State sponsored

Business Skills visas are available to successful business owners or managers, senior executives or investors who want to live in Victoria and develop a business.

The basic requirements for entry to Australia on a Business Skills visa (excluding the Investor Retirement 405 visa) are:

• be aged 54 years or less
• have a successful business record
• have a designated amount of net assets
• intend to establish a business in Victoria
• intend to reside in Victoria.

Specific eligibility requirements apply to each Business Skills visa type (sub-class).

If you are eligible for a Business Skills provisional or residence visa and choose to establish your business and domicile in Victoria, the Victorian Government will consider conditional sponsorship support for your visa application. There are three categories of visas which attract Victorian Government visa sponsorship.

1. Provisional business visas

Provisional visas provide four years of temporary residence for the establishment and successful operation of an 'eligible' business in Victoria.

Business Owner (163) visa

This is a visa for people aged 54 or less with a successful business career - in a senior management position or as a business owner - who intend to establish a business and domicile in Victoria.

• Find out more about the Business Owner (163) visa

Senior Executive (164) visa

This visa is for people aged 54 or less, employed in one of the top three levels of management in a business - having a turnover of at least A$10 million - who intend to establish a business and domicile in Victoria.

• Find out more about the Senior Executive (164) visa

Investor (165) visa

This is a visa for people aged 54 or less with a successful business/investment record, who are willing to make an investment of no less than A$750,000 with the Treasury Corporation of Victoria (TCV) for a four year period, and are prepared to engage in ongoing business activity in Victoria.

• Find out more about the Investor (165) visa

2. Permanent business visas

To qualify for a permanent residence visa, business migrants must meet the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s relevant Business Skills criteria and engage in an 'eligible', viable and sustainable commercial enterprise in Victoria.

Business Talent (132) visa

This is a visa for high calibre business people aged 54* or less who can demonstrate substantial commercial achievements and are proposing to establish a business which will be of 'exceptional' economic benefit to Victoria.

• Find out more about the Business Talent (132) visa

*Aged 55 years or over
People aged 55 years or over may be considered for state sponsorship support on a case by case basis if the applicant can qualify and quantify the 'exceptional' economic contribution their proposed commercial activity will deliver to the State of Victoria. Economic benefit can include (but is not limited to) employment creation, export, import replacement, the introduction of new technology and geographic location.

Agreement in principle of the nature and 'exceptional' economic benefit of the proposed business enterprise should be obtained by discussing the proposed business with the Manager, Business Migration before lodging a formal application. Other factors to be taken into account could include the applicant's age, business background and familiarity with Victoria.

Business Owner (892) visa

This visa is for people who hold eligible provisional visas including a Business (Long Stay) Independent Executive visa or a Skilled-Regional Sponsored visa. Applicants must have successfully established a viable, sustainable business in Victoria.

• Find out more about the Business Owner (892) visa

Investor (893) visa

This visa is for people who hold a qualifying Investor (provisional) visa and have complied with the conditions of their Provisional Sponsorship.

• Find out more about the Investor (893) visa
  

Regional Established Business (846) visa

This is a visa for business people who hold a Business (Long Stay) Independent Executive visa. Applicants must have successfully established a viable, sustainable business in Victoria.

• Find out more about the Regional Established Business (846) visa

3. Temporary business visa

Investor Retirement (405) visa

This visa provides four year renewable temporary residence in Victoria for people aged 55 years or more who have no dependants (other than a spouse), who are financially self supporting and able to make the appropriate investment in the Treasury Corporation of Victoria. The minimum investment for those wishing to reside in metropolitan Melbourne is A$750,000 and A$500,000 for regional Victoria.

• Find out more about the Investor Retirement (405) visa