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Subclass 188 Business Visa for South Australia

Oct 23, 2022 | SA | 0 comments

South Australia is one of the states with the highest quality of life in the world. And the good news is that there are opportunities to establish there permanently through a Business Innovation and Investment Visa subclass 188. 

This business migration program seeks to attract high quality business owners, investors and entrepreneurs who can create genuine and sustainable business opportunities in South Australia

The 188 is a state-nominated provisional residence visa for business owners and investors. It is the first step in a two-step pathway to permanent residency.

It has 4 streams: 

  1. Business Innovation stream: Business owners who want to relocate their overseas business or establish a new business in South Australia.
    Eligibility:
    • Intend to live in South Australia.
    • Score at least 80 points in the Department of Home Affairs’ points test. 
    • Provide a business plan detailing the viability and economic impact of your proposal to South Australia. Further details are listed in the How to Apply section. 
    • If proposing an export business in South Australia, you must demonstrate proven export experience and relevant expertise in the products being exported. 
    • Propose an investment and/or business activity in South Australia that will meet the South Australian state nomination ‘benefit to state requirements’ for the subclass 888 Business Innovation stream. 
    • Applicants aged 55 years or over at the time of invitation must demonstrate that the proposal will be of exceptional economic benefit to South Australia by meeting a higher investment threshold
  1. Investor stream: Successful investors or business owners willing to invest a minimum AUD $1,500,000 in South Australia for four years. 
    Eligibility:
    • Agree to make and maintain an investment of AUD$2.5 million (AUD$3.75 million if over 55 year of age) for the duration of the provisional visa in a complying investment fund (CIF). The complying investment fund must materially benefit South Australia.
    • This material benefit to South Australia could include demonstration of evidence of investment activities in South Australia at the Subclass 888 visa application stage either as part of the CIF or additional to it.
  1. Significant Investor stream: People willing to benefit South Australia and invest $5 million into a complying investment for four years 
    Eligibility:
    • Agree to make and maintain an investment of AUD$5 million for the duration of the provisional visa in a complying investment fund (CIF). The complying investment fund must materially benefit South Australia.
    • This material benefit to South Australia could include demonstration of evidence of investment activities in South Australia at the Subclass 888 visa application stage either as part of the CIF or additional to it. 
  1. Entrepreneur stream: People who have support from a selected Service Provider to undertake a complying entrepreneurial activity that is proposed to lead to either the commercialisation of a product or service in South Australia or the development of a business in South Australia.
    Eligibility:
    • Have competent English or be a passport holder or citizen of the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada or New Zealand.
    • Intend to live in South Australia. 
    • Propose a business to be based in South Australia that has strong potential to achieve the Subclass 888 Entrepreneur.
    • Propose a business that has the potential to become a sustainable high-growth start-up, with the potential to employ South Australians. 
    • Priority will be given to proposals that support the strategic objectives of the Government of South Australia. 
    • Provide detailed information on the viability and economic impact of the proposal to South Australia. 
    • Agree to meet all other obligations to ensure that your state nomination remains current at the time you apply directly to the for the Subclass 888 Entrepreneur visa. 
    • Secure the support of a selected Service Provider that has reviewed and approved your proposed entrepreneurial activity.

Important to note: The proposed business activity must not relate to any of the following categories:

  • Residential real estate
  • Labour hire 
  • Purchase of an existing enterprise or a franchise in Australia 
  • Cafes and restaurants 
  • Consulting firms/companies 
  • Employment agencies 
  • Export/import businesses

Pathway to permanent residency 

After specified period on a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) subclass 188 visa, you may be eligible to apply for the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa – subclass 888.