Entrepreneur stream

As the visa applicant, you must,

• undertake, or propose to undertake, a complying entrepreneur activity in Australia
• have a funding agreement of at least AUD200,000 to carry out entrepreneurial activity in Australia
• show DOHA a business plan for your entrepreneurial activity
• have at least competent English

• You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa and when a decision is made on your application, but not in immigration clearance.
• You must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). If an Australian State or Territory government agency accepts your EOI and nominates you, DOHA will invite you to apply for this visa.
  • You could receive an invitation any time within 2 years of submitting your EOI. If you are invited to apply for the visa, you will receive an email from SkillSelect. Receiving an invitation does not mean you will be granted the visa.
  • If you are invited, you have 60 calendar days to apply for the visa. This time will not be extended.
• You must be nominated by a State or Territory government agency before being invited to apply for this visa.
• You must be under 55 years of age.
  • You will not receive an invitation if you are aged 55 or older, at the time of the invitation to apply for the visa, unless the State or Territory government agency has determined your proposed entrepreneur activity will be of exceptional economic benefit.
• You must have a complying entrepreneur activity
• You must be undertaking, or proposing to undertake, a complying entrepreneur activity in Australia. You must have a genuine intention to continue this activity.
  • A complying entrepreneur activity must relate 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 categories:
        • residential real estate
        • labour hire
        • purchase of an existing enterprise or a franchise in Australia
        • You must receive funding from an approved entity.
  • You must have one or more legally enforceable agreements to receive funding with a total of at least AUD200,000. The funding must be from one of the following entities:
    • Commonwealth Government agency
    • State or Territory government agency
    • Publicly funded research or innovation organisation
    • Higher education provider specified as a Table A or Table B provider under Part 2-1 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003
    • Investor registered as an Australian Venture Capital Limited Partnership or Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership

• At least 10% of the funding must be payable to the entrepreneurial entity within 12 months of the activity starting in Australia. This must be in the agreement. The entity that will conduct the activity (the entrepreneurial entity) must be either an individual (yourself), a company or a partnership.
• You must have held at least 30% interest in your entrepreneurial entity when you entered into the agreement.
• You must also have a business plan for the entrepreneurial entity. This business plan should note 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

All of the funding provided or to be provided to the entrepreneurial entity under the agreement or agreements is unencumbered and lawfully acquired.

• You must have at least competent English
• You and any family member included in this application must meet all the health and character requirements
• You or any family member must not have any debt to pay to the Australian government. If you or any family members (including those who do not apply for the visa with you) owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.
• If you are 18 years of age or older, you must: have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia AND confirm you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws when you sign an Australian Values Statement

Note: If you have had a visa cancelled or previous application refused, you may not be granted a visa.

• carry out entrepreneurial activity in Australia
• stay in Australia for 4 years and 3 months
• bring eligible members of your family with you
• apply for a permanent Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) Entrepreneur stream if certain requirements are met

• This is a provisional visa. You can stay in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months. The visa is granted with multiple entries. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
• You must apply for a new visa if you want to stay longer than the initial visa expiry date. Once you have this visa, you can apply for permanent residence through the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) Entrepreneur stream if certain requirements are met.

Consult with our expert registered migration agents to explore your visa options.

• You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply. You can also add dependent children to your application at any time before a decision is made on your application.
• You must pay an extra charge for any applicant 18 years old or older who has less than functional English. This charge is the second instalment. You are required to pay it only when DOHA asks you to. The second instalment charges are:
  • main applicant: AUD 9,795
  • family members: AUD 4,890

You and your family members who are part of your application must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws. You must meet certain obligations related to your entrepreneurial activities. You must also obey Australian workplace laws.

Meet your entrepreneur obligations

You must have a funding agreement with a third party of at least AUD200,000.

The funding party must pay your entrepreneurial entity at least 10% of the total funding. They must do this within 12 months of the day you start the entrepreneurial activity in Australia. You must use this funding in accordance with your funding agreement.

Follow Australian workplace laws

All workers in Australia (including visa holders) have rights and protections at work. Pay rates and workplace conditions are set by Australian law.

If you operate a business in Australia, you must comply with workplace laws. The Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) can help you with:

• pay rates
• shift calculations
• leave arrangements and notice
• redundancy entitlements