Business Innovation stream (188A)

Our experienced team can assist you with your subclass 188A visa application – from lodging the initial Expression of Interest, to completing the visa application, and everything between.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for a Business Innovation (subclass 188A) visa, you must satisfy the following criteria:

  • be under 55 years of age. This requirement may be waived by your nominating state or territory if your proposed business is deemed to be of exceptional economic benefit.
  • score at least 65 points on the points test. Please see the Points test tab on this webpage for further information.
  • for two out of the four fiscal years immediately before you are invited to apply, have had an ownership interest in an established business or businesses that had at least AUD500 000 turnover in each of those years;
  • own at least one of the following percentages of your nominated main business:
    • 51%, if the business has a turnover of less than AUD400 000 per year;
    • 30%, if the business has a turnover of AUD400 000 or more per year; or
    • 10%, if the business is a publicly listed company;
  • have an overall successful business career;
  • have a genuine desire to continuously own and maintain a management role in a business in Australia; and
  • at the time of invitation, you and/or your partner must have total net business and personal assets of at least AUD800 000, which are lawfully acquired and available for legal transfer to Australia within two years of the visa being granted.
  • As of 4 January 2021, additional criteria has been applied to new applications regarding the applicant’s English level. It is required that applicant must have a Vocational level of English, which is equivalent to a score of at least 5 in each band score of the IELTS (or PTE, OET, TOEFL equivalent). The English test result must be valid for at least 12 weeks at the time of submitting a visa nomination application.

If your nominated main business provides professional, technical or trade services, you must have spent no more than half your time providing those services, as opposed to general management of the business.

You and your partner must have had no involvement in unacceptable business or investment activities.