whereTOemigrate
Get your free results
AU country scene

Business Innovation stream (Subclass 188)

AustraliaStarting a business

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

Official link

Get your free results Read the five questions ↓

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

This stream closed to new applications on 31 July 2024; applications made before that date are still processed. It was a provisional visa for people with business skills to operate a new or existing business in Australia, as a step toward the permanent Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 888) Business Innovation stream. It required State/Territory nomination via an Expression of Interest, a points-test score of at least 65, and proof of business success.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The official source does not state the complete answer to this question for this route.

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

For 2 out of the 4 fiscal years immediately before receiving an invitation, the applicant must have had an ownership stake in 1 or 2 businesses with turnover of at least AUD500,000 per year (if invited before 1 July 2021) or AUD750,000 per year (if invited on or after that date), owning at least 51% (turnover under AUD400,000/year), 30% (turnover AUD400,000+/year), or 10% (publicly listed company). If the business provides professional, technical or trade services, less than half the applicant's time must have gone to providing those services rather than general management.

See recorded sources
  • Eligibility tab — Have business ownership
    AUD500,000 turnover in each of those 2 years if you were invited to apply before 1 July 2021 AUD750,000 turnover in each of those 2 years if you were invited to apply on or after 1 July 2021
  • Eligibility tab — Have business ownership
    51%, of the total value of the business if the business has a turnover of less than AUD400,000 per year 30%, of the total value of the business if the business has a turnover of AUD400,000 or more per year, or 10%, of the total value of the business if the business is operated by a publicly listed company
  • Eligibility tab — Have business ownership
    If your business provides professional, technical or trade services, you must have spent less than half your time providing those services, rather than general management of the business.

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

The applicant, partner, or both combined must hold total net business and personal assets of at least AUD1.25 million (if invited on or after 1 July 2021) or AUD800,000 (if invited before that date), transferable to Australia within 2 years of grant, plus a points-test score of at least 65. The visa costs from AUD12,505.00 for the main applicant, plus a second instalment charge of AUD9,795 (main applicant) or AUD4,890 (family member) for anyone 18+ without functional English.

See recorded sources

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

The holder can stay in Australia while the visa is valid, operate a new or existing business, work and study, attend free AMEP English classes if eligible, travel to and from Australia freely, bring eligible family members, and apply for permanent residency through the subclass 888 Business Innovation stream if requirements are met. A dependent child can be added any time before a decision; a spouse or de facto partner who did not apply jointly can make a subsequent-entrant application once the main applicant's visa is granted.

See recorded sources
  • About this visa tab — With this visa, you can
    stay in Australia while the visa is valid operate a new or existing business in Australia work and study in Australia attend free English language classes through the Adult Migrant English Program, if eligible travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid bring eligible members of your family with you apply for permanent residency, if eligible, through the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) in the Business Innovation stream

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

This is a provisional visa allowing up to 5 years in Australia if invited on or after 1 July 2021 (4 years 3 months, or 4 years, for earlier invitation/application dates). It does not renew itself: the holder must apply for a new visa to stay longer, either the Business Innovation Extension stream (up to 7 years from the original grant) or the permanent subclass 888 Business Innovation stream if requirements are met.

See recorded sources
  • About this visa tab — How long you can stay
    This is a provisional visa. You can stay in Australia for up to 5 years if you were invited to apply for this visa on or after 1 July 2021.
  • 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) in the Business Innovation stream if certain requirements are met. Explore your visa options.
  • About this visa tab — Stay longer
    If you need more time to apply for permanent residence, you can apply for a new Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Business Innovation Extension stream. If granted, you will be able to travel to, enter and remain in Australia for up to 7 years after the date of the grant of the original Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Business Innovation stream.

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

Explore more pathways in Australia · All pathways

Your story.
Your next step.

Get your free results