Business Migration to Australia
The business migration programme consists primarily of a two-stage application process. At the first stage business migrants can apply for a provisional visa. Once granted the provisional visa, business migrants have four years within which to satisfy all the requirements of the business skills (residence) visa and apply for permanent residence.
Applicants applying for any of the business skills visas, be it at the provisional or permanent residence stage, can apply for State/Territory government sponsorship. If such sponsorship is obtained, the requirements are significantly lower than under the un-sponsored categories.
The categories under the Business Skills heading are:
- Business Owners: Owners or part owners of a business
- Senior Executives: Senior executive employees of major businesses
- Investors: Investors/business people willing to invest in Australia
- Business Employees/Managers: Senior managers with at least four years continuous employment
- Business Talent
Business Owner (Provisional) visa
To make an application for the Business Owner (Provisional) visa, you will need to show that you:
- have an overall successful business career;
- have an ownership interest of at least 10% in a business;
- have significant net assets in business ($A200,000);
- have significant business and personal assets ($A500,000);
- have sufficient net assets to settle in Australia;
- have achieved a significant annual turnover in your business ($A500,000 for at least two of the last four fiscal years);
- have direct and continuous management role in an overseas business;
- have a commitment to maintain an ownership interest in a business in Australia and direct and continuous involvement in management of that business;
- have no history of unacceptable business activities;
- are less than 45 years old; and
- have vocational English.
State Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) visa
To make an application for the State Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) visa, you will need to show that you:
- are sponsored by a state or territory government;
- have an overall successful business career;
- have significant business and personal assets ($A250,000);
- have achieved a significant annual turnover in your business ($A300,000) or have continuous employment record at senior level for at least four years ;
- have sufficient net assets to settle in Australia;
- have direct and continuous management role in overseas business;
- have a commitment to maintain an ownership interest in a business in Australia and direct and continuous involvement in management of that business;
- have no history of unacceptable business activities; and
- are less than 55 years old unless exceptional circumstances exist.
Senior Executive
A Senior Executive must first apply for one of the following provisional visa categories:
Senior Executive (Provisional) visa; or
State Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) visa Upon successfully applying for one for the above provisional visas, a four year visa will be granted. A Senior Executive can then apply for one of the following permanent visa categories upon meeting all the requirements:
Business Owner (Residence) visa; or
State Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Residence) visa Senior Executive (Provisional) visa
To make an application for the Senior Executive (Provisional) visa, you will need to show that you:
- have an overall successful business career;
- are employed in one of the top three levels of management of a major business;
- have significant business and personal assets ($A500,000);
- have sufficient net assets to settle in Australia;
- have a commitment to maintain an ownership interest in a business in Australia and direct and continuous involvement in management of that business;
- have no history of unacceptable business activities;
- are less than 45 years old; and
- have vocational English.
State Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) visa
To make an application for the State Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) visa, you will need to show that you:are sponsored by a state or territory government;
- have an overall successful business career;
- have significant business and personal assets ($A250,000);
- are employed on one of the top three levels of management of a major business;
- have sufficient net assets to settle in Australia;
- have a commitment to maintain an ownership interest in a business in Australia and direct and continuous involvement in management of that business; and
- are less than 55 years old unless exceptional circumstances exist.
Investors
Investors must first apply for one of the following provisional visa categories:
Investor (Provisional) visa; or
State Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) visa
Upon successfully applying for one for the above provisional visas, a four year visa will be granted. An Investor can then apply for one of the following permanent visa categories upon meeting all the requirements:
Investor (Residence) visa;
State Territory Sponsored Investor (Residence) visa;
Business Owner(Residence) visa; or
State Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Residence) visa
Investor (Provisional) visa
To make an application for the Investor (Provisional) visa, you will need to show that:
- You have an overall successful business record of investment;
- You have more than three years experience in the direct involvement in managing an eligible investment;
- In at least one of the five fiscal years before your application you have maintained direct involvement in managing your (or your and your spouse's combined) eligible investments with a value of at least A$1,500,000;
- For the two fiscal years before your application the net value of your (or your and your spouse's combined) assets was at least A$2,250,000;
- You have demonstrated a high level of skill in management of your investment;
- You are prepare to make a designated investment in a State Treasury Bonds of A$1,500,000 for a period of four years;
- You are under 45 years of age;
- You have vocational English;
- Neither you nor your spouse has a history of involvement in business activities that are not generally acceptable in Australia; and
- You have a genuine and realistic commitment to continue to maintain a business or investment activity in Australia after your four year investment has matured. State Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) visa
- To make an application for the State Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) visa, you will need to show that you:
- are sponsored by a State or Territory government and intend to live in that State or Territory for a minimum of two years;
- have a successful record of business or investment management;
- be willing to make a significant investment in a government approved Designated Investment for four years;
- have significant business and personal assets ($1,125,000);
- have sufficient net assets to settle in Australia;
- have no history of unacceptable business activities; and
- are less than 55 years old unless exceptional circumstances exist.
Business employee / manager
A Business Employee / Manager is a senior manager with at least four years' continuous employment.
Applicants in this category are eligible to apply for the following provisional visa category:
State Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) visa
Upon successfully applying for the above provisional visa, a four year visa will be granted.
A Senior Employee / Business Manager can then apply for one of the following permanent visa categories upon meeting all the requirements:
State Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Residence) visa
Business Talent
An application for a permanent residence visa can also be made by high calibre business persons, under the Business Talent visa category.
The Business Talent (Migrant) visa is a permanent residence visa available to high-calibre businesspersons.
State or Territory government sponsorship is an essential requirement of this business visa category.
If you are applying under the Business Talent category, you will need to show that you:
- have an overall successful business career;
- have significant net assets in business (at least $A400,000 for at least two out of the last four fiscal years);
- have significant business and personal assets (of at least $A1,500,000);
- have achieved a significant annual turnover in your business ($A3,000,000 for at least two out of the last four fiscal years);
- have a commitment to maintain an ownership interest in a business in Australia and direct and continuous involvement in management of that business;
- have no history of unacceptable business activities; and
- are less than 55 years old unless exceptional circumstances exist.