Australia provides several business visas for UK entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals. There are options whether you want to start a business, invest, or participate in short-term business events.
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Australian Business Visas target entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners who want to start, run, or put money into an Australian business. Options include the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa – Subclass 188, and the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Visa – Subclass 888. These visas let people do business, make key investments, or build new companies that help the Australian economy. Some options can lead to permanent residency.
The benefits of an Australian Business Visa are given below.
Australia offers various types of Business visas. The popular Australian Business Visa are given below.
The Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) serves as a temporary entry for people who want to own a business or invest in Australia. The intention is for these people to become permanent residents later. This visa is a segment of the larger Business Innovation and Investment Program, which seeks to bring successful business owners and investors into Australia to benefit the economy.
The Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) grants permanent residency to people who have managed a business or invested in Australia while holding the provisional Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 188) visa. With this visa, people can live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely.
The Business Visitor stream within the Visitor visa (subclass 600) lets people come to Australia for a short time to do things related to business. This includes going to meetings or conferences, and checking out possible business deals. People with this visa can't do work or sell things while they're in Australia.
This includes:
The eligibility criteria for Australia Business Visa are given below.
The documents required to apply for the Australian Business Visa are given below.
The procedure to apply for an Australian Business Visa is given below.
Step 1: Submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect, and pick the correct visa type (like Subclass 188).
Step 2: Obtain a nomination from an Australian state or territory. They need to agree with your business plan.
Step 3: If nominated, the Department of Home Affairs will send you an invitation to apply for the visa.
Step 4: Fill out and send in your application online using ImmiAccount. Be sure to include all needed papers and payments.
Step 5: Provide your biometrics, get health checks, and provide police records. The Department will then review your application and let you know the result.
Detailed information about the application costs of Australian Business Visa is given below.
Visa Stream | Primary Applicant Fee (AUD) | Additional Applicant (18+) | Additional Applicant (Under 18) |
Business Innovation & Investment Visa (Subclass 188) | $6,270 | $3,135 | $1,570 |
Business Innovation & Investment Visa (Subclass 888) | $3,310 | $1,655 | $830 |
Business Visitor Visa (Subclass 600 - Business Stream) | $190 | NA | NA |
Significant Investor Stream (Subclass 188) | $9,195 | $4,600 | $2,295 |
Entrepreneur Stream (Subclass 188) | $6,270 | $3,135 | $1,570 |
Detailed information about the processing times for Australia Business Visas are given below.
Visa Stream | Estimated Processing Time |
Business Innovation & Investment Visa (Subclass 188) | 12 – 20 months |
Business Innovation & Investment Visa (Subclass 888) | 9 – 15 months |
Business Visitor Visa (Subclass 600 – Business Stream) | 2 – 5 weeks |
Significant Investor Stream (Subclass 188) | 14 – 24 months |
Entrepreneur Stream (Subclass 188) | 12 – 18 months |
Yes, you can include eligible family members in your application. This includes your spouse or de facto partner, for whom you'll need to show proof of your relationship. It also includes dependent children, who are under 18, or those over 18 who rely on you financially. Family members must meet certain health and character standards. If they do, they will generally have similar rights as you, like access to education and health care.
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Yes, UK residents can apply for an Australia Business Visa if they meet the requirements. A common choice is the Business Innovation and Investment (Subclass 188) visa, which is for entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners. Those who want to apply must send an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and get approval from an Australian state or territory. Usually, they need to show business experience, proof of funds, and a good business or investment plan. People in the UK can apply online. If their application is approved, they may be able to get permanent residency through the Subclass 888 visa.
Australian business visas available to UK entrepreneurs include:
Each visa has its own requirements based on business experience, investment amount, and state backing.
The investment required changes based on the visa type.
Visa Stream | Minimum Investment Requirement |
Business Innovation Stream (188A) | AUD 1.25 million in net business and personal assets |
Investor Stream (188B) | AUD 2.5 million designated investment |
Significant Investor Stream (188C) | AUD 5 million investment |
Entrepreneur Stream | AUD 200,000 in third-party funding |
Applicants have to show they legally got the money for investment and can move it to Australia. During the application, more money-related documents are needed.
Yes, several business visa options under Subclass 188 allow a path to permanent residency via the Subclass 888 visa. Eligibility depends on meeting the specific requirements of your initial visa stream, like keeping investments or managing a business. After you meet these requirements for a period, usually two to four years, you can apply for permanent residency. This is an option for UK applicants who satisfy all conditions and want to live permanently in Australia with their family.
Australia allows business visa applicants to include certain family members as dependents. This includes a spouse or partner and children who are under 18, or older children if they rely on you for financial support. Dependents can live, work, and study in Australia with the same visa rules that apply to you. Birth and marriage certificates will be needed, and all applicants must meet certain standards for health and character. Adding dependents to your application may change the amount of money you need to show you have and how much the visa will cost.
Yes. for most Subclass 188 visa types, like the Business Innovation and Investor streams, you'll need a nomination from an Australian state or territory government. After sending in your Expression of Interest (EOI), you'll also need to apply directly to the relevant state or territory. They will look at your business history, what you plan to do, and how it could assist their economy. If they nominate you, the Department of Home Affairs will then ask you to apply for the visa.
Visa processing times differ depending on the specific type of visa. Given below are the typical processing times for Australian Business Visas.
Visa Stream | Estimated Processing Time |
Business Innovation & Investment Visa (Subclass 188) | 12 – 20 months |
Business Innovation & Investment Visa (Subclass 888) | 9 – 15 months |
Business Visitor Visa (Subclass 600 – Business Stream) | 2 – 5 weeks |
Significant Investor Stream (Subclass 188) | 14 – 24 months |
Entrepreneur Stream (Subclass 188) | 12 – 18 months |
Yes, UK residents and citizens can apply for an Australian Business Visa online from outside Australia. The process starts with an Expression of Interest (EOI) submission through SkillSelect. If invited, the next step is to apply via ImmiAccount and attach all needed documents. You might have to give biometrics and undergo health checks. You do not need to be in Australia when you apply, but you must make sure your passport and travel documents are good for international processing.
Businesses that want to apply can be in areas like retail, tech, production, services, or franchising. The business needs to help Australia's economy by, for example, creating jobs, increasing exports, or encouraging new ideas. Investments that don't involve active management or real estate projects that are high risk usually don't meet the requirements. The business should be able to succeed financially, and the plan needs to show it can grow. For UK business owners, making sure the business fits with state or local goals can help get a nomination.
For most Subclass 188 visa applications, one must show they have functional English skills. This could include getting a minimum score of 4.5 on the IELTS (or a similar test) in each part, or having a valid UK passport, which usually meets this need. Not meeting the English requirement may mean paying an extra visa fee, which can be as high as AUD 4,890. Presenting valid English test scores can make the visa approval quicker.