Main Applicant Eligibility

Below are the requirements you must meet to be eligible for a Regional Established Business in Australia visa. You must provide evidence of each of the requirements with your application.
See: Information Form 1215i Independent Executives and permanent residence ( 76KB PDF file)

Hold correct visa

You hold a Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457).

Sponsorship

You have been sponsored by the relevant State/Territory government authority.

In Australia recently

You have been in Australia as a temporary resident for at least 12 months cumulatively out of the last 24 months before the date of application.

Ownership interest

You have had and continue to have, an ownership interest and direct and continuous management, in up to two actively operating main business in Australia for at least two years immediately before you apply. You must own at least:

• 51 per cent of the business where the turnover is less than AUD400 000 per annum
• 30 per cent of the business where the turnover is AUD400 000 or more per annum
• 10 per cent where the business is a publicly listed company.

A transitional provision is available if you have purchased a main business in Australia prior to 19 April 2010 and you are applying for this visa. Under these circumstances a minimum of 10 per cent ownership in a main business is required.

Annual turnover

Your main business (or two main businesses) have had a turnover of at least AUD200 000.
or

Your main business has total exports of at least AUD100 000; in each of the two years immediately before you apply.

Net assets in Australia

Your (or your and your partner's) total net assets in Australia were at least AUD200 000 for the two years before you apply.

Net assets in business in Australia

Your (or your and your partner's) net assets in your main business (or two main businesses) in a designated area of Australia were no less than AUD75 000 in the 24 months before you apply.

Business involvement

You have been actively involved in, and directly responsible for, the day to day management and overall performance of your main business (or two main businesses) for the 24 months before you apply.

Business success

You have an overall successful business career.

Acceptable business record

You have not been involved in business or investment activities considered unacceptable in Australia.

Points test

You must score at least 105 points in the regional established business in Australia points test (unless there are exceptional circumstances).

The department will work out your points score from the information you give in your application.

To complete your own preliminary points test.
See: Points test

Health

You must meet certain health requirements and may need to undergo a health examination. Please do not undertake a health check unless requested to do so.
See: Health Requirements

Character

You must be of good character for you to enter Australia.
See: The character requirement

Australian Values Statement

If you are aged 18 years or over, you are required to sign an Australian values statement. The statement is included in your visa application form and all applicants aged 18 years and over will need to sign it to confirm that they will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws. Before signing this statement you are required to have read, or had explained to you, material made available by the government on life in Australia which is contained in the Life in Australia book.

The Life in Australia book provides more information on the values that Australians share and their way of life.
See:
Australian Values - Overview
Life in Australia Book

Application document checklist

The checklist provides all the information and supporting documents that you may be asked to provide with your application.
See: Application document checklist ( 55KB PDF file)

Before lodging an application, please read all related requirements.
See: Eligibility