188 · 132 · 888 · Investor

Business Visa Australia

Business and investor visa pathways — Business Innovation & Investment, Significant Investor, and Business Talent — for entrepreneurs, investors and high-net-worth individuals.

Why Australia for business and investment

Stable AAA-rated economy, mature legal and banking systems, transparent regulatory environment.
Strategic gateway to fast-growing Asia-Pacific markets — over 60% of global GDP within a single time zone.
Top-ranked universities, multicultural workforce and strong R&D infrastructure for innovation-led ventures.
Quality of life — globally ranked for health, education, safety, environment and infrastructure.
Clear pathways from temporary investor / business visas to permanent residence and citizenship.

Subclass 188 — Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional)

Provisional visa for business owners, investors and entrepreneurs — pathway to permanent residence via Subclass 888.
Requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government — each state has its own priorities and thresholds.
Five-year provisional period (subject to current settings) with specific stream conditions.
Whole family included — partner and dependent children with full work and study rights.

Subclass 188 streams

Business Innovation Stream — for established business owners with at least 3 years of ownership and a successful business career. Stream-specific turnover, net business assets and personal & business assets thresholds apply.
Investor Stream — designated investment in a state / territory government bond (typically AUD 2.5 million minimum) held for the provisional period; applicant must demonstrate eligible business or investment experience.
Significant Investor Stream — minimum AUD 5 million complying investment portfolio across approved venture capital, emerging companies and balancing investment categories.
Entrepreneur Stream — for innovators with a funding agreement (currently from approved entities) for an innovative venture in an eligible industry. Available pending current policy settings.

Subclass 132 — Business Talent (closed to new applications)

Permanent visa from grant — but the Subclass 132 was closed to new applications from 1 July 2024 under the new Business Innovation and Investment policy direction.
Existing holders retain their visa rights and pathways.
Historical context only — included here for awareness, not as a current pathway.

Subclass 888 — Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent)

Permanent residence pathway for Subclass 188 holders who satisfy stream-specific thresholds during the provisional period.
Business Innovation 888 — requires evidence of an active main business, turnover and employment in Australia during the provisional period.
Investor 888 — requires the designated investment to have been maintained for the required period.
Significant Investor 888 — requires the complying investment portfolio to have been held throughout the provisional period.
Whole family transitions to permanent residence together.

Strategic considerations

Choice of state / territory nomination is critical — different states prioritise different industries and have different investment minimums.
Source of funds and personal / business asset evidence — heavy scrutiny on legitimate accumulation over time.
Tax-residency timing — coordination with accountants on Australian tax residency, CGT and international tax planning.
Banking, FATCA / CRS reporting and complying investment structures need pre-application setup.
Family members — partner's professional career, children's schooling and tertiary education plans are part of the plan.

Process overview

Step 1 — Eligibility and stream-selection consultation with our team.
Step 2 — State / territory nomination application, tailored to the chosen stream and state priorities.
Step 3 — Subclass 188 application with full financial, business and personal evidence.
Step 4 — Travel, settlement and investment / business launch in Australia during the provisional period.
Step 5 — Subclass 888 permanent residence application once stream thresholds are met.
Step 6 — Australian citizenship after meeting the residence requirement.

How StudyNet supports business and investor clients

Stream-selection and state-nomination strategy aligned to your industry, capital and goals.
Business plan and investment plan drafting to state and Department expectations.
Source-of-funds documentation, asset valuation reports and net-asset evidence packs.
Coordination with Australian accountants, tax advisors, lawyers and licensed financial planners.
Banking introduction support — setting up Australian business and personal accounts pre-arrival.
Schooling and settlement planning for the whole family.
Pathway-to-PR (Subclass 888) planning from day one of the provisional visa.

Disclaimer: This page provides general information and refers to the Department of Home Affairs visa categories. It does not replace personalised migration advice. Please book a consultation for case-specific guidance.