Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (SC 188) Visa – Significant Investor Stream
This visa is for people who are willing to invest at least A$ 5.0 million into “Complying Significant investments” in Australia and want to maintain business and Investment activity in Australia.
Pre-requirements before application
- Must be nominated by a State or Territory Government or Austrade on behalf of the Australian government.
- Must submit business and investment career history along with documentary verifiable evidence of business, investment and personal assets as prescribed.
Who could get this visa?
- A business person or investor meeting the criteria and their dependent family members.
- All family unit members must meet the health (medical) and character (Police clearances) requirement as prescribed.
- The primary applicant and their partner must have net assets of at least AUD 5 million that are legally acquired, unencumbered, and available to be used to make the complying investment in Australia.
What are the stages of this visa?
| Stage 1 | Apply for a State/Territory government or Austrade Nomination |
| Stage 2 | Lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) – on approval of Stage 1 |
| Stage 3 | Lodge your Provisional Visa application on receiving and an invitation from the EOI lodged in Stage-2 |
| Stage 4 | Approval of a Provisional visa allows you and your dependent family members to travel and reside in the nominating state. |
| Stage 5 | Invest the agreed AUD 5 million in the approved “complying significant investment” portfolios for a period of at least 4 years. |
| Stage 6 | Apply for Australian Permanent residency on having met the “Complying Significant Investment” requirement (maintain investment for 4 years – see below) and residency requirements (see below). |
Residency requirement
- Must reside in the state or territory whose government agency nominated you,
- live in Australia for at least 40 days per year (calculated cumulatively) for the duration of your provisional visa,
or your spouse to live for at least 180 days per year (calculated cumulatively) for the duration of your provisional visa.
You must also make a complying investment or a complying significant investment of at least AUD5 million over four years.
Complying Significant Investments
You must make a complying significant investment of at least AUD5 million over four years in the following proportions:
- At least A$ 0.5 million - in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies.
- At least A$ 1.5 million - in approved managed funds investing in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
- A ‘balancing investment’ of at least A$ 3.0 million - in managed funds that may invest in a range of assets, including ASX-listed companies, Australian corporate bonds or notes, annuities and commercial real estate.
Business and Investor visa applications have complex documentation and validation requirements.
Please contact eMA by purchasing a MAP to discuss your specific business and investment profile and appropriate advice on the right visa for your needs.
