Significant Investor stream

As the visa applicant, you must,

• be invited to apply for this visa
• be nominated by a State or Territory government agency or Austrade to invest at least AUD5 million that meets certain requirements and have a genuine intention to hold that investment for at least for 4 years
• have a genuine intention to live in the State or Territory whose government agency nominates you

• 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) through SkillSelect, be nominated by a State or Territory, and then be invited to apply.
• You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency, before being invited 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.

If you are invited, you have 60 calendar days to apply for the visa. This time will not be extended.

• You must be able to invest at least AUD 5 million.
  • To be granted this visa, you must make (on or after the time of application for this visa), a complying significant investment of at least AUD5 million when you are invited to and have a genuine intention to hold that investment for at least 4 years. It must be invested in the following proportions:
    • at least AUD500,000 in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies
    • at least AUD1.5 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 AUD3 million in managed funds
  • The managed funds can invest in a range of assets, including companies listed on the Australian stock exchange, Australian corporate bonds or notes, annuities and commercial real estate.
  • Australia prohibits direct investment in residential real estate. Australia strictly limits indirect investment in residential property through managed funds.
  • You must not use investments as security or collateral for a loan.
• You should review the more detailed information about complying significant investments is available at Austrade - Guide to investing.
• You and your partner must not have a history of involvement in business or investment activities that are of a nature that is not generally acceptable in Australia.
• All applicants aged 18 or over at the time of application must either have at least functional English or you will be asked to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge. See General Notes section for details.
• 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 investment activity in Australia
• stay in Australia for up to 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) Significant Investor stream if certain requirements are met

You and your family members who are part of your application must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.

Meet your business obligations

While the holder of this visa, you must have a genuine and realistic commitment to:

• you and/or your spouse or de facto partner must have a genuine intention to live in the State or Territory whose government agency nominated you
• continue business and investment activity in Australia after your visa ends

You must also maintain your investment for the whole of the visa period and comply with Australian workplace laws.

To be eligible for the grant of a Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) in the Significant Investor stream, you must also live in Australia for at least 40 days per year for the duration of your provisional visa. Or your spouse or de facto partner must live in Australia for at least 180 days per year for the duration of your provisional visa. These days do not need to be consecutive.

Maintain your investment

You must make a complying significant investment of at least AUD5 million over 4 years. You must hold complying significant investments continuously for the life of your provisional visa. You can switch between complying significant investments if:

• you reinvest the funds you withdraw from an investment into other complying significant investments within 30 days
• the sum withdrawn is the same as, or less than, the sum reinvested irrespective of any gains and losses due to market exposures

If you reinvest funds into a complying significant investment within 30 days, DOHA count that as holding them continuously.

If you withdraw funds from venture capital or emerging company investments, you must reinvest the funds into venture capital or emerging companies.

If you withdraw funds from the 'balancing investment' category of investments, you can reinvest them into another balancing investment, venture capital or emerging companies.

If you withdraw funds from venture capital because the venture capital investment has been realised, you must reinvest those funds. You can reinvest them in any eligible complying significant investment.

Income that you earn from your complying significant investment in Australia may be subject to tax under an Australian taxation law.

Note that the rules that were in force at the time that you applied for your Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Significant Investor Extension stream will continue to apply for the duration of your visa. This includes any Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Significant Investor Extension stream visas you apply for that relate to your visa.

You might want to seek independent legal advice to ensure that an investment is a ‘complying significant investment’. It is your responsibility to ensure your investment options comply with this visa's requirements.

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

• 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) Significant Investor 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