If you have the money and are dreaming of a good life in Australia, you might think that simply handing over a large sum guarantees you and your family an Investment Visa Australia – but it’s not that simple.
In this blog, you’ll learn about the different investment visa pathways, as well as investment criteria, eligibility criteria, and the minimum investment amounts, so you can understand the process and achieve a better life in Australia.
Investor Visa Australia
The Investor Visa is a popular choice for businessmen with substantial financial resources who want to manage investments in Australia. These are the different investment visas available:
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188)
| Important: As of July 2024, the Subclass 188 is closed to new applications. Holders of the 188 visa can still continue their applications for the permanent 888 visa. |
The Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (Subclass 188) is a temporary residence visa meant for individuals looking to make significant investments in Australia. It offers a pathway to permanent residency through the Investor Visa (Subclass 888).
This visa has three main investment streams:
- Investor visa: Suitable for individuals with a net asset value of at least AUD 2.5 million and willing to invest AUD 2.5 million in complying investments.
- Significant Investor Visa (SIV): Targeted at high-net-worth individuals capable of investing AUD 5 million in complying investments.
Investor Visa (Subclass 891)
The Investor Visa (Subclass 891) is the permanent residency pathway for holders of the Subclass 162 Investor (Provisional) Visa.
To be eligible, you must have lived in Australia for at least 2 years in the 4 years immediately before you submitted the application.
| Important: The Subclass 162 visa is currently closed to new applications as it has been replaced by the Subclass 188 Investor visa since July 2012. |
Golden Visa Australia
Australia does not have a specific ‘Golden Visa’ program like some other countries. However, it offers similar benefits through its investor visas, particularly the Subclass 188c Significant Investor Visa (SIV).
This visa is often referred to as Australia’s equivalent of a Golden Visa due to its substantial investment requirement and the attractive benefits it provides to investors and their families:
- This visa does not have an age limit, making it accessible to older investors.
- It bypasses the points test, which is a requirement for other visa subclasses.
- SIV holders and their families gain access to Australian residency, which can eventually lead to permanent residency and citizenship.
- Investors can spread their AUD 5 million investment across various sectors, including venture capital funds, growth private equity funds, and balancing investments in Australian managed funds.
Australia Investor Visa Requirements
Below is a detailed breakdown of the investment criteria, eligibility requirements, and other key aspects of the 188 visa.
Investment Criteria
- You must have the financial means to cover the minimum investment amounts.
- You must engage in acceptable investments, such as:
- government bonds
- managed funds that primarily hold stocks and bonds
- investments in Australian private companies
- You must maintain your designated investments throughout the duration of the provisional visa period.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age limit: You must be under 55 years of age. This criterion does not apply to the Significant Investor stream.
- English language proficiency: You must demonstrate a Functional Level of English. This can be proven through standardised tests (IELTS, PTE, etc.) or educational qualifications.
- Points test: You must achieve a score of at least 65 points in the points test
- Business and investment experience: You must show a successful record of business or investment experience, often demonstrated through ownership stakes in businesses or management roles.
- Acceptable business conduct: You must not have been involved in any business or investment activities considered generally unacceptable in Australia.
- Health and character checks: You and any family members included must meet Australia’s health and character requirements.
Documentation and Evidence
- Identity documents
- Colour copies of your passport bio page
- National identity card (if applicable)
- Proof of change of name (if applicable)
- Business, investments and assets documents
- Business plans detailing investment strategies and objectives
- Descriptions of your research or study in relevant sectors in Australia
- Investment agreements showing the commitment of funds to qualifying investments
- Financial statements from previous business activities or investments
- Evidence of net assets and their legal transfer to Australia
- Points test document
- Proof of English language proficiency
How Much to Invest in Australia to Get Permanent Residency
Gaining permanent residency (PR) in Australia through investment requires meeting specific investment thresholds, as outlined below:
- Investor Visa stream: At least AUD 2.5 million, invested in the following proportions:
- at least AUD 500,000 in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies
- at least AUD 750,000 in approved managed funds. The managed funds must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- a ‘balancing investment’ of at least AUD 1.25 million in managed funds
- Significant Investor Visa stream: At least AUD 5 million, invested in the following proportions:
- at least AUD 1 million in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies
- at least AUD 1.5 million in approved managed funds. The managed funds must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- a ‘balancing investment’ of at least AUD 2.5 million in managed funds
Process Your Investment Visa to Australia Worry-Free
At KBA Global, you won’t have to sort through the visa requirements yourself.
With over 10+ years of experience, our migration agents will personally assess your circumstances, advice you on how you can best proceed with your investment visa application, and handle all paperwork for higher chances of approval.
Book a free consultation today!
Disclaimer: The above information is a general guide and not professional immigration advice. Be aware that immigration laws and regulations can change swiftly, potentially rendering some or all of the information outdated. Thus, before using the information above, we recommend checking the current laws through assistance from a migration agent or the Department of Home Affairs website.