Business
Owner Category
This page has
information on who can apply for migration to
Australia under the Business Owner category (unsponsored
or sponsored).
It is a general guide
only, but it will help you decide if this category
applies to you.
If you decide to make
an application, it is essential that you read the
detailed information in Booklet
7, Business Skills Entry.
Summary
of migration requirements
You must first apply
for a Business Owner (Provisional) visa. If you are
successful, you will be granted a visa for a period of
4 years.
You can be outside
Australia or in Australia, but you must lodge your
application at one of the three Business Skills
processing centres in either Hong Kong, Taipei or
Perth, depending on where you usually live.
Providing you have
successfully operated a business in Australia for at
least two years and you continue to hold a valid
Business Skills (Provisional) visa, you will be
eligible to apply for a permanent Business Owner
(Residence) visa (permanent residence). You must apply
in Australia.
If an applicant has
sponsorship from a State or Territory government and
applies under the State/Territory Sponsored Business
Owner (Provisional) or (Residence) visa, they are
considered against lower threshold criteria.
State and Territory
governments have their own criteria for deciding whom
they will sponsor.
See: Business
Skills Sponsorship
To make an
application for the Business Owner (Provisional) visa,
business owners will need to show that they:
If
unsponsored
- have an overall
successful business career;
- have an ownership
interest of at least 10% in a business;
- have significant
net assets in business;
- have significant
business and personal assets;
- have sufficient
net assets to settle in Australia;
- have achieved a
significant annual turnover in your business;
- have direct and
continuous management role in overseas business;
- have a commitment
to maintain an ownership interest in a business in
Australia and direct and continuous involvement in
management of that business;
- have no history of
unacceptable business activities;
- be less than 45
years old; and
- have vocational
English.
If sponsored
- be sponsored by a
State or Territory government;
- have an overall
successful business career;
- have significant
business and personal assets;
- have achieved a
significant annual turnover in your business or
have continuous employment record at senior level
for at least 4 years;
- have sufficient
net assets to settle in Australia;
- have direct and
continuous management role in overseas business;
- have a commitment
to maintain an ownership interest in a business in
Australia and direct and continuous involvement in
management of that business;
- have no history of
unacceptable business activities; and
- be less than 55
years old unless exceptional circumstances exist.
To make an
application for the Business Owner (Residence) visa,
business owners will need to show that they:
If
unsponsored
- hold any of the
Business Skills (Provisional) visas;
- have an ownership
interest in one or more actively operating main
business(es) for at least 2 years;
- be involved in
strategic management of the business(es);
- employ at least 2
Australian citizen or permanent resident employees
who are not family members;
- have substantial
business and personal assets;
- have substantial
net assets in business;
- have achieved a
significant annual turnover in your business;
- have no history of
unacceptable business activities; and
- have been in
Australia as the holder of a qualifying visa for
at least 1 year in the last 2 years.
If sponsored
Next page: General
Information about Business Class Migration
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