Update:
- Upcoming Australia Immigration Changes 2021- Business and Investment Visas
- State requirements for Business visas
- COVID-19 Concessions for Business visas (SC188 and SC888)
In response to the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus), many states and territories have closed off their borders and implemented travel restrictions. In addition, some states and territories have met the business nomination allocation for FY 2019-20, therefore they are not receiving new nominations. Below we summarised the status of each state and territory.
| Subclass 188 | Subclass 132 | |
| Victoria | Closed – reopens in new financial year | Closed – reopens in new financial year |
| Australian Capital Territory | Closed – Any applications submitted will not be processed until 1 July 2020 | Closed – Any applications submitted will not be processed until 1 July 2020 |
| New South Wales | Closed – reopens on 1 July 2020 | Closed- reopens on 1 July 2020 |
| Northern Territory | Open | Open |
| Queensland | Open | Open |
| South Australia | Closed – reopen in July 2020 | Closed – reopen in July 2020 |
| Tasmania | Open | Open |
| Western Australia | Open | Open |
QLD
The BSMQ business program is OPEN.
Priority processing for:
- 188 – Innovation Stream
- 132 – Significant Business History Stream
- 188 – Significant Investor Stream
- 188 – Entrepreneur Stream
Victoria
Important message about Victoria’s subclass 132 and 188 visa nomination program
From 12pm AEST Thursday 9 April 2020, Victoria’s subclass 132 and 188 visa nomination program will be paused for the remainder of 2019-20. This means that no new nomination applications will be accepted.
VIC will continue processing those received prior to this date, in accordance with our published processing times. New applications will be accepted in the 2020-21 financial year.
Victoria will continue to accept nomination applications for the following visas:
- Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491)
- Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
- Business Innovation – Extension only (subclass 188A Extension)
- Significant Investor – Extension only (subclass 188C Extension)
- Permanent Business Innovation (subclass 888A)
- Permanent Investor (subclass 888B)
- Permanent Significant Investor (subclass 888C).
ACT (Canberra)
BUSINESS (PROVISIONAL) – 188
SUSPENSION OF PROCESSING – ACT BIIP nomination. The ACT has now met the 2019/20 allocation of BIIP nomination places. Any applications for ACT 188 nomination submitted from this date will not be processed until 1 July 2020.
Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) (subclass 188).
If you are a successful business person who wishes to establish a new business or invest in an existing business you may be eligible to apply for ACT nomination of your Business Skills visa.
This visa has four streams:
- Significant Investor stream. This is a provisional (4 year) visa for people who want to invest A$5 million into a complying investment.
- Investor stream: the ACT does not participate in this stream.
- Business Innovation stream: this is a provisional (4 year) visa for people who want to invest at least $200,000 to establish or purchase a business in Canberra.
- Entrepreneur stream. This is a provisional (4 year) visa for people who are undertaking, or proposing to undertake, an entrepreneurial venture in Australia
ACT nomination fee: $600
SUSPENSION OF PROCESSING – ACT BIIP nomination. The ACT has now met the 2019/20 allocation of BIIP nomination places. Any applications for ACT 132 nomination submitted from this date will not be processed until 1 July 2020.
Business Talent (permanent) (subclass 132).
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government welcomes overseas investment in Canberra, Australia’s national capital; a city of innovation and opportunity. If you are a successful business person who wishes to invest in an existing ACT business you may be eligible to apply for ACT nomination of your Business Skills visa
ACT nomination fee: $1,100
This visa has two streams:
- Significant Business History stream: This is a permanent visa for owners of a business who have entered into a contractual arrangement to invest A$2 million into an existing business in Canberra.
- Venture Capital Scheme: nomination for people who have obtained at least A$1 million in funding from an Australian venture capital firm.
New South Wales
NSW is now closed to applications for nomination under the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP).
NSW has exhausted its allocation of nomination applications this program year.
NSW nomination is now closed as we have filled the places provided to us by the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs.
NSW is unable to accept applications for the BIIP until the new program year commences 1st July 2020. This includes the:
- Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) and
- Business Talent visa (subclass 132) visas
You cannot submit an application for NSW nomination for the:
You can submit an application for NSW nomination for the:
- 188A Extension,
- 188C Extension,
- 888A,
- 888B, and;
- 888C visas.
NSW will open to applications for NSW nomination for visas under the BIIP program in the new financial year commencing 1 July 2020.
Queensland
BSMQ temporarily suspends issuing new invitations for business applications
Queensland is temporarily suspending issuing new invitations for the following visas under the Business Innovation and Investment Program from 02/01/2019. Queensland are not accepting any new EOI’s submitted from this date.
The visa subclasses suspended include: 188 – Business Innovation (188A), Investor (188B), 188 Significant Investor (SIV or 188C), 188 Entrepreneur (188E), 132 – Significant Business History (132 SBH), 132 -Venture Capital Entrepreneur.
Queensland will still be processing completed applications prior to this date. We will advise when applications for Queensland nomination are open again.
South Australia
Applications for SA state nominated business visa subclass 188 & 132
Due to the unprecedented number of applications, Immigration SA would like to advise that allocations for South Australian state nominated business visa subclass 188 & 132 has reached capacity for the 2019-20 program year.
Given this, Immigration SA will be changing the way applications are received for the 2020/21 financial year.
Subclass 892, 893, 888 & 132 review applications will continue to be processed as they do not count towards the federal quota given to South Australia. If you are applying for subclass 892, 893, 888 & 132 review to Immigration SA, please contact us to discuss your options.
Tasmania
Business migrants- Tasmania open to applications
The Business migration program aims to attract people with a demonstrated record of business and investment activity who wish to use their skills in Tasmania.
The Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa subclass 188 has five different streams for those who are interested to operate a new or existing business, invest in government bonds, invest at least $5 million in complying investments, invest at least $15 million in complying premium investments or have a funding agreement of $200 000 to commercialise a product or service in an Australian business. Eligible subclass 188 visa holders can apply for a Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa subclass 888.
The Business Talent (Permanent) visa subclass 132 has two different streams for high-calibre business people who are interested in investing and operating a business in Australia or have sourced at least $1 million from an authorised Australian venture capital fund for the start-up, product commercialisation or business development of a promising high-value business idea.
Western Australia
Business visas- Western Australia is open for new applications.
Due to the emerging coronavirus situation, as of 4 February 2020, WA will temporarily be conducting interviews with clients who have recently arrived in Western Australia from all of mainland China and Hong Kong via telephone until further notice. Personal appointments will also be replaced by telephone interviews at the Western Australian Government Trade Office in Shanghai until further notice.
Northern Territory
Migration for business people and investors- NT open to new applications
If you are interested in starting a business, investing or retiring in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) you should book an appointment to assess your 188 and 132 Business visa options.
The NT Government can nominate eligible overseas business people and investors for all of the Australian Government’s Business Innovation and Investment visas.
To be eligible for the majority of these visas you will need a nomination from an Australian state government, such as the NT Government.
Here are some business visa options that could suit you.
- Business Talent (subclass 132) visa
- Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) visa – includes the Significant Investor and Premium Investor visa streams
- Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) (subclass 888) visa.
VisaEnvoy’s Coronavirus action plan
The VisaEnvoy team have plans in place to ensure ongoing operation for our current and prospective clients. We are able to work entirely remotely in the event that self-isolation is required or the offices are closed, including accessing client files, emails and phones, lodging applications, and accessing documents.
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