Business Innovation stream (188A)

Our experienced team can assist you with your subclass 188E 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 this visa, you must:

  • 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.
  • have competent English and be able to provide evidence of this at the time you are invited to apply for the visa; and
  • be undertaking or proposing to undertake a complying entrepreneur activity in Australia and have a genuine intention to continue this activity.

Complying Entrepreneur Activity

A Complying Entrepreneur Activity is an activity that relates to an innovative idea that will lead to the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia, or the development of an enterprise or business in Australia.

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

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

An activity is a complying entrepreneur activity if all of the following requirements are met:

  • you have one or more legally enforceable agreements to receive funding with a total of at least AUD200 000 from one of the following entities:
    • Commonwealth Government agency;
    • State or Territory Government;
    • Publicly Funded Research Organisation;
    • Investor registered as an Australian Venture Capital Limited Partnership or Early State Venture Capital Limited Partnership; or
    • Specified Higher Education Provider;
  • under the agreement at least 10% of the funding must be payable to the entrepreneurial entity within 12 months of the day the activity starts to be undertaken in Australia;
  • you held at least 30% interest in your entrepreneurial entity when you entered into the agreement; and
  • you have a business plan for the entrepreneurial entity noting 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.