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Business Innovation Extension stream (Subclass 188)

AustraliaStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

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Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

This is an extension stream for an existing business owner: it is for someone who already holds a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Business Innovation stream (or a prior Extension stream visa) and wants to keep operating their business in Australia for longer while working toward the permanent Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 888) visa.

See recorded sources
  • Overview tab
    This provisional visa lets you extend your stay in Australia if you hold a subclass 188 visa in the Business Innovation stream.
  • About this visa tab — With this visa, you can
    apply for permanent residency, if eligible, through the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) in the Business Innovation stream.

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

The applicant must demonstrate a real, active business already running in Australia: a substantial ownership stake with genuine, senior-level day-to-day management involvement, active operation for at least 2 years immediately before applying, a need for the applicant's substantial presence in Australia to run it, and the business must do at least one of: add to commercial activity/competitiveness, develop links with international markets, employ people in Australia, export Australian goods, introduce new or improved technology, or produce goods/services Australia would otherwise import.

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What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

There is no stated minimum investment or capital figure for this extension stream itself — viability is shown through the existing business's active operation and ownership rather than a fresh capital injection. The concrete money figures on the official page are visa costs, not business investment amounts: from AUD1,505.00 for the main applicant, plus a second instalment charge (AUD9,795 for the main applicant, AUD4,890 per family member) for anyone 18 or older without functional English who has not already paid it on a prior subclass 188 application.

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Limits of the record
  • The page does not state a minimum investment or net-asset figure for the Business Innovation Extension stream itself; viability is demonstrated through the pre-existing main business (ownership, active operation, management involvement) rather than a stated capital threshold.

What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

The holder can operate a new or existing business, work and study in Australia, and travel to and from Australia as many times as wanted while the visa is valid. Family unit members may be included in the application (a dependent child can be added any time before a decision), and family members applying must meet health and character requirements; the applicant and partner must have no history of involvement in business or investment activities not generally acceptable in Australia.

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What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

The applicant must first be nominated by a State or Territory government agency before being invited to apply. Once granted, this is a provisional (temporary) visa valid for up to 6, 7 or 8 years after the grant date of the original Business Innovation stream 188 visa, depending on invitation date and COVID-19 concessions; it does not renew itself — a new visa application is needed to stay longer, and the officially stated longer-term direction is to apply for the permanent Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 888) visa in the Business Innovation stream once eligible.

See recorded sources
  • Eligibility tab — Be nominated
    You must have a current nomination from a State or Territory agency before being invited to apply for this visa.
  • Overview tab — Stay
    Up to 6, 7 or 8 years after the date of grant of the original subclass 188 visa in the Business Innovation stream.
  • About this visa tab — Stay longer
    This is a provisional visa. You must apply for a new visa if you want to stay longer. Once you have this visa, you can apply for permanent residence through the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) Business Innovation stream if certain requirements are met.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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