If you are a well-qualified and successful business person wishing to move to Australia under the business migration categories, there may very well be an opportunity for you to eventually gain permanent entry to Australia. It is likely that you will be able to apply in a category under which relevant skills, business experience and language ability are needed in order to satisfy Australian immigration requirements to live and work in Australia

Each business migration category has different requirements for entry to Australia. In most cases you will be granted a four-year temporary business visa initially, and then after satisfying evidence of a specific level of business activity or investment, you will be able to apply for permanent residency. A direct permanent residence category will still be available for high-calibre business migrants sponsored by State/Territory governments known as the Business Talent visa.

Business Owner (Metro Areas) - Key requirements

As an Owner or Part-owner of business(es), applicants in this category need to show:

1. They have a successful business career
2. They (and their spouse together) have had net assets in a qualifying business or businesses of at least A$200,000 in two of the last four fiscal years
3. They need to own at least 10% of the business' shareholding or equity
4. They have been actively involved in and responsible for the overall management and performance of the qualifying business(Es) on a day to day basis for two of the past four fiscal years.
5. "Qualifying business" is one which is operating and was not set up primarily for passive or speculative purposes.
6. If the qualifying business is one which provides professional, technical or trade services, they have not been involved in the provision of those services for more than 50% of their time.
7. Business or investment activities are legal and acceptable in Australia
8. They have a realistic commitment to participate in Australia as a substantial owner, in the management of a new or existing business which will benefit Australia.
9. They are able to score at least 105 points on the relevant Points Test.

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Senior Executive (State/Territory Sponsered) - Key Requirements

As a senior executive, applicants need to show:

• They have a successful business career;
• They have been employed in the top three management levels of a "major overseas business" in two of the past four years and have been responsible for strategic policy development for a major component or a wide range of operations;
• They have not been involved in business or investment activities which are not acceptable in Australia;
• They have a realistic commitment to participate in Australia, as a substantial owner, in the management of a new or existing business which will be of benefit to Australia;
• For State/Territory sponsored Senior Executive, they must have registered their intention with a State/Territory business development Agency;
• For State/Territory sponsored Senior Executive, the minimum annual turnover requirements are greatly reduced.
• They are able to score at least 105 points in the relevant Senior Executives - Points Test.

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Investment Linked - Key Requirements

As the owner or part-owner of eligible investment(s) or qualifying business(es), applicants in this visa category need to show:
they have a record of successful business and/or investment;

• They have a total of three years experience in actively managing a business and/or investment;
• In any one of the past five fiscal years, they had maintained direct and continuous involvement in the management of their qualifying business and/or investment, AND they (and spouse together) must have had:

  At least 10% ownership interest in a qualifying business, or

  At least A$ 1 million in an eligible investment;

• For the two fiscal years immediately before the application, the applicant (and spouse together) must have net assets worth at least 50% more than the capital they plan to invest in a designated investment in Australia (i.e. A$ 1.5 million);
• They have not been involved in business and/or investment activities which are not acceptable in Australia;
• They have a realistic commitment to continue to maintain business or investment activity in Australia after the designated investment has matured;
• They are able to score at least 105 points on the relevant "Investment-Linked - Points Test"
  (This information is available to Members only).

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Established Business in Australia - key requirements

This visa category focuses on business persons who have funds to meet the selection criteria and are willing to set-up new business or buy an existing business in Australia.

At the time of application, applicant must be physically in Australia, holding a valid temporary visa and:

• They must show they have a successful business record;
• They own or part-own a "main business(es)" in Australia for at least 18 months;
• They must show that in the 12 months immediately before the application:
• They had spent at least nine months in Australia;
• They (and spouse) have net assets in Australia of at least A$ 250,000;
• They (and spouse) have invested net assets in their "main business(es)" of at least A$ 100,000;
• They hold at least 10% ownership interest in their "main business(es)" in Australia;
• They have maintained direct and continuous involvement in the management of the business(es);
• The business(es) must have employed at least three full-time employees (or part-time equivalent) at or above Award Wages continuously for the 12 month period
• The "main business(es)" in Australia had a turnover of atleast A$ 200,000 or exported goods and/or services of at least A$ 100,000.
• They are able to score at least 105 points in the relevant "Established Business in Australia - Points Test".