The Business Innovation and Investment program runs in two stages: a provisional visa (subclass 188) that grants you time to establish your business or investment in Australia, followed by a permanent visa (subclass 888) once the conditions of the provisional have been met.
Subclass 188 — The Provisional Visa
The 188 has five streams. Each targets a different type of applicant:
| Stream | Who it's for | Key threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Business Innovation | Business owners who want to manage a business in Australia | Net assets, business turnover — state-specific thresholds |
| Investor | Investors with significant net assets | AUD 2.5M net assets; AUD 1.5M designated investment |
| Significant Investor | High net worth investors | AUD 5M in complying investments — no points test required |
| Entrepreneur | Entrepreneurs with approved funding | AUD 200,000 venture capital or government-backed funding agreement |
| Premium Investor | Very high net worth investors | AUD 15M in complying investments |
State Nomination
Most 188 streams require state or territory nomination before you can lodge the visa application. South Australia nominates through the SA Skilled and Business Migration program. Requirements vary by stream and are revised regularly — the Business Innovation stream typically requires minimum turnover, net assets, and a business activity in SA.
The Significant Investor and Premium Investor streams do not require state nomination. They also do not require a points test, which makes them accessible to older applicants who would otherwise score too few age points.
The Points Test
The Business Innovation and Investor streams require a minimum of 65 points on the skilled migration points test. Points are awarded for age, English, business experience, and other factors. Unlike the skilled migration program, business experience counts toward your score here even without a formal skills assessment.
Subclass 888 — Permanent Residence
After holding the 188 for the required period and demonstrating you've met the stream-specific conditions — operating a business in Australia, maintaining the required investment, or meeting turnover and employment thresholds — you can apply for the 888 permanent visa.
The 888 conditions are assessed against what you have actually done in Australia, not just your intentions. We advise clients on how to structure their business and investment activity to meet those conditions from the start.
What the Application Involves
Business migration applications are among the most document-heavy in the system. You'll typically need:
- Audited financial statements for your business (multiple years)
- Personal tax returns and evidence of net assets
- Business registration documents and ownership records
- Evidence of active involvement in day-to-day management
- Points test evidence — qualifications, English, age
- A business plan for operations in Australia (for some streams)
We coordinate with your accountant to ensure the financial evidence is structured correctly for the Department's criteria.