Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888)

Entrepreneur stream

This visa lets holders and, in some cases, people who have held a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream, stay permanently.

Overview

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD3,500.00

Processing times

For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.

With this visa, you can

continue your entrepreneurial activities started under your Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) visa in the Entrepreneur stream
stay in Australia permanently
work and study in Australia

See all conditions

Check your eligibility

You must

hold, or, in some cases, must have held, a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) visa in the Entrepreneur stream
have demonstrated overall a successful record of undertaking entrepreneurial activities in Australia while holding the provisional visa
have a current nomination from an Australian State or Territory

Help with your visa

If you are getting help with your visa, before you pay someone, read information on Who can help with your visa application.

Apply

About this visa

With this visa, you can

How long you can stay

Include family

Cost

Apply from

Processing times

Your obligations

Travel

Visa label

With this visa, you can

stay in Australia permanently
work and study in Australia
enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare
sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
travel to and from Australia for 5 years
apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Newly arrived residents may have to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

How long you can stay

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residency starts on the day:

we grant the visa if you are in Australia
you first enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia when the visa is granted

Include family

You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply. You can also add members of the family unit to your application at any time before we decide on your application.

Family members who apply for the visa must meet our health and character requirements.

Family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet our health and character requirements.

Cost

The visa costs AUD3,500.00 for the main applicant.

There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.

Any applicant 18 years old or older who has less than functional English. must also pay an extra charge. This charge is the second instalment charge. Pay it only when we ask you to. We will refund the charge if we do not grant you the visa.

The second instalment charge is AUD4,890. You only need to pay it for family members who did not pay the second instalment charge for their Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa.

You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics.

To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa pricing estimator. The estimator does not take into account the second instalment or other costs.

Apply from

You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa and when we decide your application, but not in immigration clearance.

Processing times

Your application may take longer to process if:

you do not fill it in correctly
you do not include all the documents we need or we need more information from you
it takes us time to verify your information

We cannot process your application if you do not pay the correct visa application charge. We will notify you if this is the case and if necessary return your application.

Your obligations

You and your family must obey all Australian laws.

If you are outside Australia when we grant the visa:

you and your family members must enter Australia by a certain date (we will tell you when this is)
any family members included in your application might not be able to marry or enter into a de facto relationship before they enter Australia (we will tell you if this is the case)

Travel

Travel to and from Australia for 5 years

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date we grant this visa. This is as long as the travel facility on this visa remains valid.

If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:

you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) so that you can re-enter Australia as a permanent resident
you might also want to consider Australian citizenship. If you become an Australian citizen, you don't require a visa to enter Australia. You will need to apply for an Australian passport and use it to leave and re-enter Australia. See more about eligibility requirements and current processing times for Australian citizenship

To see when your travel facility ends, use VEVO

Visa label

Australian visas are digital.

We do not put a visa label in your passport. Instead, we link your digital visa record to your passport.

Eligibility

Have this visa

Unless COVID-19 concessions apply, you must have held the visa for a continuous period:

Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream. If you were invited to apply for this visa on or after 1 July 2021, you must have held this visa continuously for at least 3 years or
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream. If you were invited to apply for this visa before 1 July 2021, you must have held this visa continuously for at least 4 years.

Unless COVID-19 concessions apply, you must have resided in Australia for:

at least 2 years of the 4 years while holding a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream if you were invited to apply for that visa before 1 July 2021 or
at least 2 years while holding a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream if you were invited to apply for that visa on or after 1 July 2021.

COVID-19 concessions

Arrangements are in place for provisional visa holders who may have been disadvantaged as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 1 February 2020 until 3 months after the end of the COVID-19 concession period, you can also apply for this visa if you held a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Entrepreneur stream which expired during the ‘COVID-19 concession period’.

Be nominated

You must have a current nomination from a State or Territory government agency.

When you applied for your provisional visa, you gave us an expression of interest. A state or Territory government agency saw your expression of interest and nominated you.

