Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188) – Significant Investor Stream (188C)

The Australian government began implementing Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) – Significant Investor stream, better known as the AUD5 million Significant Investor Visa. Although the investment capital of AUD5 million is relatively huge compared to the investment threshold of many other countries, this type of visa has been welcomed by many investors since its implementation, especially by those with huge assets and age beyond other visa requirements.

Eligibility:
  1. You, and your partner have more than AUD5 million assets in the two years before applying for the visa;
  2. Make a complying investment of at least AUD5 million, which will be returned after 4 years;
  3. In each of the 4 years after granting the visa, the primary applicant must live in Australia for 40 days per year or the secondary applicant (spouse) lives for 180 days; there is no residence requirement for other sub-applicants other than the primary applicant’s partner; the above residence days can be accumulated within 4 years,  i.e. 160 days for the primary applicant or 720 days for the spouse within a period of 4 years.
  4. Be nominated by an Australian State or territory and obtain an EOI invitation to apply for the visa.
Advantage:
  1. No age limit
  2. No English requirement
  3. No score requirement
  4. Relaxed proof of source of funds and remittance requirements
Options after 4 years:
  1. Apply for Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) – Significant Investor stream
    • Application requirements:
      • 1) The primary applicant has lived in Australia for 160 days in 4 years, or his or her spouse has lived in Australia for 720 days in 4 years
      • 2) The applicant’s investment of AUD5 million in Australia in the 4 years prior to application has not been withdrawn
  1. The 188C visa can be extended for 2 times (if the above conditions are not met); the applicant can apply for an extension of 2 years, and the primary applicant needs to stay for an additional 80 days. After 6 or 8 years, the applicant can transfer to 888 visa at any time if he/she meet the residence requirement.
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