Business People Visas

Help with applying for a visa: An Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law (as certified by the Law Society of New South Wales) leads our team of migration lawyers and agents. Contact us on (02) 8268 4000 for expert advice.

Various visas are described below, which in addition to the requirements specified below, also have health, character and other requirements which must be satisfied.

Business visits for up to 3 months

Passport holder from a number of countries and regions may visit Australia for business purposes under certain visas including:

• The APEC Business Travel Card

This card streamlines travel for business people from participating countries in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region.

Also known as Business Skills visas. All these visas, except the Investor Retirement visa,  offer a pathway to permanent residence:

• Business Owner (Provisional) Subclass 160

This visa is for those with a successful business career who want to own a new or existing business in Australia.

• State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) Subclass 163

This visa is for those sponsored by a by an appropriate regional authority of a State or Territory Government who want to own a new or existing business in Australia.

• Senior Executives (Provisional) Subclass 161

This visa is for senior executives of major overseas businesses with significant assets to manage a new or existing business in Australia.

• State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) Subclass 164

This visa is for senior executives of a major overseas business sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a State or Territory Government with significant assets, for management of a new or existing business in Australia.

• Investor (Provisional) Subclass 162

This visa is for successful business people or investors to invest or be involved in business in Australia.

• State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) Subclass 165:

This visa is for those sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a State or Territory Government with a successful business or investment career, to invest or be involved in business in Australia.

• Investor Retirement Visa Subclass 405:

This is a temporary visa for people aged 55 years or older who are able to make a significant long term financial investment in Australia. This is not a pathway to a permanent visa.

• Independent Executive Further Application Onshore Subclass 457IEFAO:

This visa is for holders of a Temporary Business (Long Stay) Independent Executive visa (Subclass 457IE) who need more time to be eligible to apply for a permanent business visa.

Also known as Business Skills visas. These following visas are for those who have established the required business in Australia whilst holding a provisional visa:

• Business Talent (Migrant) Subclass 132  - for accomplished business people, sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a State or Territory Government, who are owners of an overseas business, to manage a new or existing business in Australia.

• Business Owner (Residence) Subclass 890 – for the holder of a Business Development - Provisional visa (other than a Subclass 405 visa) with substantial assets. This visa allows you to stay in Australia on a permanent basis for the purpose of owning a substantial new or existing business.

• State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Residence) Subclass 892 -for holders of a qualifying provisional visa, sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a State or Territory Government, to own and operate a new or existing business.

• Established Business in Australia Subclass 845 – a visa for those already in Australia on a temporary visa other than a special purpose visa (Border visa, Diplomatic visa, Domestic Worker visa, Transit visa, Maritime Crew visa or Superyatcht Crew visa) and:

• who have established a successful business in Australia, and
• hold significant assets in Australia

• Regional Established Business in Australia Subclass 846 – a visa for those who:

• are sponsored by a State/Territory government
• hold a Business (long stay) (Subclass 457) visa
• have been in Australia for at least 12 months of the last two years
• have owned a successful business in a designated regional area of Australia for at least two years
• hold significant assets in Australia.

• Investor (Residence) Subclass 891 visas are for investors who:
  • have an Investor (provisional) visa
  • make a designated investment
  • maintain that investment for at least 4 years and
  • have remained in Australia for at least 2 of the last 4 years.
• State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Residence) Subclass 893 visas are similar to subclass 891 visas, but applicants must be sponsored by a State/Territory authority.

Craddock Murray Neumann has lawyers who can also assist with applications to the Migration Review Tribunal and the Federal Court if a visa application is unsuccessful. (Migration agents who are not lawyers cannot assist you with Federal Court applications).