188 Visa - Investor Stream | Business Innovation and Investment |

What is the Investor Stream of the 188 Visa?

The Investor Stream of the Subclass 188 is a temporary visa that allows people to make an investment of at least AUD $1.5 million in Australia. Once granted the visa, you can live and conduct business activities in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months. You can be in or outside Australia when applying and when the decision is made. After holding the visa for 3 years and 11 months, you will be eligible to apply for the Investor stream of the Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) Subclass 888 Visa.

Am I eligible to apply for the Investor Visa?

You may be eligible if you:

are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency prior to your application
your partner or you and your partner combined have at least 10% of ownership interest or eligible investment of at least AUD $1.5 million
make a designated investment of AUD $1.5 million in the State or Territory in which the nominating State or Territory government agency is located.
your partner or you and your partner combined have assets of AUD $2.25 million
have at least 3 years of experience managing a qualifying businesses or eligible investment
have a suitable skills assessment including meeting the minimum points pass mark of 65 points
are under 55 years of age
do not have any previous visa cancellations and have complied with conditions of your previous visa
meet health and character requirements
meet functional English language requirements. See below tab for more information on this requirement

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Functional English Evidence Requirements

You will meet the functional evidence requirement if you meet one of the following:

hold a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland
Your English has been assessed as functional by an Australian Adult Migrant English Program service provider
You completed a degree, a higher degree, a diploma or a trade certificate in an institution in or outside Australia that required at least 2 years of full-time study in English
you undertook your education at:
Institution: a primary school and secondary school where all instruction was in English in or outside Australia
Study Time: All years of primary and at least 3 years of secondary study
Institution: a secondary school in or outside Australia where all instruction was in English
Study Time: At least 5 years of study
Institution: an institution in Australia where all instruction was in English
Study Time: At least 1 year of full-time study towards an award
Institution: an institution in Australia where all instruction was in English Study Time: The part-time equivalent of 1 year of full-time study towards an award

in the 12 months before you applied for the visa, you scored one of the following:
IELTS: An average band score of at least 4.5
TOEFL iBT: A total band score of at least 32 based on the 4 test components of speaking, reading, writing and listening
PTE Academic: An overall band score of at least 30 for each of the 4 test components

CAE: An overall band score of at least 147 for each of the 4 test components

What are the benefits of the 188 Visa?

With the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188) you can:

stay and carry out your investment activities in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months
travel to and from Australia as many times as you want until the validity of your visa expires
bring your eligible family with you
apply for the Investor Stream of the Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) Subclass 888 Visa for permanent residency

What are the costs of the 188 Visa?

The Department of Home Affairs visa cost for the main applicant of the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa is AUD $5,375

The cost for an additional applicant over 18 years old of the Business Innovation Visa is AUD $2,685

The cost for an additional applicant under 18 years old of the Business Innovation Visa is AUD $1,345

How long does it take to get the Investment Stream 188 Visa?

The Department of Home Affairs assesses applications on a case-by-case basis and processing time is not available for the Investment Stream. Completing application with necessary documents, responding to any requests quickly and providing required information can help expedite the process.

Frequently Asked Questions for the Investor Stream

What is the designated investment for the 188 Visa?

Designated Investment is a contractually-based investment issued by the Treasury of the State or Territory Government in Australia which has sponsored the visa application. To make a Designated Investment you should first contact at least one of them to get the current the terms and conditions of the investment.

Can I extend the Business Innovation Stream of the 188 Visa?

Yes, 2 years of extension is available. Once you held the 188 Visa, you can apply for the extension visa.

Can I include my family members to Australia on the 188 Visa?

Yes, you can include your family members when you apply or any time before a decision is made.

Why choose us for the 188 Visa Investor Stream?

At Best Immigration Lawyers we have made visa application process easier and faster for many investors. We understand that your time is money. Our firm specialises in immigration law and has experienced legal professionals and resources required to provide you with the guidance and representation that is needed to ensure you reach your immigration goals. Please book a meeting online or call us on 0292830888 for professional assistance.