Wealth and Business Skills – A Pathway to Permanent Residency in Australia

Obtaining permanent residency or a visa for a stay in Australia can be difficult. The visa processing times can be long and certain criteria needs to be met. But for anyone with cash or asset wealth and the right business skills, the government’s Business Talent and Business Innovation and Investment visas can provide an efficient and effective avenue for permanent residency in Australia.

These visas are available to anyone who has the funds and business skills to operate a business or invest in an Australian state or territory. There are five streams available when it comes to the Business Talent and Business Innovation and Investment visas. These are:

1. The Business Innovation Scheme (Sc188A)
   This provisional visa is for people with business skills. It lets visa holders operate a new or existing business in Australia.
2. The Investor Stream (Sc188B)
   This provisional visa requires visa holders to invest at least AUD1.5 million in an Australian state or territory and maintain business or investment activity in Australia.
3. The Significant Investor Stream (sc188C)
   This provisional visa is for people who invest at least AUD5 million in Australian investments that meet certain requirements and maintain investment activity in Australia.
4. The Significant Business History Scheme (AKA Business Talent Stream) (Sc132A)
   This visa is for experienced business owners, to operate a new or existing business in Australia and allows the holder to stay permanently.
5. The Venture Capital Entrepreneur Scheme (Sc132B)
   This visa is for people who have sourced venture capital funding from a member of the Australian Venture Capital Association Limited.

As with any visa there are criteria that need to be met in order to apply. The following requirements apply to each stream.

1. The Business Innovation Scheme (Sc188A)
   • You must operate a new or existing business in Australia.
   • You must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.
2. The Investor Stream (Sc188B)
   • You must invest AUD1.5 million in an Australian State or Territory.
   • You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency.
3. The Significant Investor Stream (sc188C)
   • You must invest at least AUD5 million in complying significant investments in Australia.
   • You must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or the CEO of Austrade.
4. The Significant Business History Scheme (AKA Business Talent Stream) (Sc132A)
   • You must have a net value of at least AUD1.5 million (lawfully acquired)
   • You must have had an annual business turnover of at least AUD3.0 million for at least 2 of the 4 fiscal years immediately prior to the time of invitation to apply for the visa
5. The Venture Capital Entrepreneur Scheme (Sc132B)
   • You must have funding of at least AUD1 million from an Australian venture capital firm.
   • An Australian state or territory government must nominate you before you can apply.

     While the Business Talent Stream and the Venture Capital Entrepreneur Schemes are the only visas to offer permanent residency, holders of the other visas will be granted permanent residency provided that during the term of the visa they meet all requirements and achieve what they set out to do when the visa was initially granted.

For anyone who has the means, this is certainly a favourable pathway to gaining permanent residency in Australia.

If you would like to know more about business visas or any other aspects of migration, speak to the VSA team today. It is a complex subject so it is important to speak with someone in the know.