primary applicant or spouse has been involved in unacceptable business activities in the past.
  • Applicants must meet health and character requirements and be must be willing to sign an Australian values statement.

The Subclass 132 visa allows holders and their eligible family members (spouse, dependant children and other dependent relatives) to remain in Australia as permanent residents for five years, after which a resident return visa must be obtained.

You must first apply for sponsorship before applying for the Business Talent (Subclass 132) visa.

Business Talent visa holders are eligible for Medicare, but cannot access other benefits such as social security or family assistance.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) provides an online application checklist for Subclass 132 visa applicants. Use this checklist to complete and lodge your application.

Business owners

Business Owner (Residence) (Subclass 890)

This is a visa for people who can assist in the economic development of Australia. This visa allows you to stay in Australia on a permanent basis for the purpose of owning a new or existing business.

Business Owner (Residence) migrants must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants must have been in Australia as the holder of one of the required provisional visas (Subclass 160, Subclass 163, Subclass 161, Subclass 164, Subclass 162 or Subclass 165) for a total of at least one year in the two years immediately prior to application.
  • Applicants must have had and continue to have an ownership interest and direct and continuous management of their main business for at least two years prior to application.
  • Each of the applicant’s businesses must have an Australian Business Number.
  • Certified copies of all Business Activities Statements submitted to the Australian Tax Office are required.
  • Applicants are expected to show evidence of the net value of their assets in the main business (or two main businesses) in Australia totalling at least AU$100,000 throughout the 12 months immediately leading up to application.
  • The net value of the applicant’s personal and business assets combined must total at least AU$250,000 throughout the 12 months immediately prior to application.
  • Applicants must provide evidence that their main business (or two main businesses together) experienced a turnover or at least AU$300,000 in the 12 months leading up to application.
  • The applicant’s main business (or two main businesses) must have employed the equivalent of two full-time employees who are not members of the applicant’s family and are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or New Zealand passport holders.
  • There must be no record that the primary applicant or spouse has been involved in unacceptable business activities in the past.
  • Applicants must meet health and character requirements and be must be willing to sign an Australian values statement.

You must first notify the relevant Australian state or territory authority of your business intentions before applying for a Business Owner (Residence) (Subclass 890) visa.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) provides an online application checklist for Subclass 890 visa applicants. Use this checklist to complete and lodge your application.

State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Residence) (Subclass 892)

This is a visa for people sponsored by a state or territory of Australia to assist in the economic development of Australia by ownership of a new or existing business.

State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Residence) migrants must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants must have been in Australia as the holder of one of the required provisional visas for a total of at least one year in the two years immediately prior to application.
  • Applicants must be sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of an Australian state or territory government.
  • Applicants must have resided in Australia for at least one cumulative year within the two years prior to application.
  • Applicants must have had and continue to have an ownership interest and direct and continuous management in up to two actively operating main businesses for at least two years prior to application.
  • Each of the applicant’s businesses must have an Australian Business Number.
  • Certified copies of all Business Activities Statements submitted to the Australian Tax Office are required.
  • Applicants must provide evidence that their main business (or two main businesses together) experienced a turnover or at least AU$200,000 in the 12 months leading up to application, unless your business and residence are located in a designated regional or low growth area and the appropriate state or territory government has determined there are exceptional circumstances.
  • There must be no record that the primary applicant or spouse has been involved in unacceptable business activities in the past.
  • Applicants must meet health and character requirements and be must be willing to sign an Australian values statement.

Additionally, applicants must meet at least two of the following three requirements:

  • Applicants are expected to show evidence of the net value of their assets in the main business (or two main businesses) in Australia totalling at least AU$75,000 throughout the 12 months immediately leading up to application.
  • The net value of the applicant’s personal and business assets combined must total at least AU$250,000 throughout the 12 months immediately prior to application.
  • The applicant’s main business (or two main businesses) must have employed the equivalent of two full-time employees who are not members of the applicant’s family and are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or New Zealand passport holders.

You must first notify the relevant Australian state or territory authority of your business intentions before applying for a State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Residence) (Subclass 892) visa.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) provides an online application checklist for Subclass 892 visa applicants. Use this checklist to complete and lodge your application.

Established Business in Australia (Subclass 845)

This is a visa for people who, as temporary residents, have established a business in Australia and have a proven ownership interest in one or more successful businesses in Australia.

