Important: the 188 visa is closed to new applicants
The Business Innovation and Investment program, including every stream of the subclass 188 visa described below, closed to new applications on 31 July 2024, and Queensland no longer nominates business migrants. This page is kept for reference. Existing 188 holders can still move to the 888 permanent visa. For new options see the National Innovation visa (858) or New Zealand’s Business Investor Work Visa.
Overview
The Business Migration Program is the Queensland Government’s visa program that supports business innovation and entrepreneurship within the state. Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa Stream (Subclass 188) is a 5-year provisional visa that is state-nominated and provides a pathway to permanent residency through the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Visa Stream (Subclass 888).
Note: The Government has not provided any state with any nomination places for the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) in 2023–24.
Visa Subclass 188 comprises of four streams:
*The Entrepreneur Stream is not currently open as Migration Queensland are currently revising the criteria.
188 – Business Innovation Stream
To be eligible for the Business Innovation Stream of Visa Subclass 188 in Queensland, applicants must meet the Department of Home Affairs Eligibility Criteria and the Migration Queensland Eligibility Criteria.
Please click here to view the Department’s eligibility criteria.
Migration Queensland Eligibility Criteria
Please Note
- Property Development businesses are not accepted
- If you are investing in an export business, you must develop international markets for Queensland products
- General importing businesses are not accepted unless the products are highly innovative or advanced technology. Value-adding should also be provided to the imported products.
188 – Investor Stream
To be eligible for the Investor Stream of Visa Subclass 188 in Queensland, applicants must meet the Department of Home Affairs Eligibility Criteria and the Migration Queensland Eligibility Criteria.
Please click here to view the Department’s eligibility criteria.
Migration Queensland Eligibility Criteria
Please Note
- The Investor Stream cannot be extended
188 – Significant Investor Stream
To be eligible for the Significant Investor Stream of Visa Subclass 188 in Queensland, applicants must meet the Department of Home Affairs Eligibility Criteria and the Migration Queensland Eligibility Criteria.
Please click here to view the Department’s eligibility criteria.
Migration Queensland Eligibility Criteria
Please Note
- The Significant Investor Stream can be extended for an extra two years
- This extension can be applied for twice
188 – Entrepreneur Stream
This page will be updated once Migration Queensland provide this stream is open to applicants and the eligibility criteria have been provided.
What this means in 2026
Queensland’s business nomination criteria shown above applied while the federal Business Innovation and Investment program (BIIP) was open. With the program closed to new applicants since 31 July 2024, no state or territory can nominate you for a new 188 visa. The right next step now depends on where you are in the process.
If you already hold a 188 visa, your visa and its conditions continue. When you meet the requirements of your stream (for example, the business turnover, ownership and residence criteria for the Business Innovation stream, or holding the designated investment for the Investor streams), you can apply for the 888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa, usually with continued state nomination.
Keep your records in order from day one: business activity statements, ownership documents and evidence of your day to day management role are central to an 888 application. See our guide to day to day management for the 888 visa.
Every business migrant’s situation is different. Book a consultation to compare your options.
Related guides
- 188A Business Innovation visa (closed)
- 888 Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa
- National Innovation visa (858)
- New Zealand Business Investor Work Visa
- Day to day management for the 888 visa
- Business visa news
- Cryptocurrency and Australian business visas
- COVID-19 concessions for business visas (archive)
- 188B Investor visa (closed)
- 188E Entrepreneur visa (closed)
- Business visa (188) points calculator
- Which countries do business migrants come from?
- 2021 business and investment visa changes (archive)
Second Jobs, Volunteering and Overseas Work on a 482 Visa
Australian Study Requirement: RPL, Overlapping Courses and Time Offshore
Australian Migration News: October 2026 Update
Student visa changes from 2 October 2026
After Graduation in Australia: Key PR Pathways for International Students in 2026