188 Visa – Visa Aid

Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 188) – Visa Aid Australia

The Business Innovation and Investment (Subclass 188) visa is a temporary visa designed for business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs who wish to establish or manage business and investment activities in Australia.

This visa provides a pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 888 visa, subject to meeting business and investment performance requirements.

Visa Aid provides professional guidance to help applicants understand eligibility, streams, and compliance obligations under Australian migration law.

Important Update

The Australian Government has introduced significant changes to the Business Innovation and Investment visa program. Certain streams are now closed to new applicants, while transitional arrangements apply to existing visa holders.

Visa Aid recommends confirming current eligibility before proceeding with any application or business planning.

Business Innovation Stream (188A)

The Business Innovation Stream (Subclass 188A) is designed for experienced business owners who wish to establish, develop, or manage a business in Australia.

This visa is a temporary visa and provides a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 888 visa, subject to meeting business performance requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must generally:

Own or manage a successful business
Meet minimum business turnover requirements
Hold sufficient personal and business assets
Achieve the required points test score
Be nominated by an Australian State or Territory Government
Demonstrate genuine intention to operate a business in Australia

Exact financial thresholds and criteria may vary depending on state nomination requirements.

Pathway to Permanent Residence (Subclass 888)

After operating a business in Australia on the 188A visa, applicants may become eligible for permanent residency if they:

Hold the 188A visa for the required period
Actively manage an Australian business
Meet business turnover requirements
Meet asset and employment benchmarks
Continue to satisfy State or Territory nomination obligations

Additional Business Performance Criteria

Applicants must generally meet at least two of the following:

Maintain minimum business asset levels in Australia
Maintain minimum personal and business asset levels
Employ Australian workers in their business

Important Note

Business and investment requirements are assessed individually. Visa Aid recommends professional assessment before business planning or visa submission.

Investor Stream (188B)

This stream is for applicants willing to make a designated investment in Australia and meet asset and investment requirements set by the nominating State or Territory Government.

Significant Investor Stream (188C)

The Significant Investor Stream (Subclass 188C) is designed for high-net-worth individuals who make a complying investment in Australia.

This stream does not require a points test or English language test. Applicants must meet investment and compliance requirements set by the Australian Government and the nominating State or Territory.

This visa also provides a pathway to permanent residency under the Subclass 888 visa.

The following table explains how points are awarded for different eligibility factors.

The following table includes the criteria used to determine how many points are given out. Except where otherwise noted, all factors are taken into account at the time you are invited to apply for this visa.

FACTOR	DESCRIPTION	POINTS
Age	18–24 years 25–32 years 33–39 years 40–44 years 45–54 years	20 30 25 20 15
Ability to speak English	IELTS score of five or above or vocational English English language proficiency (IELTS 7 or equivalent)	5 10
Educational background	A bachelor qualification that has been acknowledged by an educational institution of a recognized standard, or a trade certificate, diploma, or degree by an Australian educational institution A bachelor's qualification in business, science, or technology from an educational institution of acknowledged standing, or a bachelor's degree in business, science, or technology from an Australian institution.	5 10
financial resources	You, your partner, or the two of you together's net business and personal assets in the two fiscal years immediately prior to the invitation of at least: Not less than AUD1,250,000 Not less than AUD1,750,000 Not less than AUD2,250,000 Not less than AUD2,750,000	5 15 25 35
Business turnover	If you are requested to apply for the visa on or after July 1, 2021, you must have had an ownership stake in one or more major firms with a minimum annual turnover in two of the four most recent fiscal years: Not less than AUD750,000 5 Not less than AUD1,250,000 Not less than AUD1.,750,000 Not less than AUD2,250,000	5 15 25 35
Only the business innovation stream business background	Before being requested to submit an application for a visa, you held 1 or more principal companies that: 4 years minimum within the previous 5 years 7 years minimum during the previous 8 years
only the investor stream Investor history	If you are invited to apply for a visa on or after July 1, 2021, you must have held qualifying investments worth at least AUD250,000 at the time of the invitation, held for: a minimum of four years10 at least seven years
credentials for business innovation	Patents or designs that had been filed not less than a year prior and were being used in the regular course of the main business Trademarks used in the regular course of the principal business and registered not less than a year prior to that ownership of and involvement in the day-to-day operation of one or more principal businesses run under a written joint venture agreement or agreements that were signed no less than one year prior to the period. an ownership stake in a principal firm or businesses that receive at least 50% of their annual revenue from exports An ownership stake in a primary business that was held no longer than five years ago: had three consecutive fiscal years of turnover growth that was, on average, greater than 20% annually; and employed 10 or more people for a total of hours that was at least equal to the amount of hours that 10 full-time employees would have worked in at least one of the three fiscal years. an ownership stake in a primary business or businesses that got: .a grant of at least AUD10,000 from a government agency in your home country for the early stages of starting a business, product commercialization, business development, or business expansion; or .Prior to the invitation, the business must have received venture capital funding of at least $100,000 for its early stages of development, product commercialization, business growth, or expansion
specific approval	Your planned business is of particular and significant benefit to the State or Territory where the nominating government agency is located, according to the submitting State or Territory government agency. Age Depending on your age on the day you were invited to apply, you may receive up to 30 points. If you are 55 years old or older, you are not entitled to get points for your age under the points test for the Business Innovation or Investor streams.

Age

Points are awarded based on the applicant’s age at the time of invitation.

proficiency in English

English requirements depend on the visa stream and exemptions may apply.

TEST	SCORE*
IELTS Academic or General Training: International English Language Testing System	For each of the 4 test components, at least 7.
Online Evaluation on English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT)	a minimum of 24 for speaking, 27 for writing, 24 for reading, and 24 for listening.
PTE Academic, short for Pearson Test of English Academic	For each of the 4 test components, at least 36.
Occupational English Test (OET)	At least B for each of the 4 test components

You are of British, American, Canadian, New Zealand, or Irish descent, and you currently possess a valid passport from one of those countries.

Proficient English – 10 points

Show proof that you achieved one of the following scores in the three years prior to receiving our invitation to apply for the visa to demonstrate that you speak English proficiently:

TEST	SCORE*
IELTS Academic or General Training: worldwide. English proficiency Testing System	For each of the 4 test components, at least 7.
Online Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT)	Internet-based Test for English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT)
PTE Academic, short for a Pearson Test of English Academic	For each of the 4 test components, at least 65.
OET: Occupational English Test	B or better on each of the four test components.
Cambridge C1 Advanced test	Test C1 Advanced for Cambridge

Qualifications

Points may be awarded for recognised Australian or overseas qualifications.

Investing or business experience

Applicants must demonstrate relevant business ownership or management experience.

Net assets, both personal and business

Applicants must hold legally acquired personal and business assets meeting minimum threshold requirements.

Not less than AUD1,250,000	5
Not less than AUD1,750,000	15
Not less than AUD2,250,000	25
Not less than AUD2,750,000	35

Business turnover

Business turnover points are awarded based on financial performance in recent years.


Not less than AUD750,000	5
A minimum of AUD 2,250,000	35
Not less than AUD1.,750,000	25

Commercial innovation

Points may be awarded for innovation activities such as export trade, patents, or business growth.

Special approval

Special approval may apply in limited circumstances at the discretion of the nominating authority.

Not sure which Business visa stream suits you?

Book a consultation with Visa Aid for personalised guidance.

Visa requirements are subject to change under Australian migration law. Visa Aid recommends professional assessment before application submission.

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