1. Business Owner;
2. Senior Executive;
3. Investor; and
4. Business Talent (identified by the State/Territory)

The first three visas above are 'provisional' visas, which after a probationary period can become permanent provided the stipulated criteria can be met. The fourth option enables the applicant to obtain a permanent visa upon successful application for the visa. State/Territory government sponsorship is available for the first three options, and mandatory for the fourth. Age and English language requirements apply.

1. Business Owner/State Territory Sponsored Business Owner

   The applicant needs to have had a successful business career as a business owner, have significant personal and business assets, demonstrate sufficient annual turnover, and be committed to the ownership and management of a business in Australia.

2. Senior Executive/State Territory Sponsored Senior Executive

   The applicant needs to have had a successful business career as a manager, have significant personal assets and to demonstrate an intention to have an ownership interest, and have direct involvement in, the management of a business in Australia.

3. Investor/State Territory Sponsored Investor

   The applicant needs to have had direct involvement in managing a qualifying business or eligible investment, have demonstrated a high level of management skill in doing this, have made a significant designated investment in Australia, and be committed to maintaining business or investment activity in Australia.

For all the above-mentioned visas, the applicant must be under 45 years of age unless sponsored by a State/Territory, in which case the applicant must be under 55 years (if the applicant is aged 55 or over, it must be determined by the relevant sponsoring State/Territory that the applicant's proposed activity is of "exceptional economic benefit").

In relation to the permanent visa application (including the corresponding State/Territory sponsored visa option), the applicant must have been in Australia as a holder of the provisional visa for at least two years in the fours years before the visa application is made. In the case of the Investor/State Territory Sponsored Investor permanent visa, the applicant must also have held the designated investment for at least four years. Holders of the provisional Senior Executive/State Territory Sponsored Senior Executive visa must apply for the permanent Business Owner/State Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa. Permanent visa applicants are assessed on the state of the business or investment activity established at the time of visa application.

4. Business Talent:

   This is a permanent visa that does not require the applicant to obtain a provisional visa first. The core criteria are that the applicant is:

   • Under 55 years of age or proposing to establish or participate in a business that the sponsoring state/territory has determined is of exceptional economic benefit;
   • committed to establishing or participating in a business in Australia and maintaining ownership and involvement in the management of that business; and
   • a high calibre businessperson who has had a successful business career.

There are also specific criteria relating to financial thresholds:

• For at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before the application is made: net assets in a business in which there is an ownership interest of at least AUD $400,000, and an annual turnover for the business of at least AUD $3,000,000; and
• Business and personal assets of net value of at least AUD $1,500,000, which are lawfully acquired and available for transfer to Australia within two years after the visa is approved.

Last updated August 2011