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  • 188 A & B Points test (Business Innovation)

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188 A & B Points test (Business Innovation)

The 188 visa (and its points test) is closed to new applications. The Australian Government closed the Business Innovation and Investment Program (subclass 188 and 132 visas) to new applications on 31 July 2024. Applications lodged before that date continue to be processed, and eligible applicants who withdraw may be entitled to a refund. Current 188 holders can still apply for the 888 permanent visa. The information on this page is kept for reference.

Looking for a business or investor visa now? For most people who would have applied for a 188 visa, the best option is the New Zealand Business Investor Work Visa, which requires an investment of at least NZD 1 million in an established New Zealand business and offers a pathway to New Zealand residence in as little as 12 months. See other options below.

Business and investor visa options in 2026

  1. New Zealand Business Investor Work Visa: invest at least NZD 1 million in an established New Zealand business that you actively manage. You need at least NZD 500,000 for living costs, must be 55 or under, and can include your family. Residence is possible after 3 years, or after 12 months if you invest NZD 2 million or more. If you later become a New Zealand citizen, you can also live and work in Australia.
  2. Active Investor Plus (New Zealand): for investors with NZD 5 million or more.
  3. National Innovation Visa (subclass 858): an invitation-only Australian permanent visa for people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional achievement, including entrepreneurs and investors. The application fee is AUD6,235 from 1 July 2026.
  4. Your own business sponsors you: an Australian business you own can sponsor you on a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, with a later pathway to the 186 permanent visa. The Department looks closely at whether the position is genuine.
  5. Regional skilled visas: the 491 and 494 visas, which lead to the 191 permanent visa. Some states have small business owner pathways under the 491.

Read more in visa options for business owners now that the 188 visa is closed, or book a consultation with our business migration team.

Age

Points will be available depending on which age bracket the applicant falls within. Once the applicant is 55, no points will be available for age and state or territory governments must apply for a waiver of the age limit for people aged over 55.

Points Age Band
20 Between 18 and 24
30 Between 25 and 32
25 Between 33 and 39
20 Between 40 and 44
15 Between 45 and 54
0 55 and over

Business Visa points test calculator

English Language Ability

There is no minimum English language requirement for the new business migration subclasses. However, applicants with less than functional English will need to pay an English Language Charge before receiving their visas.

Points are available for:

  • Vocational English (5 minimum in each of the 4 components of IELTS): 5 points
  • Proficient English (7 minimum in each of the 4 components of IELTS): 10 points

Qualifications

People with trade qualifications, diplomas or bachelor degrees will receive 5 points. Qualifications must either be awarded by an Australian institution or recognised overseas institution.

10 points are available if the qualification is in business, science or technology.

Experience in Business or Investment

Points are available for experience relevant to the stream being applied for – ie for the business innovation stream, work experience as a business owner would be considered relevant.

Points available for business owners (188A) are as follows:

Points Owned a business for at least:
10 4 of the last 5 years prior to invitation
15 7 of the last 8 years prior to invitation

Points are available for investors (188B) who have held eligible investments of at least AUD 250,000 prior to being invited and these are as follows:

Investor stream only
Investor experience		 If you are invited to apply for the visa on or after 1 July 2021,  immediately before the time of invitation to apply for the visa you held eligible investments of at least AUD250,000 held for:
Not less than 4 years 10
Not less than 7 years 15​

Net Personal Assets

Points will be available for net personal assets held for the last 2 financial years:

Financial assets Net business and personal assets of you, your partner or you and your partner combined in each of the preceding 2 fiscal years immediately before the time of invitation of at least:
Not less than AUD1,250,000 5
Not less than AUD1,750,000 15
Not less than AUD2,250,000 25
Not less than AUD2,750,000 35

Business Turnover

Points will be awarded for turnover in a business owned by the applicant. The turnover threshold must be met for 2 of the last 4 years prior to application:

Business turnover If you are invited to apply for the visa on or after 1 July 2021, you had an ownership interest in one or more main businesses that had an annual turnover in at least 2 of the 4 fiscal years immediately before the time of invitation to apply for the visa:
Not less than AUD750,000 5
Not less than AUD1,250,000 15
Not less than AUD1.,750,000 25
Not less than AUD2,250,000​ 35

Innovation

Points can be awarded in a number of items under this factor, for instance:

Business innovation qualifications
Patents or designs registered not less than 1 year before that time and  used in the day to day activities of the main business 15
Trademarks registered not less than 1 year before that time and  used in the day to day activities of the main business 10
An ownership in and day to day participation in the management of one or more main business operated under a  formal joint venture agreement/s entered into no less than 1 year before the time 5
An ownership interest in a main business/s that derives no less than 50% of its annual turnover from export trade 15
An ownership interest in a main buisness/s not more that 5 years before :

  • had an average annualised growth in turnover that was greater than 20% per annum over 3 continuous fiscal years; and
  • in at least one of the 3 fiscal years employed 10 or more employees for a total number of hours that was at least the total number of hours that would have been worked by 10 full-time employees
 10
An ownership interest in a main business/s that received :
  • a grant from a government body in your home country of at least AUD10,000 for the purposes of early phase start up of a business, product commercialisation, business development or business expansion
    or
  • venture capital funding of at least AUD100,000 not more than 4 years before the time of the invitation for the purposes of early phase start up of a business, product commercialisation, business development or business expansion
 10

Special Endorsement by State/Territory Government

State and Territory Governments can support applicants by indicating that they proposed business is of unique and important benefit to the state or territory. This results in 10 points for the visa applicant.

188 visa streams (closed to new applicants, for reference):

  • B. Investor –

    for people who are willing to invest $1.5 million in an Australian State or Territory bonds

  • D. Premium Investor –

    for people with significant funds who are willing to invest at least $15 million into complying premium investments in Australia.

  • E. Entrepreneur –

    for people who have a funding agreement from a third party for at least AUD200 000 to undertake a complying entrepreneur activity

Note that business migration can be extremely complex, and even determining whether you have a good chance of qualifying can be difficult. In addition, you may be able to qualify in a number of different business migration categories.

Book a meeting for a commitment free briefing with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to find more about your visa options.