Business Owner (Provisional) visas allow people who have ownership interests in business(es) to reside in Australia for up to 4 years to establish or invest in a business there.

Duration and Conditions

This is a 4 year temporary visa. Once you have maintained an ownership interest in a business in Australia for 4 years, you can apply for permanent residence through the Business Owner (Residence) visa.

Do I Apply in Australia or Overseas?

Residents of Hong Kong, PRC or Macau must lodge their application in Hong Kong. Residents of Taiwan must lodge their application in Taipei. Residents of all other countries must lodge their application in Perth.

You can either be in Australia or overseas at the time of applying, but you must be outside of Australia when a decision is made on your application.

State/Territory Sponsorship

Australia encourages business investment in rural and regional areas and State and Territory government sponsorship is available for business people who can assist in the economic development of these areas. It should be noted that different requirements will apply if you are sponsored by a State/Territory government. If you are sponsored, a number of threshold requirements for the visa are lower. 

Spouse and children

Your spouse and dependent children may migrate to Australia with you in the same visa class. All family members must satisfy health and character criteria. A "dependent" child is a natural or adopted child (of you or your spouse) younger than 18 years who is wholly and substantially in your or your spouse’s daily care and control. Children 18 years and older, who are still dependent on you or your spouse for financial, psychological or physical support may also be included. A child who is married is no longer a dependent child.

Criteria

1. You have a successful business background.
2. You have been employed in a senior management role for at least 4 years before applying and have a high level of management skills if you are sponsored by a State/Territory government.
    
3. Throughout at least 2 of the last 4 fiscal years immediately before applying you (or you and your spouse together) had:
   • net assets in a business of at least AUD$200,000; or
   • shareholding equalling at least 10% of total issued capital if business was a publicly issued company.

   You are exempt from this requirement if you are sponsored by a State/Territory government.
    

4. If the business provides professional, trade, or technical services, then throughout at least 2 out of the last 4 fiscal years immediately before applying, you have spent at least 50% of your time in managing the business rather than providing such services.
    
5. Throughout at least 2 of the last 4 fiscal years immediately before applying your main business (or main businesses together) had an annual turnover of:
   • at least AUD$500,000; or
   • at least AUD$300,000 if you are sponsored by a State/Territory government.
      
6. You, or you and your spouse together, have net assets of:
   • at least AUD$500,000; or
   • at least AUD$250,000 if you are sponsored by a State/Territory government.
      
7. You are:
   • under 45 years of age; or
   • under 55 years of age if sponsored by a State/Territory government.
      
8. You have vocational English. There are no English language requirements if sponsored by a State/Territory government.
9. You have a genuine and realistic commitment after entry into Australia to either establish a new business or to participate in an existing business, and to maintain a substantial ownership interest, and be involved in the day to day management of the business.

Note that business migration can be extremely complex, and even determining whether you have a good chance of qualifying can be difficult. In addition, you may be able to qualify in a number of different business migration categories. Feel free to send us an email inquiry or call us on +61-2-9230-0888 if you would like us to assess your likely eligibility for business migration or if you would like our assistance with your application.