The Subclass 188 – Business Innovation Stream is for people with business skills who wishes to operate a new or existing business in Australia for up to 5 years.
With this visa, you can:
To be eligible for a Subclass 188 - Business Innovation Stream, you must:
You must be under 55 years of age to be eligible for this visa.
If you are above 55 or older at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa, you will not receive an invitation unless if your business will be of exceptional economic benefit.
You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory Government or agency to apply for the visa.
All applicants aged 18 or over must either:
You must obtain a score of 65 points to be invited to apply for this visa.
You can get points for many reasons, including your:
You must have a successful business career and a genuine desire to continuously own and manage a business in Australia.
When you are invited to apply for this visa, you, your partner, or you and your partner combined must have total net business and personal assets of at least:
If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.
Applicants aged 16 years old or over must meet the Department’s health and character requirements.
You/your partner must not have any history of involvement in business or investment activities that are not generally acceptable in Australia.
For 2 out of 4 fiscal years immediately before applying for the visa, you must have had an ownership stake in 1 or 2 businesses that had at least:
Whether you have 1 or 2 businesses, you must own at least:
You must at least score 65 points at the time of invitation for a Subclass 188A visa. Check your point scores here.
| Factor | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18–24 years | 20 |
| 25–32 years | 30 | |
| 33–39 years | 25 | |
| 40–44 years | 20 | |
| 45–54 years | 15 | |
| 55 and older | 0 |
Factor | Description | Points |
English language ability | 5 | |
10 |
Factor | Description | Points |
Educational qualifications | Trade certificate, diploma or bachelor degree by an Australian education institute; or a bachelor qualification recognised by an educational institution of a recognised standard | 5 |
A Bachelor degree in business, science or technology by an Australian institution; or a bachelor qualification in business, science or technology by an educational institution of a recognised standard | 10 |
Factor | Description | Points |
Financial assets | Net business and personal assets of you, your partner or you and your partner combined in each of the preceding 2 fiscal years immediately before the time of invitation of at least: | |
Not less than AUD1,250,000 | 5 | |
Not less than AUD1,750,000 | 15 | |
Not less than AUD2,250,000 | 25 | |
Not less than AUD2,750,000 | 35 |
Factor | Description | Points |
Business Turnover | If you are invited to apply for the visa on or after 1 July 2021, you had an ownership interest in one or more main businesses that had an annual turnover in at least 2 of the 4 fiscal years immediately before the time of invitation to apply for the visa: | |
Not less than AUD750,000 | 5 | |
Not less than AUD1,250,000 | 15 | |
Not less than AUD1.,750,000 | 25 | |
Not less than AUD2,250,000 | 35 |
Factor | Description | Points |
Business Innovation stream only | You have held 1 or more main businesses before you were invited to apply for the visa for: | |
Not less than 4 years within the preceding 5 years | 10 | |
Not less than 7 years within the preceding 8 years | 15 |
Factor | Description | Points |
Business innovation qualifications | Qualifications that applicants may have to receive points in the point test score | |
Patents or designs registered not less than 1 year before that time and used in the day to day activities of the main business | 15 | |
Trademarks registered not less than 1 year before that time and used in the day to day activities of the main business | 10 | |
An ownership in and day to day participation in the management of one or more main business operated under a formal joint venture agreement/s entered into no less than 1 year before the time | 5 | |
An ownership interest in a main business/s that derives no less than 50% of its annual turnover from export trade | 15 | |
An ownership interest in a main buisness/s not more that 5 years before :
| 10 | |
An ownership interest in a main business/s that received :
| 10 |
Factor | Description | Points |
Special endorsement | The nominating State or Territory government agency has determined that your proposed business is of unique and important benefit to the State or Territory where the nominating government agency is located | 10 |
To begin processing your Subclass 188 application, our Registered Migration Agents will evaluate your resume and confirm that you are eligible to apply for Subclass 188A visa.
During this discussion, we will identify your desired state, understand whether you would like to operate a business or manage an investment, and advise you of the suitable visa type within the stream.
We will then assist you in lodging an Expression of Interest with your desired state if you meet the eligibility criteria.
If not, we will recommend another condition for which you may be suitable and proceed accordingly.
Please note that each state and territory has standards, so we will work with you to meet these criteria.
Once your Expression of Interest is approved the state or territory, you will then be invited to apply for the visa.
We will collect relevant documents and information for the visa application such as:
to create and lodge a decision ready application.
Once your visa application is lodged, we will wait to hear from the Department.
Usually, the Department will respond by sending you a “Request for Further Information” – if they require further information/documentation to finalise your application.
If you are granted the visa, you will receive,
If not, you will be informed why the Department has refused your application and whether you have a right to a review of the decision.
We have summarised a cost estimate for a Subclass 188 -Business Innovation Stream application as below.
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
Paid directly to the agency (i.e.; BUPA in Australia) that conducts your medical checks
Paid directly to Australian Federal Police that conducts your character checks
Paid directly to Overseas authorities that conducts your character checks
Unit 7, 242-244 Caroline Springs Blvd
Caroline Springs VIC 3023
