Australia is one of the most popular immigration destinations for investors looking to obtain permanent residency through investment. The Australian government offers several investment visa options that provide a pathway to permanent residency. In recent years, there have been some key changes to the investment visa programs, with increased requirements for the amounts to be invested. Understanding the current investment visa options and their basic requirements is crucial for potential applicants. The main programs are the Business Innovation and Investment Program, Investor Visa (subclass 188), Significant Investor Visa (subclass 188), and Venture Capital Entrepreneur Visa (subclass 132). Each program has specific investment amounts, business activity and residency requirements that must be met in order to be eligible for permanent residency. For example, the Investor Visa requires an investment of at least AUD 1.5 million into an Australian state or territory government security investment for 4 years. Applicants must also meet age, English and health requirements. There are also opportunities for priority processing for applicants from Hong Kong holding specific passport types. Conducting thorough research and consultation with immigration experts is highly recommended before proceeding with an application.
Overview of investment visa options for Australian permanent residency
The Australian government’s Business Innovation and Investment Program offers several visas aimed at investors and entrepreneurs looking to conduct business and investment activities in Australia. The main categories are:
– Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) – This includes the Investor Stream, Significant Investor Stream and Venture Capital Entrepreneur Stream. It provides a pathway to permanent residency through a provisional visa valid for 4 years.
– Business Talent (Permanent) visa (subclass 132) – This is for individuals with venture capital experience who want to develop high-value business in Australia. It provides permanent residency directly without needing a provisional visa first.
– Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) – This allows holders of the provisional 188 visa to be eligible for permanent residency if they meet the requirements after holding the provisional visa for at least 4 years.
Each category and stream has its own specific eligibility criteria in terms of investment amounts, business experience, age, language skills and other requirements that applicants must meet.
Key requirements for Investor visa subclass 188 for Australian PR
The Investor visa (subclass 188) is a provisional visa that leads to permanent residency. The key requirements include:
– Making an investment of at least AUD 1.5 million into an Australian state or territory government security investment for 4 years.
– Being under 55 years of age when the visa is applied for.
– Scoring at least 65 points on factors like age, English language skills, education and experience.
– Having a high net personal and business asset base.
– Holding the provisional visa for at least 4 years and residing in Australia for at least 2 of those years before being eligible for permanent residency.
This visa offers a more affordable investment threshold compared to the Significant Investor visa, while still providing a pathway to permanent Australian residency. Applicants must be prepared to invest the minimum AUD 1.5 million for the entire mandated period.
Significant Investor visa subclass 188 for faster processing
The Significant Investor visa (subclass 188) is similar to the Investor visa, but requires a higher investment threshold of at least AUD 5 million. The key requirements are:
– Making a designated investment of at least AUD 5 million into complying investments in Australia for 4 years.
– Must be under 55 years of age.
– Score at least 65 points on factors like English, age, education.
– Provide evidence of having a high net personal and business asset base.
– Hold the provisional visa for 4 years and be a resident in Australia for at least 2 years.
The main advantage of this visa compared to the Investor visa is the faster processing time. It is also possible to qualify for a permanent visa after holding the provisional visa for only 3 years, compared to the usual 4 years. The higher investment threshold nets faster processing and eligibility for PR in return.
Venture Capital Entrepreneur visa for those with VC experience
The Venture Capital Entrepreneur visa (subclass 132) is for individuals with venture capital experience who want to develop high-value business opportunities in Australia. The key requirements include:
– Having at least AUD 1 million in venture capital funding to invest in Australian start ups or commercialization of high value innovations.
– Having sufficient points based on age, management experience, English ability, etc.
– Demonstrating history of successful venture capital investment.
– Producing evidence of developing high value business in Australia within 4 years of visa validity.
This visa provides a direct pathway to permanent residency for venture capital professionals, without needing a provisional visa. Applicants must demonstrate a strong background in venture capital investment and growing startups into successful businesses in order to qualify.
Recent changes to thresholds and eligibility criteria
In recent years, the Australian government has increased the minimum investment thresholds required for some business and investor visa categories. This aims to attract higher caliber applicants who can make more substantial contributions to the Australian economy.
Some key changes include:
– Investor visa (subclass 188) – Investment threshold increased from AUD 1 million to AUD 1.5 million
– Significant Investor visa (subclass 188) – Investment threshold increased from AUD 1.5 million to AUD 5 million
– Business Innovation visa (subclass 188) – Required turnover increased from AUD 500,000 to AUD 750,000 per year
– Premium Investor visa (subclass 188C) and Significant Investor visa (subclass 188E) were removed entirely
The eligibility criteria has also been tightened in some cases, such as increasing the English language requirements. Checking for the latest requirements before applying is highly advisable.
Australia’s investment visa programs offer investors and entrepreneurs pathways to obtain permanent residency. But the investment thresholds and eligibility criteria have increased substantially in recent years. The Investor, Significant Investor and Venture Capital visas each have their own specific requirements for investment amounts, business experience, age, English skills and asset base that applicants must carefully evaluate before proceeding. Consulting reputable immigration professionals can provide essential guidance for the complex process.