As from 1st March, 2003 DIMIA has introduced a new set of Business Visas to replace the current set of Business Visas available to potential applicants. These new Business Visas alter the way a potential Business migrant applies for Permanent Residency in Australia and in the assessment of their Application.  

Business Applicants are no longer required to face a “Points Test” in their assessment, though they do, in some circumstances, have to meet certain age and English Language ability requirements. 

For those non-Sponsored applicants they are required to be under 45 years of age and possess Vocational English at the time of the lodgement of their Temporary Visa application.. 

Business Applicant who are Sponsored by a State or Territory Government have a lower criteria to meet, in terms of the financial criteria and can be under 55 years of age or be deemed to be of exceptional economic benefit to the State/territory Sponsoring the applicant(s). 

This Sponsorship is obtained prior to the lodgement of their Application, in the form of written support by the State/Territory Government for the Application. This sponsorship is provided by a State or Territory Government when they consider the applicant will of exceptional economic benefit to the State/Territory. 

In most circumstances, potential Business migrants will apply for, and be granted, a Temporary Visa valid for up to 4 years. After the Business applicant has been granted their Temporary Visa and entered Australia, they are required to either establish, or purchase into, a business in Australia. 

The potential Business migrant is then able to apply for permanent Residency in Australia once they meet the criteria for the grant of the Permanent Business Visa. This can occur after the applicant has either establish or owned/purchased into a business for at least 2 years, or held an acceptable investment for at least 4 years. This criteria relates to the establishment, or purchase of, a continually successful business in Australia. 

Those persons who may be eligible to apply for one of these types of Visas are currently Business Owners, Senior Executives of major companies, and those persons holding substantial investments. 

Some potential Business migrant can apply directly for migration to Australia (Permanent Residency) rather than applying for Temporary Residency first and then permanent Residency. 

These applicants (deemed by DIMIA to be of “high calibre”) can apply directly for Permanent Residency if they meet the criteria for the grant of this type of Business Visa. Generally these applicant must: 

• own business assets of at least AUD$400,000.00; 

• have both Business and Personal assets of at least AUD$1,500,000.00; 

• been involved in a business with an annual turnover for a number of years of at least AUD$3,000,000.00; and 

• be under 45 years of age, or be deemed by a State or territory Government to be of exceptional economic benefit to the State or Territory. 

For all types of Business Visas applicant must also meet the usual health and character requirements. The character requirements also extends to the business activities and history of the applicant(s).