You do not need to provide a new expression of interest. But, the relevant government agency needs to confirm that your nomination is still current, for details see the Step by step tab.

Have a successful record of entrepreneurial activities

We assess your (the primary applicant's) entrepreneurial activities by looking at success factors.

You will need to show either:

2 key success factors, or
1 key success factor and 3 supporting success factors

Key success factors include:

employing 2 or more Australians, permanent residents or other eligible persons
generating an annual turnover of at least AUD300, 000
filing a provisional patent or acquiring a standard or innovation patent
receiving ongoing funding or investment in your entrepreneur activity
entering into a partnership with a university
selling an entrepreneurial venture for AUD2 million

Supporting success factors include:

adapting your entrepreneurial activities into other business areas
receiving a statement of success from a state or territory government nominator
receiving sponsorship from the corporate sector
starting at least 1 other business or contributing to at least 2 other businesses
receiving formal awards or recognition
raising or contributing to social capital

Entrepreneurial activities in Australia can't be:

residential real estate
labour hire
buying an existing enterprise or a franchise in Australia

Meet the residence requirement

Unless COVID-19 concessions apply, you must have been in Australia for either:

at least 2 out of 4 years as the holder of a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream if you were invited to apply for this visa before 1 July 2021
at least 2 years as the holder of a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream if you were invited to apply for this visa on or after 1 July 2021.

COVID-19 concessions

Arrangements are in place for provisional visa holders who may have been disadvantaged as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the ‘COVID-19 concession period’, time spent overseas will count as time being in Australia Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Entrepreneur stream.

If you held a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Entrepreneur stream which expired during the concession period, time spent overseas will count as time being in Australia.

Your Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream that expired during the concession period must have been granted on or before 30 June 2019.

Not have been involved in unacceptable business or investment activities

You and your spouse or de facto partner must not have been involved in any business or investment activities that are unacceptable in Australia.

Have a realistic commitment to continuing business or investment activities

You must have a realistic commitment to continuing business or investment activities in Australia

Have functional English

All applicants aged 18 or over at time of application, who did not pay a second instalment of the visa application charge for a previous subclass 188 visa application must have functional English. If you cannot show evidence of functional English, you will be asked to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge.

They will not need to pay a second instalment if they have already paid a second instalment of the visa application charge in relation to an application for a Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa.

Do not make a second instalment payment until we ask you to.

Have followed Australian laws

When operating your business in Australia, you and your partner must have followed:

Commonwealth laws
the laws of the states or territories where your business operated

This includes laws about taxation, superannuation and workplace relations.

Meet our health requirement

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.

Family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet our health requirement.

Meet our character requirement

You and family members aged 16 years or over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement.

Family members who are not coming to Australia must also meet our character requirement.

Sign the Australian values statement

If you and your family members who have applied for the visa are 18 years of age or older at the time when the application is decided, you and your family members must:

have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia book and
sign an Australian Values Statement that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws

Have no debt to the Australian government

If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.

Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused

We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.

In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused see Limitations on applications in Australia (129KB PDF).

If applying for a visa from outside Australia see Can I go to Australia.

If you want immigration assistance, see Who can help with your visa application.

Meet all these criteria? Check how to apply in our step by step guide.

Step by step

Step 1

Before you apply

Unless COVID-19 concessions apply, you must be the primary holder of a:

Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream. If you were invited to apply for this visa before 1 July 2021, you must have held this visa continuously for at least 4 years or
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream. If you were invited to apply for this visa on or after 1 July 2021, you must have held this visa continuously for at least 3 years.

Your family members who apply for the visa do not need to hold the provisional visa.

You and your family members must have valid passports or travel documents for this visa.

COVID-19 concessions

Arrangements are in place for provisional visa holders who may have been disadvantaged as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 1 February 2020 until 3 months after the end of the ‘COVID-19 concession period’, you can also apply for this visa if you held a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) Entrepreneur stream which expired during the ‘COVID-19 concession period’.

Your family members who apply for the visa do not need to hold the provisional visa.

You and your family members must have valid passports or travel documents for this visa.

