Business People

Visa Options

Business people can apply for a visa to conduct short business visits, establish or manage a new or existing business or invest in Australia.

Business visits

For business people to visit Australia for business purposes, for example, to attend a conference or training session, to conduct business with an Australia-based organisation, to conduct business negotiations or for an exploratory business visit.

Business Development - Provisional

These visas, known as Business Skills visas, are for business people to establish a business in Australia, manage a new or existing business or invest in Australia. All except the Investor Retirement visa offer a pathway to permanent residence.

Business Development - Permanent

These visas, known as Business Skills visas, are for people who have established the required level of business in Australia while holding a provisional visa. A direct permanent residence visa is also available for high-calibre business people.

Business Development Sponsorship

Information about State/Territory government sponsorship for Business Skills visas.

The following State/Territory Sponsored Business visas are closed to new applications from 1 July 2012. Only eligible dependent applicants can be added to an existing provisional application that was lodged on or before 30 June 2012:

• State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (provisional)(subclass 163)
• State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (provisional) (subclass 164)
• State/Territory Sponsored Investor (provisional) (subclass 165)
• Regional Established Business in Australia (REBA) (permanent) (subclass 846).

From 1 July 2012 a new Business visa program is available.

The following applies to you if you lodged a State/Territory Sponsored (provisional) visa application on or before 30 June 2012, or you are the holder of a State/Territory Sponsored (provisional) visa and you are applying for one of the following State/Territory Sponsored (permanent) visa:

• State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (residence)(subclass 892)
• State/Territory Sponsored Investor (residence) (subclass 893).

State/Territory government sponsorship

If an Australian State or Territory government business agency wants to encourage a particular business or business person to Australia, it can offer to sponsor a visa applicant.

State and Territory governments have their own criteria for deciding whom they will sponsor. The State or Territory government business development agency can provide information on sponsorship.

If an applicant is sponsored by a State or Territory government, they must:

• submit form 949 with their application for the Business Skills visa;
• ensure they meet all visa criteria for grant of their sponsored Business Skills visa.

Monitoring Business Skills and Business Innovation and Investment Visas

If you hold certain Business Skills or Business Innovation and Investment visas, your business may be monitored by the department.

Who do we monitor?

Provisional visa holders

Provisional Business Skills visa holders (subclasses 160, 161, 162, 163, 164 and 165) and provisional Business Innovation and Investment visa holders (subclass 188) will not be monitored but will be required to meet the obligations of their visa. If the holder wishes to remain in Australia as a permanent resident they will need to satisfy the criteria for a permanent Business Skills visa (subclasses 890, 891, 892, or 893), or the permanent Business Innovation and Investment visa (subclass 888), depending on the type of provisional visa that they hold.

Why do we monitor?

The department monitors those holding certain Business visas to:

• verify compliance with the visa requirements
• evaluate whether or not the program is meeting its objectives
• report to government on the overall performance of the Business Skills and Business Innovation and Investment visa programs.

How do we monitor?

The department may request information during the three year monitoring period.

This may be to obtain responses to 24 month surveys or 36 month surveys for investment-linked visas, or to obtain any further information required.

The Monitoring Unit then assesses all of the received information against the relevant legislation and determines whether the visa requirements are being met. A letter will be sent to the address you provide confirming whether requirements are met or more information is required. Please notify the Monitoring Unit if your contact details change.

Pre-visa grant declaration

As part of a valid visa application, applicants sign a declaration that they will meet the requirements of their visa.

Applicants acknowledge that failure to meet the visa requirements may result in fines and/or cancellation of their visa, and the visas of family members.