SkillSelect

Before applying

How this visa works

The Business Talent visa is part of the Australian Business Innovation and Investment Program, which seeks to expand the country's economy.

This visa is available by invitation only. Before being invited to apply, you must first submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect.

Expression of Interest

Your Expression of Interest must specify whether you are interested in the Significant Business History stream or the Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream. You must also indicate whether you are interested in just one or all states and territories. No supporting documentation is required at this time.

When your Expression of Interest is in SkillSelect, it can be viewed and a state or territory can decide whether to nominate you to apply for a visa. States and territories have their own criteria for deciding who they nominate. In most cases, and before you are nominated, the relevant state or territory may contact you to discuss business possibilities. You may also contact your preferred state or territory you have indicated in the Expression of Interest.

You can only lodge a visa application after having received a nominated by a state or territory and an invitation from the Australian Government.

Requirements

The requirements that you must meet depend on whether you are interested in the Significant Business History stream or the Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream.

Significant Business History stream

If you apply for the Significant Business History stream, you (or your partner, or you and your partner combined) must have all of the following:

• you must be less than 55 years of age, although a state or territory can waive this requirement if your proposed business will be of exceptional economic benefit to the relevant region
• net assets of at least AUD400 000 (in a qualifying business) in at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you are invited to apply
• total assets of at least AUD1.5 million that can be legally transferred to Australia within two years of the visa being granted
• a total annual turnover of at least AUD3 million (in one or more of your main businesses) in at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you are invited to apply
• ownership of at least:
• • 51 per cent of a business with turnover of less than AUD400 000 per annum, or
  • 30 per cent of a business with turnover of more than AUD400 000 per annum, or
  • 10 per cent of a publicly-listed company
• an overall successful business career with no involvement in unacceptable business activities
• a genuine desire to own and maintain a management role in a business in Australia.

Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream

If you apply for the Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream, you must have obtained at least AUD1 million in funding from an Australian Venture capital firm for the start-up, product commercialisation or business development relating to a promising high value business idea.
See: Venture Capital Entrepreneur Information Sheet (63KB PDF file)

Prepare to apply

If you are invited to apply for a permanent Business Talent visa (subclass 132), you will then have 60 days in which to lodge your online application. You can be in or outside Australia when you lodge.

Your application is likely to require extensive supporting documentation, including records and evidence relating to your:

• work experience
• educational background
• English skills
• business and investment experience.

You are urged to start compiling these documents early in the process even before you lodge an Expression of Interest.

You can be invited twice. If, after the second invitation, you do not submit a complete application within the allowed timeframe, the offer will be withdrawn and your Expression of Interest will be deleted from SkillSelect. If you want to be considered in future, you will need to submit a new Expression of Interest.

More information

More information about business and employment in various states and territories is available.

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

More information about venture capital funding is available at Australian Venture Capital Association Limited.

Australian Business Innovation and Investment Program

The Business Innovation and Investment Program is offered by the Australian Government as a way to contribute to the growth of the country’s economy by:

• creating jobs
• increasing the export of Australian goods and services
• increasing the production of goods and services in Australia
• introducing new and/or improved technology
• increasing competition and commercial activity
• developing links with international markets
• bringing business migrants to Australia based on nominations by state and territory governments.

Business definitions gives meanings of words used in relation to this visa.

Applying

Applying for this visa

This information explains what you need to do to apply for the permanent Business Talent visa (subclass 132).

Lodge the application

You must lodge your application through SkillSelect. This can be done while you are in or outside Australia. You must pay the initial application charge by credit card at that time.
See: Visa Charges (93KB PDF file)

A second charge, that applies only to applicants and dependants aged 18 years or older with less than functional English, is payable before a visa can be granted.

As part of lodging your application, you must confirm that you agree with the Australian Values Statement and have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia book.

Provide relevant documents

You must provide documents that prove the claims you make in your application. These are identified and explained in the Document Checklist. This checklist also explains whether you need to provide original documents or certified copies.

Any document in a language other than English must be accompanied by an English translation that has been done by an accredited translator.

Send documents by registered post to the Adelaide Business Skills Processing Centre. If you usually live in Taiwan or the People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau), send documents to the Australian Consulate General in Hong Kong. Send your documents immediately after you lodge your online application.

The department will contact you if they need additional information and/or documentation.

Make use of helpful information

Certain requirements must be met if dependent family members are included in your application. See Including dependent family members in your application and proof of dependency for details.

Information to help prepare your application has advice on certified documents, statutory declarations, translating documents, communicating with the department, using a migration agent, authorising another person to receive information from the department, and receiving assistance with your application.