When to apply

You (the primary applicant) must have held your provisional visa for a continuous period of at least 4 years immediately before you apply. You must have resided in Australia for at least 2 years of the 4 years that you have held the provisional visa.

State or Territory Nomination

You do not need to provide a new expression of interest. But the state or territory needs to confirm that your nomination is still current

New step description

Check your passport

You and your family members must have valid passports or travel documents for this visa.

Organise health exams

You might need to have health examinations. You can complete them before you apply or you can wait until after you apply.

Find out the examinations you need and how to arrange them if you want to have them before you apply.

Get help with your application

Only some people can help you with your application. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:

You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf relating to your visa matter.

Step 2

Gather your documents

You will need to prove your identity, and provide documents about your business and assets. You also need to provide documents about family members applying with you.

Provide accurate information

You are obliged to prove your identity and provide true information with your application. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide true information.

Identity documents

You and family members who apply for the visa with you, must provide:

Colour copies of the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.

Also provide:

a national identity card, if you have one
proof of change of name, if applicable

Documents that prove a change of name include:

a marriage or divorce certificate
change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
documents that show other names you have been known by

Other relationships

Provide a death certificate, divorce or separation documents if anyone in your application has been:

widowed
divorced
permanently separated

Also provide marriage certificates or relationship registrations for you and anyone applying for a visa in your application.

State or territory nomination

You do need to have a current nomination from a state or territory.

Fill out Form 1414 Nomination - Business Skills class (306KB PDF). Then:

send the form to the state or territory that nominated you
the state or territory will fill out the form and send it back
include the completed form with your application

Commitment to your business and investment activity

Provide:

a 1-page summary of your current business and investment activities in Australia
a 1-page summary of your Australian business and investment intentions in the long-term

Following Australian laws

Show us you and your spouse or de facto partner have followed Australian laws when operating your business. This includes laws about taxation, superannuation and workplace relations. Give us:

a written declaration stating you and your spouse or de facto partner have complied with the laws of the Commonwealth, and of the state or territory where your business is located
details of any time you breached the laws of the Commonwealth, and of the state or territory where your business is located

Evidence of your successful record of entrepreneurship

Please give us a short summary (no more than 2 pages) of your Australian entrepreneur activities.

Also provide evidence of your successful record of entrepreneurship in Australia. Evidence can include:

the number of people employed by your businesses during the 12 months before you apply, their citizenship or residency status and relationship to you, if any
the annual turnover of your business
any ongoing funding or investment in your entrepreneur activity including:
the sale of your business for AUD2 million
awards or recognition

If you were invited to apply for a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream before 1 July 2021, to support your claims of ongoing funding or investment in your entrepreneur activity, please provide:

a copy of your funding agreement
a copy of your business plan

If you were invited to apply for a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Entrepreneur stream on or after 1 July 2021, please provide evidence of genuine intention to undertake, and continue to undertake, the complying entrepreneur activity in Australia

Health documents

You do not need to provide health documents. The doctor will send them to us.

Character documents

You and all applicants aged 16 years and older, provide:

Form 80 Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment (596KB PDF)
an police certificate from every country, including your home country, where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16.
military service records or discharge papers if you served in the armed forces of any country

Tell us you are getting help

To nominate someone to:

receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.

Partner documents

If your partner holds a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) visa application as your dependant partner, we do not need evidence of your relationship.

If you are including a partner who does not hold a subclass 188 visa as your dependant, we need to see evidence of your partner's relationship with you along with identity and character documents and documents about other relationships.

Provide:

identity documents and photos
character documents
documents about other relationships, if applicable

Provide either:

your current marriage certificate or
enough documents to prove you have been in a de facto relationship with your partner for at least 12 months before you apply

If you and your partner have a child or children, and are both named as parents on the birth certificate, you will only need to provide a few documents.

Documents that prove your de facto relationship include:

joint bank account statements
billing accounts in joint names
joint leases or mortgages
documents that show you have lived at the same address as your partner

Proof of functional English

Provide proof that all dependent applicants aged 18 years and older, who did not pay the second instalment of the visa application charge at provisional stage, have at least functional English.