Established Business in Australia migrants must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants must hold a visitor visa, student visa or temporary resident visa, none of which can be a special purpose visa, border visa, diplomatic visa, domestic worker visa or transit visa.
  • Applicants are expected to show evidence of an overall successful business career.
  • Applicants must have resided in Australia for at least 272 days (approximately nine months) in the 12 months immediately leading up to application.
  • Applicants must have held an ownership interest of at least 10% in up to two main businesses in Australia for at least 18 months prior to application.
  • Applicants are expected to show evidence of the net value of their assets in the main business (or two main businesses) in Australia totalling at least AU$100,000 throughout the 12 months immediately leading up to application.
  • The value of the applicant’s total assets in Australia must total more than AU$250,000 throughout the 12 months immediately prior to application.
  • Applicants must have been actively involved in, or directly responsible for, the day to day management and overall performance of their main business (or two main businesses).
  • Applicants must score a minimum of 105 points in the established business in Australia points tests. Points are calculated based on the information provided in an application. To estimate the points likely to be allocated, use the DIAC’s points calculator.
  • There must be no record that the primary applicant or spouse has been involved in unacceptable business activities in the past.
  • Applicants must meet health and character requirements and be must be willing to sign an Australian values statement.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) provides an online application checklist for Subclass 845 visa applicants. Use this checklist to complete and lodge your application.

Regional Established Business in Australia (Subclass 846)

This is a visa for people who, as temporary residents, have proven ownership interests in one or more successful businesses in Australia.

Regional Established Business in Australia migrants must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants must be sponsored by a state/territory government authority.
  • Applicants must hold a Business (long stay) visa (Subclass 457) and have owned a business in a designated regional area of Australia for at least two years.
  • Applicants must have resided in Australia for at least 12 cumulative months out of the 24 months immediately prior to application.
  • Applicants are expected to show evidence of an overall successful business career.
  • Applicants must have had and continue to have an interest of at least 10% in up to two main businesses in Australia for at least two years prior to application.
  • Applicants must provide evidence that their main business (or two main businesses together) experienced a turnover or at least AU$200,000 or that their main business had total exports of at least AU$100,000 in the 12 months leading up to application.
  • Applicants are expected to show evidence of the net value of their assets in the main business (or two main businesses) in Australia totalling at least AU$75,000 throughout the two years immediately leading up to application.
  • The value of the applicant’s total assets in Australia must total at least AU$200,000 throughout the two years immediately prior to application.
  • Applicants must have been actively involved in, and directly responsible for, the day to day management and overall performance of their main business (or two main businesses) for the two years prior to application.
  • Applicants must score a minimum of 105 points in the established business in Australia points tests. Points are calculated based on the information provided in you application. To estimate the points likely to be allocated, use the DIAC’s points calculator.
  • There must be no record that the applicant has been involved in unacceptable business activities or investments in the past.
  • Applicants must meet health and character requirements and be must be willing to sign an Australian values statement.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) provides an online application checklist for Subclass 846 visa applicants. Use this checklist to complete and lodge your application.

After you have submitted an application you will be invited to gain sponsorship if you are deemed likely to meet the requirements for the Subclass 846 visa.

Investors

Investor (Residence) (Subclass 891)

This is a visa for investors and their families from overseas who are willing to make a designated investment in Australia.

Investor (Residence) migrants must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants must have been in Australia for at least 2 of the last 4 years.
  • Applicants must hold an Investor (provisional) visa and have maintained their designated investment(s) continuously for at least four years.
  • Applicants must be committed to maintaining a business or investment activity in Australia.
  • There must be no record that the primary applicant or spouse has been involved in unacceptable business activities in the past.
  • Applicants must meet health and character requirements and be must be willing to sign an Australian values statement.

You must first notify the relevant Australian state or territory authority of your business intentions before applying for an Investor (Residence) (Subclass 891) visa.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) provides an online application checklist for Subclass 891 visa applicants. Use this checklist to complete and lodge your application.

State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Residence) (Subclass 893)

This is a visa for investors and their families from overseas who are willing to make a designated investment in Australia.

State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Residence) migrants must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants must be sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of an Australian state or territory government.
  • Applicants must hold a State/Territory Sponsored Investor (provisional) visa and have maintained their designated investment(s) continuously for at least four years.
  • Applicants must have resided in Australia for at least two of the four years immediately prior to application.
  • Applicants must be committed to maintaining a business or investment activity in Australia.
  • Applicants must be willing to invest funds in a designated investment in Australia for four years.
  • Applicants must have an overall successful record of business or investment activities.
  • There must be no record that the primary applicant or spouse has been involved in unacceptable business activities in the past.
  • Applicants must meet health and character requirements and be must be willing to sign an Australian values statement.

You must first notify the relevant Australian state or territory authority of your business intentions before applying for a State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Residence) (Subclass 893) visa.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) provides an online application checklist for Subclass 893 visa applicants. Use this checklist to complete and lodge your application.

SOURCE: Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship