Business Talent (Migrant) visas are permanent visas available to applicants in two streams:

• Significant Business History Stream: for people with ownership interests in large businesses
• Venture Capital Entrepreneur Stream: for people who have access to venture capital funding of at least AUD 1 million

July 2021 Update: This visa is closed to new applications​

Duration and Conditions

This visa grants permanent residence status.

Do I Apply in Australia or Overseas?

You can either be in Australia or overseas when you lodge your application.

If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B or C visa.

State/Territory Nomination

This visa is only available to applicants who are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government.

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

• You are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government to migrate to Australia.
• You have been invited to apply through the SkillSelect system
• You have a genuine and realistic commitment after entry into Australia to either establish a new business or to participate in an existing business, and to maintain substantial ownership interest, and be involved in the day to day management of the business.

Significant Business History Stream

• You are under 55 years of age, unless the nominating state or territory government certifies that the proposed business activity is of exceptional economic benefit.
• For at least 2 of the last 4 fiscal years you had:
  • net assets in business of at least AUD 400,000; or
  • 10% ownership of the business if it is a publicly listed company.
  • the business had an annual turnover of at least AUD 3 million for 2 of the last 4 fiscal years
• You have net assets of at least AUD 1.5 million.

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Stream

For the Venture Capital Entrepreneur Stream, you must have a venture capital funding agreement of at least AUD 1 million through an Australian company who is a member of the Australian Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL).

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.

Property development

Live in Victoria have provided the following new property development criteria for Subclass 132 visas has been introduced and applies to all proposed business activities that relate to property development.

• The applicant must have relevant qualifications and experience (for example, architecture, engineering or construction management). Extensive relevant experience may substitute a qualification – this will be considered on a case by case basis
• The property development activity must align with one of Victoria’s priority sector strategies
• The minimum A$2 million capital investment must not include land purchase costs
• The business activity must not be small-scale, project-based property development.

The changes do not apply to the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188).

Business Management

You must demonstrate how you will undertake senior level day-to-day and overall strategic management of the business.

Capital Investment

Your net capital investment into the Victorian-based business will be at least A$2 million + $500,000 for family settlement.

Business Proposal

You must provide a business proposal, supporting research and framework that demonstrates that:

• you have reviewed and evaluated your proposed business activity thoroughly
• the proposed business activity is high quality, from a high-calibre person.

The business proposal is expected to be a detailed document which should include as much information as possible including:

• relevant market research
• market entry strategy
• competitor analysis
• strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis
• projected cost analysis
• location research
• evidence of a joint-venture partnership (if relevant)
• evidence of any communication with potential suppliers
• distribution channel information
• marketing plan
• feasibility study
• the role of the applicant in the business.

It is expected that you have visited Victoria and undertaken detailed market research, and consulted with relevant government agencies (where appropriate).

The State Nominated Venture Capital Entrepreneur (Permanent) visa (subclass 132B) is intended for individuals who have secured A$1 million in venture capital funding from a member of the Australia Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL) to fund the start up or product commercialisation of a high value business idea in Victoria.

• 132 Business Talent Visa (South Australia Nomination)

  This is a state-nominated permanent residence visa for business owners and entrepreneurs.

  You have a choice of two streams:

  • Venture Capital Entrepreneurs: people who have obtained at least AUD$1 million in agreed funding from an Australian venture capital firm, which is also an AVCAL member, to develop an innovation to a commercial stage.
  • Significant Business History: high level business owners who want to undertake significant business activity providing either, employment, exports or high level investment.

  The subclass 132 visa is valid for five years with future options for additional permanent residency visas or citizenship.

  There is no points test for the subclass 132 visa.

  —————-

  Business migrants seeking nomination for a Business Talent migrant subclass 132 visa must meet both state and Department of Immigration and Border Protection requirements (DIBP).

  State and DIBP requirements are different for each stream.

  Venture Capital Entrepreneurs (VCE)

  To meet the South Australian nomination requirements you must:

  • Meet 132 VCE stream criteria.
  • Intend to live in South Australia
  • Have a viable business idea approved for a minimum AUD $1,000,000 from a member of the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL) for a business venture in South Australia. The venture must be of exceptional economic benefit to South Australia with intellectual property to be registered in Australia.
  • Agree to register your arrival in South Australia with Immigration SA and maintain current contact details for the duration of your visa.

  Significant Business History (SBH)

  To meet the South Australian nomination requirements you must:

  • Meet DIBP 132 SBH stream criteria.
  • Intend to live in South Australia
  • Commit to invest in South Australia and meet the benefit to state requirement.
  • Provide information to Immigration SA to enable a two year review after visa grant. The information must detail the type of business being conducted, scale of the business and which of the following Benefit to State requirements you have met.
  • Agree to register your arrival in South Australia with Immigration SA and maintain current contact details for the duration of your visa.

  The following Benefit to State requirements vary depending on your age, business type and location.

  Benefit to State requirements under 55 years of age

  You must commit to meeting at least one of the following requirements through your business in South Australia within the first two years of holding the visa:

  • Employ four full-time employees for a minimum of 12 months within 24 months of the 132 visa grant date.  They must be Australian citizens, New Zealand passport holders, or permanent residents for the full 12-month period.
  • Export AUD $600,000 of South Australian products or services (turnover value).
  • Invest AUD $1,500,000 into a South Australian business(es) (AUD $1,500,000 for property developer

  Exceptional Benefit to State requirements over 55 years of age

  You must commit to meeting at least one of the following requirements through your business in South Australia within the first two years of holding the visa:

  • Employ eight full-time employees– for a minimum of 12 months within 24 months of the 132 visa grant date. They must be Australian citizens, New Zealand passport holders, or permanent residents for the full 12-month period.
  • Export AUD $1,200,000 of South Australian products or services (turnover value).
  • Invest AUD $6,000,000 into a South Australian business (AUD $2,000,000 for property developers).

  Regional Concessions – Benefit to State requirements

  To encourage investment outside of the capital city of Adelaide, the benefit to state requirements for State nomination are lower for country regional areas outside of greater Adelaide.

  Benefit to State requirements under 55 years of age (Regional)

  You must commit to meeting at least one of the following requirements through your business in regional South Australia within the first two years of holding the visa:

  • Employ three full-time employees– for a minimum of 12 months within 24 months of the 132 visa grant date.  They must be Australian citizens, New Zealand passport holders, or permanent residents for the full 12-month period
  • Export AUD $500,000 of South Australian products or services (turnover value)
  • Invest AUD $1,000,000 into a South Australian business (AUD $1,500,000 for property developers).

  Exceptional Benefit to State requirements over 55 years of age (Regional)

  You must commit to meeting at least one of the following requirements through your business in regional South Australia within the first two years of holding the visa:

  • Employ six full-time employees– for a minimum of 12 months within 24 months of the 132 visa grant date. They must be Australian citizens, New Zealand passport holders, or permanent residents for the full 12-month period
  • Export AUD $1,200,000 of South Australian products or services (turnover value)
  • Invest AUD $4,500,000 into a South Australian business (AUD $2,000,000 for property developers).

This visa is available for high-calibre business people who have a genuine commitment to operate a business in Australia.

Significant Business History Stream

This visa provides permanent residence status at the first stage. You must be nominated by the Government of Western Australia to apply for this visa. State Nomination criteria includes:

• You have maintained at least a 30 per cent ownership share (or 10 per cent where the business is a publicly listed company) and directly managed a business which had turnover of at least A$3,000,000 for two of the last four fiscal years;
• Your net assets in business were at least A$400,000 for two of the last four fiscal years;
• Your proposed business activity in Western Australia will generate substantial economic benefits for the State of Western Australia
• You must maintain a substantial ownership interest in your proposed business activity in Western Australia;
• You will meet the business investment, employment creation and purchase of a residence as negotiated in your State nomination agreement with the government of Western Australia, at time of Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) 24 month Survey of Business Skills Visa Holders (Form 1010); and
• You are less than 55 years of age, or you are proposing to participate in a business activity which will be of exceptional economic benefit to the State

Applications are assessed on a case by case basis, however, the general guidelines for State Nomination are:

Any qualifying business:

• Value of net assets to be in business in WA: at least A$1 million
• Creation of at least one new job (full time equivalent) in WA; and
• A residence is to be purchased in WA.

Property development business:

• Value of net assets to be in business in WA: at least A$1.5 million
• Creation of at least two new jobs (full time equivalent) in WA; and
• A residence is to be purchased in WA.

Venture capital stream

General guidelines are as follows:

• The venture capital entrepreneur stream was designed for a small number of highly talented individuals with high potential, high value business ideas;
• Ideally, these individuals should have appropriate background in the area in which VC funding is sought which could be evidenced through tertiary qualification, business ownership, and/or patents for invention held in other countries;
• The VC investment must have been raised from funds that are not connected with the individuals seeking the VC funding;
• Individuals should not just be employees of a company/business. They should be genuinely interested and skilled in managing/owning the business.

State Nomination criteria includes:

• You must have entered into a legally binding agreement with an Australian venture capital firm for funding of at least $1,000,000, to be invested into the start-up, product commercialisation or business development of a promising high-value business idea;
• The venture capital firm must be a member of the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL). AVCAL has information about the venture capital category of membership in the Venture Capital entrepreneur visa factsheet.

Supporting documents for your 132 application:

1. Supporting documentation accompanying your business proposal should include, but is not limited to the following:

   • Evidence of in depth business research and a realistic business concept.
   • Third party evidence of communication, meetings and/or negotiations with prospective vendors, suppliers and/or buyers.
   • Prior travel to Western Australia.
2. On your initial entry to Western Australia, after your visa is approved, you are required to attend a meeting with a business migration officer in order to further assess the progress of your proposed business activities. You will be required to confirm contact details for monitoring purposes.
3. You will be required to participate in a monitoring survey after visa approval, approximately 24 months after your first entry.

You must complete and return the survey and demonstrate how you are meeting the conditions of your State Nomination Agreement, including:

• Total capital transfer to WA
• Business investment
• Type of business activity
• Location of business activity
• Employment generation

Upon arrival in Western Australia, Business Talent visa holders are expected to quickly become actively involved in business in Western Australia and are subject to monitoring by both the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Government of Western Australia to assist them fulfil their business activities.

Queensland welcomes those interested in owning and managing a new or existing business which has the capacity to create jobs and deliver exceptional economic benefit to Queensland.

This Business Talent visa allows you to stay in Queensland on a permanent basis and includes the following stream:

Significant Business History visa (132A) is for business owners or part owners who want to have a major management role in a new or existing business in Queensland.

State nomination for this visa is managed by the Queensland Government through Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) in collaboration with the Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for Queensland state nomination for a Business Talent visa, you must first meet the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs criteria.

You must also meet the Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) criteria.

To seek Queensland state nomination through this visa stream you must:

• demonstrate that you have net business and personal assets of at least A$1.5 million to be transferred to Queensland within 2 years of your visa being granted, which includes a minimum of A$1 million for investment into a business and a minimum of A$500,000 for settlement costs
• demonstrate a commitment to Queensland with an intention to reside and invest in Queensland.

QUEENSLAND CRITERIA PROCESSING TIMES

A decision on your Queensland nomination will be made with 10 business days of all documents being submitted to BSMQ.

Funds transfer: If your proposed business will be in Sydney

•  you must transfer at least A$3 million in funds to NSW for business and settling & living expenses (inclusive of A$1.5 million business investment – see “Business investment and job creation” requirement).

If your proposed business will be in Regional NSW

• you must transfer at least A$2 million in funds to NSW for business and settling & living expenses (inclusive of A$1 million business investment – see “Business investment and job creation” requirement).

job creation: If your proposed business will be in Sydney, your business plan must demonstrate:

• business investment of at least A$1.5 million in the proposed business; and that your business will create at least five new full time jobs in NSW.

If your proposed business will be in Regional NSW2 , your business plan must demonstrate:

• business investment of at least A$1 million in the proposed business; and
• that your business will create at least three new full time jobs in regional NSW.

DHA Eligibility

Northern Territory and Business visas

The Northern Territory Government nominates overseas investors and business people whose proposed investments / businesses demonstrate a benefit to the NT. It targets genuine, high calibre applicants who are willing to invest and do business in the NT.

The NT will review and change its nomination criteria from time to time to reflect its emerging economic / development needs.

Eligible categories for NT nomination

NT nomination is available on all categories of provisional and permanent Business Innovation and Investment visas including:

• Business Innovation
• Investor
• Business Talent, and
• Significant Investor visas.

The specific guidelines for Northern Territory nomination for the Significant Investor stream visa are covered in a separate page.

The Department of Trade, Business and Innovation (DTBI) is responsible for approving nomination applications on behalf of the NT.

As the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) allocates a limited number of Business Innovation and Investment nominations to the NT, there may be circumstances where applicants are eligible for NT nomination, but are unable to be nominated.

Nomination guidelines

The NT has broad guidelines for applicants wishing to be nominated for a provisional or permanent business visa. The guidelines are deliberately broad and allow for consideration of each application for NT nomination on a case by case basis.

All applicants are required to demonstrate they meet the NT nomination requirements as well as DIBP criteria.

Applicants for Business Innovation and Investment (Subclass 188) and Business Talent (Subclass 132) visas will be assessed on their ability to contribute economically to the NT.

Both benefit the NT from the proposed activities and the applicant’s ability to deliver on the proposed activity will be assessed.

While an assessment will be made on whether an applicant meets the DIBP points test, an applicant’s points score will not be used to rank or prioritise nomination applications.

Applicants will be assessed on whether:

The proposed investment activities benefit the NT and align with the economic / development goals and activities of the region

Investment activities benefiting the NT include:

• transfer of new capital
• generation of new employment
• generation of Indigenous employment
• expansion of trade in NT goods and / or services
• development of export markets for NT products or replacement of imports
• introduction of new skills, expertise, technologies or innovations
• investment in remote areas
• investment in a wide range of key areas such as healthcare, education, tourism, mining and primary industries and fisheries
• have a significant flow on effect to other sectors of the economy.

Proposed investment / business activities that align with the NT Government’s three-hub economy strategy and the economic / development goals and activities of the region will be given favourable consideration. The NT Government’s three-hub economy is focused on:

• Mining and energy
• Tourism and international education
• Primary industries and fisheries / food exports.

The applicant has the ability to deliver on the proposed activity and invest and / or do business in the NT

Applicants must have:

• an understanding of the NT business and investment environments
• genuine intentions to actively pursue business / investment activities in the NT, and
• the financial capacity and business acumen to support their business / investment activities.

Applicants are able to demonstrate this by:

• having an existing business in the NT
• having an existing history of doing business with NT businesses
• social links to the NT, including relatives and associates
• being a regular visitor to the NT and / or have established a residence in the NT
• having undertaken demonstrable research into the business and investment environment of the NT, or
• having demonstrated an understanding of the legal and licensing framework for operating a business in the NT.

There is no known negative information regarding the nominee’s business or investment activities

If there is any negative information known in relation to a nominee’s business or investment activities the applicant may not be nominated.

Substantial economic benefit and exceptional economic benefit for Business Talent (Subclass 132) visa applicants and applicants aged over 55

Applicants seeking NT nomination for the Business Talent (Subclass 132) visa must demonstrate that they will make a substantial economic contribution to the NT.

Applicants for provisional visas who are aged 55 years and over and require an age exemption must demonstrate that their proposed business or investment activities will be of exceptional economic benefit to the NT.

It is the responsibility of an applicant to demonstrate that the business activity they are proposing will make a substantial economic contribution or is of exceptional economic benefit to the NT.

Conditions of nomination

The following conditions of nomination apply:

• The nominated investor must notify the DTBI of their contact details, residential and business addresses and any changes.
• NT nomination is not transferable to any other Australian state or territory.

What is the Venture Capital Entrepreneur visa stream?

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) administers the Business Talent (Subclass 132) visa. The Venture Capital entrepreneur stream of the Business Talent visa provides direct permanent entry for migrant entrepreneurs who have successfully sourced venture capital funding through a Venture Capital member of AVCAL.

What is AVCAL?

The Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCAL) is the voice of private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) in Australia. We are an advocacy group with a membership that includes 54 domestic and international VC and PE managers active in Australia, as well as pension/super funds, service providers and other stakeholders.

AVCAL is active in communicating, researching and advocating the significant contribution that VC and PE makes to the broader Australian economy.

Australian VC and PE firms manage over $29bn in funds under management. They provide capital and expertise to companies in a range of business life-cycles: start-ups, SMEs and large organisations. AVCAL VC and PE members focus on enhancing innovation, productivity, entrepreneurial activity and sustainability in the companies they invest in. Australian VC and PE firms currently back more than 500 companies which employ over 100,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

How do we define venture capital for the purposes of membership?

VC funds are wholesale institutional funds that invest in early-stage companies in innovative industries, such as the life sciences, information technology and communications sectors, to finance, incubate, commercialise and grow these companies over the long-term.

At AVCAL VC funds are those who have Australian-domiciled funds with a minimum of A$15m under management. In addition, AVCAL reserves the right to assess each membership application on a case-by-case basis before granting an AVCAL VC membership status.