If you can't provide functional English documents

If any of the dependent applicants, who did not pay the second instalment cannot show evidence of functional English, you will need to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge for each of those dependent applicants, when we ask you to.

Dependants under 18 documents

For every dependant under 18 years old who is applying with you, provide:

identity documents and photos
proof of your relationship with them, like a birth or marriage certificate
character documents, if applicable

Parental responsibility documents

You must get consent for a dependent child to migrate to Australia from anyone who:

has a legal right to decide where the dependant lives and
is not coming to Australia with the dependant

They must complete either:

Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years (276KB PDF)
statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to migrate to Australia on this visa

Include a document with the contact details, signature and photo of the people who complete the form or declaration, such as a:

passport
driver’s licence
National Identity Card

Alternatively you must provide evidence:

A court order that allows your child to migrate to Australia, or
Documentation showing that the laws of the child's home country allow them to leave their home country

Note: If your child is likely to turn 18 while your application is being processed, you will need to provide evidence they are dependent on you. See the section 'Dependants over 18 documents' below for further information. A child who turns 18 while your application is being processed and who is not dependent on you cannot satisfy the criteria for this visa.

Dependants over 18 documents

If you are including a dependant aged over 18 years of age who holds an eligible visa (Class UR or Class EB) granted on the basis of being a member of your family unit at time of grant, this section does not apply.

To include your child who is over 18 in your visa application, they must be:

over 18 years of age but not yet turned 23, and dependent on you or your partner, or
over 23 years of age and unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations and dependent on you or your partner

If your child is likely to turn 23 while your application is being processed, you will need to provide evidence they are dependent on you due to disability.

Provide:

identity documents
documents about their other relationships, if applicable
character documents

Proof of dependency

Otherwise, you must demonstrate that the child is dependent on you, by providing:

proof of your relationship with the dependant such as a birth certificate or adoption papers
a completed Form 47a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over (307KB PDF)
if the child is aged 23 or is likely to turn 23 while your application is being processed, you must also provide a report from a qualified medical practitioner that states they are dependent on you or your partner due to the total or partial loss of their bodily or mental functions

You must also prove this person has been financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply. You could provide:

proof they live with you
their tax records
proof they are currently studying
proof of payments made by you to them or on their behalf

Note: A child who turns 23 while your application is being processed and who does not meet these requirements cannot satisfy the criteria for this visa.

Prepare your documents

Translate

Have all non-English documents translated into English.

Provide original and translated documents in your application.

Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. But on each translation, they must include their:

full name
address and telephone number
qualifications and experience in the language they are translating

These details must be in English.

Note: You do not need to have any documents certified.

Scan or photograph

Scan or photograph all documents (English and non-English) in colour.

The scans and photos must be clear.

If a document is more than one page, save it all as one file.

Step 3

Apply for the visa

Apply online in ImmiAccount.

Provide accurate information

You are obliged to prove your identity and provide true information with your application. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide true information.

Apply for the visa online in ImmiAccount

Create an account or sign in to ImmiAccount
Attach documents
Pay the application fee.
Note the transaction reference number (TRN).

ImmiAccount will tell you the charge. We will not process your application until you pay the correct charge.

Step 4

After you apply

We will let you know when we have received your application and documents. See what you can and what you must do after you apply.

Status updates

You can check if we need more information from you in ImmiAccount.

Travel after you apply

You don't have to tell us if you want to travel outside Australia while we process your application. This is because you can be outside Australia when we make a decision.

Before you leave Australia, make sure you have a valid visa to return.

Learn about visa expiry

Learn about Bridging visas.

Health exams

Health examination results are generally valid for 12 months. If your previous health clearance for subclass 188 visa is more than 12 months old, you will need to undertake new health examinations.

Do not undertake new health examinations until we ask you to.

Biometrics

We might ask for biometrics (fingerprints and photo). We will let you know if you need to provide them.

