Business Visas

Basic Requirements

• Below 55 years old
• For at least 1 of the last 5 years, made an investment of at least AUD 1.5 million; OR
• managed a business which you had at least 10% ownership
• AUD 2.25 million net assets
• Upon visa grant, make an investment of AUD 1.5 million into the nominating state bonds for at least 4 years
• Meet 65 points on the points test

Basic Requirements

• No age limit
• AUD 5 million net assets
• Upon visa grant, invest AUD 5 million for 4 years into the following categories:
  • at least AUD 500k into venture capital and growth private equity funds (start-ups & small private companies)
  • at least AUD 1.5 million in approved managed funds (emerging companies listed on ASX)
  • at least AUD 3 million in managed funds (ASX, bonds, notes, annuities, commercial real estate)

Basic Requirements

• No age limit
• AUD 15 million net assets
• Upon visa grant, invest at least AUD 15 million in any of the following options:
  • Australian securities exchange listed assets
  • Australian government or semi-government bonds or notes
  • Corporate bonds or notes issued by an Australian exchange listed entity (or wholly owned subsidiary of the Australian listed entity), investment grade rated Australian corporate bonds or notes rated by an AFS licenced debt rating agency
  • Australian proprietary limited companies that operate qualifying businesses (providing goods or services to the public with a profit-making intention, and not passive or speculative in nature)
  • Real property in Australia excluding residential property
  • Deferred annuities issued by Australian registered life companies
  • State or territory government approved philanthropic contribution

To be an eligible fund, a further requirement is that cash is to be no more than 20% of a fund’s net assets and derivatives are to be used for risk management purposes only.

Premium investors may elect to make a portion or the entirety of their investment by way of a philanthropic donation (endorsed by a state or territory government.

Income that you earn from your complying premium investment in Australia is subject to tax under Australian taxation law.

Basic Requirements

• Below 55 years old
• Must have an agreement to receive funding of AUD 200k from one of the following bodies:
  • Commonwealth Government agency
  • State or Territory government agency
  • Publicly funded research or innovation organisation
  • Higher education provider specified as a Table A or Table B provider under Part 2-1 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003
  • Investor registered as an Australian Venture Capital Limited Partnership or Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership

You must have held at least 30% interest in your entrepreneurial entity when you entered into the agreement.

You must also have a business plan for the entrepreneurial entity. This business plan should note how your innovative idea will lead to:

• the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia, or
• the development of an enterprise or business in Australia

All of the funding provided or to be provided to the entrepreneurial entity under the agreement or agreements is unencumbered and lawfully acquired.

This activity must not relate to any of the following categories:

• residential real estate
• labour hire
• purchase of an existing enterprise or a franchise in Australia

Basic Requirements

• Below 55 years old
• AUD 1.5 million net assets
• AUD 3 million annual turnover
• AUD 400k in business assets
• Operate a new or existing business in the state that nominated your application

Basic Requirements

• Secured at least AUD 1 million in funding for a high-value business idea
• Entered into a legal agreement with an Australian venture capital firm for the funding
• You must follow the terms of your venture capital agreement after you enter Australia.
• The venture capital firm must be a member of the Australian Investment Council (AIC) (formally known as the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL)). The category of membership must be that of Venture Capital Membership.
• Funding must be for:
  • business development or expansion of a business in Australia
  • the commercialisation of a product in Australia
  • early phase start-up of a business in Australia