Business definitions gives meanings of words used in relation to this visa.

After applying

After you apply

After you lodge your application and documents, the department will let you know that they have received your information, assign you a case officer, consider your application, request an interview (if needed), ask for more information (if needed) and make a decision.

Provide more information

Meet health requirements

You and all members of your family unit must meet certain health requirements. The department will tell you when to arrange health examinations.

Meet character requirements

You and all members of your family unit must meet certain character requirements. This means you and each of your dependants (whether migrating or not) who are aged 16 years or older must provide police certificates. These need to be obtained from each country you and your family members have lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years or, in the case of those younger than 26 years or age, since each person turned 16 years of age.

The department will tell you when to arrange police certificates.

Provide biometrics

You may be asked to provide biometrics (a scientific form of identification) as part of your application. Countries and visa subclasses included in the biometrics program has more information.

Attend an interview

You may be asked to attend an interview, either face-to-face or by telephone, after lodging your application. If it is a face-to-face interview, bring your passport or other identification and any requested documents.

Provide a comment, if required

If another person gives the department information that could result in you being refused a visa, the department will give you the chance to comment on that information.

Report changes

The department needs to know, in writing, about changes in circumstances that may affect the processing of your visa application such as:

• you move to a new address
• you get a new passport
• you want to add or change the person authorised to act on your behalf in connection with the application
• a birth or death in your family (a newborn child can be added to an application after it has been lodged but before a decision has been made)
• you and/or your dependent family members intend to travel to and from Australia while the application is being processed.

Report changes on Form 929: Change of address and/or passport details and/or Form 1022: Notification of changes in circumstances.

Obtain a Bridging visa to travel outside Australia

If you apply for a Business Talent visa while you are in Australia, you are likely to be given a Bridging visa that allows you to stay in the country lawfully while your application is processed.

If you want to travel outside Australia while your application is being considered, you may need to apply for a specific Bridging visa that allows you to leave and return to Australia.

People who already have a valid visa that allows them to travel to and from Australia will not need to do this.

Form 1024i Bridging visa has more information.

Wait for a visa decision

The department has service standards relating to the time it takes process applications for this visa. The country you come from and whether you lodge your application in or outside Australia affect the time it takes for your application to be finalised.

Receive a visa decision

If your visa application is approved, the department will send you an email with the:

• visa grant number
• visa conditions (including a specified initial entry date)
• details of what you must do next.

If your visa application is not approved, the department will send you an email stating:

• why the visa was not approved
• your review rights, if any
• a time frame for lodging an appeal, if applicable.

Visa holders

Conditions and obligations for holders of visa subclass 132

The permanent Business Talent visa (subclass 132) allows you to:

• establish a new or develop an existing business in Australia
• travel in and out of Australia for five years
• have family members accompany you to Australia
• live and work in Australia permanently.

This information explains what is required of you and your accompanying dependent family members after you are granted this visa.

Enter Australia

If you are outside Australia when the visa is granted, you will be required to enter Australia by a certain date. The department will advise.

Fulfil business obligations

Significant Business History stream

If you are in this stream, after entering Australia, you must:

• establish a qualifying business in Australia, or
• participate in an existing qualifying business in Australia.

In the business, you must:

• maintain substantial ownership
• maintain direct and continuous involvement in the day-to-day management of the business
• make decisions that affect the overall direction and performance of the business in a way that benefits the Australian economy.

After becoming involved in business in Australia, you will be asked to complete Form 1010: Survey of Business Skills visa holders.

Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream

If you are in this stream, after entering Australia, you must meet the requirements of your venture capital agreement.

Report relevant changes

You must tell the department, in writing, of any changes in circumstances such as:

• you move to a new address
• a child is born to you and your partner.

Report changes on Form 929: Change of address and/or passport details and/or Form 1022: Notification of changes in circumstances.

Within six months of arriving in Australia, you must advise the department of your residential address. Every time you change address (even to a location outside Australia), you must send a new form to the department within 28 days of the move.

Access entitlements

As a permanent resident, you and your accompanying family members are entitled to enroll in Medicare Australia's scheme for health-related care and expenses.

You are also able to take out private health insurance.

You may qualify for a Special Benefit from Centrelink if you suffer a major change of circumstances that is beyond your control.

Travel entitlements

This is a permanent residence visa. It allows you to travel to and from Australia for five years from the date it is granted. If you want to continue such travel after the visa expires, you must get a Resident Return visa. You can also apply for citizenship.

Comply with visa conditions and Australian laws

You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.