Provide more information

If you did not attach all documents when you applied, attach them as soon as your can in ImmiAccount.

We might also ask you to provide more information.

Stay lawful

If you are in Australia, make sure you stay lawful by holding a valid visa while we process your application.

When you applied for this visa, you were granted a Bridging visa A (BVA). If your current visa expires before we decide on your application, the BVA will start. You can stay in Australia on the BVA while we process your new visa application.

Do not cancel your current visa. If you do, you will:

be staying in Australia unlawfully
not be eligible for a Bridging visa A

Learn more about visa expiry.

Pay the second instalment

If you need to pay a second instalment, we will send you an invoice after you have met all other requirements for the visa. Pay the instalment after you get the invoice. Do not ask for the invoice.

Add family

You can add members of the family unit to your application after you apply but before we decide on your visa

Complete Form 1436 Adding an additional applicant after lodgement (481KB PDF) and

send it to the email address we gave you when you sent your application
include evidence of the child's relationship to you
include other supporting documents for your child, such as identity documents
pay the additional application charge
pay the additional application charge

Newborn children

Find out what to do if your child is born after you apply.

Mistakes on your application

Let us know as soon as you can if you made a mistake on your application.

Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers (168KB PDF) and attach it in ImmiAccount.

Help with your application

Let us know if you no longer want someone to:

receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.

For more information see Who can help you with your application.

Tell us if things change

Things you need to let us know about after you have applied include:

changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
changes to your marital or de facto status
the birth of a child
you want to withdraw your application

See how to tell us if your situation changes.

Step 5

Visa outcome

We will let you know by email our decision about your visa application. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa and when we decide on your application.

If we grant your visa, we will tell you:

your visa grant number
the date your visa starts
your visa conditions

Keep a copy of the email with you when in Australia.

If we refuse your visa, we will tell you:

why we refused the visa
whether you have a right to a review of the decision

We will not refund the application charge if we refuse your application.

When you have this visa

Coming to Australia

In Australia

Leaving Australia

Coming to Australia

Before you leave

Check your travel documents

You must have:

a valid visa to enter Australia
a valid passport or other travel document

At the border

Completing an Incoming Passenger Card

All people arriving Australia must complete the Incoming Passenger Card. You will be given this card onboard the aircraft.

Leaving the airport faster

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.

In Australia

What you can do when you have this visa

stay in Australia permanently
work and study in Australia
enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare
sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
travel to and from Australia for 5 years
apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

What you must do on this visa

You and your family members must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.

We expect you to continue to undertake business and investment activities in Australia, following the intentions you outlined in your application.

Tell us if things change

Things you need to let us know about include:

changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
changes to your relationship status
the birth of a child

See how to tell us if there is a change in your situation.

See how long you can stay

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

Travel to and from Australia for 5 years

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date we grant this visa. This is as long as the travel facility on this visa remains valid.

If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:

you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) so that you can re-enter Australia as a permanent resident
you might also want to consider Australian citizenship. If you become an Australian citizen, you don't require a visa to enter Australia. You will need to apply for an Australian passport and use it to leave and re-enter Australia. See more about eligibility requirements and current processing times for Australian citizenship

To see when your travel facility ends, use VEVO.

Proving you have a visa

To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO.

Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.

Bringing family

You can't add a family member to your application after we have granted the visa.

If a member of your family wants to join you later in Australia, they must apply for a separate visa that suits their situation. See their visa options.

Becoming an Australian citizen

After a certain time, you might be eligible for Australian citizenship. Find out more about becoming a citizen.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residency starts on the day:

we grant the visa, if you were in Australia
you first entered Australia on this visa, if you were outside Australia when we granted it

Leaving Australia

Before you leave

Check your travel documents

You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia.

Ensure your visa is still valid.

Check your conditions and the expiry of your Resident Return visa in VEVO.

See what to do if your visa has expired or is about to expire.

At the border

Leaving the airport faster
We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.

After you leave

Proving you have been to Australia

Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.