Business Innovation and Investment

Migration Lawyers Melbourne · Business Innovation and Investment · 188 · To Legal with 20+ years of experience helping business people.

Generally, astute and successful businesspeople wishing to migrate to Australia may consider applying for the Business Innovation and Investment visa. Moreover, this business visa is for people with substantial personal and business wealth who wish to establish and/or manage a new or existing business in Australia.

Business visa application is by invitation only. Furthermore, an Australian state or territory government or Austrade must nominate you after lodging an expression of interest.

In general, the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa include:

Business Innovation – Individuals who desire to own and manage a new or existing business in Australia
Business Investment – Individuals who wish to make an investment in Australia
- Investor – Individuals who wish to make a complying significant investment of at least $AUD 2.5 million in Australian investments and continuously maintain the investment for the life of this provisional visa
- Significant Investor – Individuals who wish to make a complying significant investment of at least $AUD 5 million in Australian investments and have a genuine intention to maintain the investment for the life of this provisional visa

In addition, the second stage of the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa is the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa. You can apply for this permanent visa after meeting the requirements of the provisional visa.

Basic Eligibility (Innovation)

Firstly, for the Business innovation stream, the individual must:

be under 55 years of age
score at least 65 in the points test

An Australian state or territory government must nominate the individual.

In addition, the individual must have:

an overall successful business career with no involvement in unacceptable business activities and a genuine desire to own and manage a business in Australia
total assets of at least $AUD 1.25 million (when combined with partner) that will be available for legal transfer to Australia within 2 years of the visa being granted
an ownership interest in a business or businesses that has a total turnover of at least $AUD 700,000 in at least 2 of the last 4 years before being invited to apply
met the ownership requirement in a business, namely:
- 51% – if the business turnover is less than $AUD 400,000
- 30% – if the business turnover is $AUD 400,000 or more
- 10% – if the business is a public listed company
managed a business, in which less than half of the time is spent providing professional, technical or trade services

Basic Eligibility (Investor)

Secondly, for the Investor stream, the individual must:

be under 55 years of age
score at least 65 in the points test

An Australian state or territory government must nominate the individual.

In addition, the individual must have:

at least 3 years’ experience managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments
a successful record of eligible investment or qualifying business activity
a demonstrated a high level of management skill in relation to the eligible investment or qualifying business activity
total assets of at least $AUD 2.5 million (when combined with partner) that will be available for legal transfer to Australia within 2 years of the visa being granted
in at least 1 of the last 5 years:
- managed a qualifying business that 10% is owned
- managed at least $AUD 2.5 million in eligible investments
a genuine commitment to living for at least 2 years in a state or territory that the designated investment was made
a complying significant investment of at least $AUD 2.5 million:
- at least $AUD 500,000 in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies
- at least $AUD 750,000 in approved managed funds. The managed funds must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- a ‘balancing investment’ of at least $AUD1.25 million in managed funds

Basic Eligibility (Significant Investor)

Thirdly, for the Significant Investor stream, the individual must:

make a complying significant investment of at least $AUD 5 million:
- at least AUD 1 million in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies
- at least AUD 1.5 million in approved managed funds
- a balancing investment of at least AUD 2.5 million in managed funds

An Australian state or territory government or Austrade must nominate the individual.

In summary, the Business Innovation and Investment visa is complex and involves a lot of work to meet the requirements. Therefore, when dealing with large sums of money, it is important you use professional legal advisers such as Migration Lawyers Melbourne.

Business Innovation and Investment

Business I & I (188) – Innovation Base application charge Additional application charge (18 and over) Additional application charge (under 18)	$9,450 $4,725 $2,365
Business I & I (188) – Investor Base application charge Additional application charge (18 and over) Additional application charge (under 18)	$9,450 $4,725 $2,365
Business I & I (188) – Significant Investor Base application charge Additional application charge (18 and over) Additional application charge (under 18)	$13,860 $6,930 $3,470
Business I & I (888) – Permanent Base application charge Additional application charge (18 and over) Additional application charge (under 18)	$3,310 $1660 $825