FAQ – Business Visa in Australia

You can meet the English language requirement by achieving an overall score of 5 in IELTS (with minimum 5 in each component) to prove Vocational English while an overall score of 7 (with minimum 7 in each component) to prove Proficient English.

Complying investments refers to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) regulated managed funds, federal, government bonds at state or territory level and direct investment into proprietary companies in the country. Applicants need to hold investment in any of these options and demonstrate that they meet the specified requirements for the visa.

No, premium investor visa cannot be extended. The duration of this stream is four years and three months. However, one can apply for permanent premium investor visa (subclass 888) after completion of 12 months on provisional premium investor visa to get an extended stay.

No, direct investment in residential real estate is never considered a complying significant investment for a significant investor visa or complying premium investment for a premium investor visa.

The value of complying significant investment must be at least AUD5 million at the time of lodging an application for the visa. Once the visa is granted it doesn’t matter if the investment falls below or go above AUD5 million.

If you have applied for the visa under the Significant Investor or Premium Investor stream then you don’t need to go through a point or meet any age requirement. However, all the other streams require an applicant to meet the specified requirements set by the immigration authorities.

From July 1 2015, it has become mandatory for the applicant of Significant Investor and Premium Investor visa to make a new investment to be eligible for 188 visa. This investment should be made after lodging an application and prior to the visa grant.

An Australian proprietary company is privately held and limited amount of liability of the shareholders to pay the debts of the company.

Territory bonds are specifically designed for investors seeking a guaranteed investment by the government. Such bonds entitle the investor to regular interest payment with defined term to maturity and fixed interest.

There’s not a specific list of approved managed funds. All you need to do is to make sure that the managed funds meet the terms of complying investment.

If you are nominated by a State or Territory or Austrade for the provisional significant investor or premium investor visa, the Department and the State or Territory government that nominated wants you to genuinely reside in their jurisdiction.

The process of applying for 188 visa involves lodging an Expression of Interest with the Department of Immigration and being sponsored by the State or Territory government. Once the sponsorship is confirmed, the invitation is issued by the Department within few days. The duration of visa processing from then depends on certain issues specific to your application.

The complying investment can only help in maximising the benefit of investments for Australian economy. It is uncertain whether the visa holder can get a return on their investment or not. The immigration department is not responsible with any investment decision neither guarantee any return on complying investment.

There is no other option to apply for a significant investor visa. Since it is a government nominated program, you must be nominated by the State or territory government or Austrade to apply.

You can include your partner, your child/step child or your partner’s child/step child in your visa application. All the family members who have been granted the visa are eligible to study and work in Australia.

The validity period of invitation is 60 days. The application must be lodged to the Department of Home Affairs under this duration. In case, you fail to lodge, your EOI will lapse and you would not be considered for the visa.

Once you are granted with permanent visa, it is completely up to you what to do with your complying investments. However, you must have a genuine intention to maintain business or investment activities in Australia on permanent visa.