Australia • Immigration Consulting
The Australian Entrepreneur Visa provides a pathway for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and third-party funding to establish and develop their business ventures in Australia.
This visa stream falls under the Business Innovation and Investment visa programme and is designed for individuals who have a genuine, innovative entrepreneurial idea that has attracted funding from an approved third-party source such as a Commonwealth, state or territory government agency.
The Entrepreneur visa supports Australia's innovation ecosystem by attracting global talent with commercially viable ideas. It is a two-stage visa pathway, beginning with a provisional visa and leading to permanent residency once the business achieves specified milestones.
This visa is for entrepreneurs who have a genuinely innovative business idea and have secured backing or endorsement from an approved Australian organisation, such as a registered venture capital firm, a government body, or a recognised business accelerator.
We review your business idea, innovation credentials and commercial viability to determine whether it meets the requirements for the Entrepreneur visa stream.
You must obtain a funding agreement of at least AUD 200,000 from an approved third-party entity such as a Commonwealth, state or territory government agency, publicly funded research organisation or registered investor.
You must receive a nomination from an Australian state or territory government, which endorses your business activity and confirms it aligns with their economic priorities.
Gather all required documents including your business plan, funding agreement, nomination approval, passport, English test results, health insurance and financial evidence.
We prepare and submit your provisional visa application (Subclass 188, Entrepreneur stream) to the Department of Home Affairs.
Complete required health examinations and provide police clearances from relevant countries.
Once your provisional visa is granted, you establish and operate your business in Australia, working towards the milestones required for permanent residency.
After meeting the business milestones and holding the provisional visa for the required period, you apply for the permanent visa (Subclass 888, Entrepreneur stream).
The Entrepreneur visa involves a two-stage cost structure: the provisional visa (Subclass 188) and the permanent visa (Subclass 888). Both stages have separate government fees.
Exact costs depend on individual circumstances, business complexity and family composition. Government fees are subject to change. Significant investment in the business itself is separate from visa costs.
The Entrepreneur visa pathway involves a significant time commitment across both the provisional and permanent stages. Timelines vary based on nomination processing, visa assessment and business development.
A traditional job offer is not relevant to the Entrepreneur visa. Instead, you are expected to create your own business and employment opportunities in Australia.
The visa requires you to actively establish, manage and grow your business venture. As your business develops, you may also be expected to create employment for Australian workers.
New World Immigration can advise on the business establishment requirements and connect you with relevant professional services including business advisory, accounting and legal support.
Prepare a detailed business plan that demonstrates genuine innovation, commercial viability and a clear plan for operation in Australia. The plan must explain the product or service being commercialised, the target market, revenue model and how the business will create jobs in Australia.
Identify and approach eligible funding sources, Commonwealth or state/territory government agencies, publicly funded research organisations, or ESVCLP/VCLP-registered funds. You need a formal funding agreement of at least AUD 200,000 from an approved entity before proceeding.
Submit a nomination application to the state or territory whose priorities best align with your business concept. Each state has its own application portal and criteria. Your business plan will be central to this assessment.
Book and complete an approved English test (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or Cambridge). Minimum Competent English is required. Ensure the result is valid at the time of visa application.
Undergo health examinations with an approved panel physician. Obtain police clearances from all countries where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Submit the Subclass 188 (Entrepreneur stream) provisional visa application through ImmiAccount with all required documentation, business plan, funding agreement, nomination confirmation, English test results, health and character documents.
Once the provisional visa is granted, establish and actively operate your business in Australia. Track all milestones, revenue, employment, business activity, throughout the provisional period to build your case for the Subclass 888 permanent visa.
The business idea must be genuinely innovative and relate to the commercialisation of a product or service. It cannot involve property development, labour hire, purchasing an existing business or franchise operations. The idea should demonstrate potential for commercial success and job creation.
Approved funding sources include Commonwealth, state or territory government agencies, publicly funded research organisations, investors registered as Australian Venture Capital Limited Partnerships or Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships, and specified higher education institutions.
Yes. You can include your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children in your visa application. They will receive the same visa type and will be able to live, work and study in Australia. Additional fees apply for each family member.
If your business does not succeed or you cannot meet the required milestones for the permanent visa, your pathway to permanent residency may be affected. You should seek advice on alternative visa options as early as possible if your business circumstances change.
Yes. State or territory nomination is a mandatory requirement. Each state and territory has its own criteria for endorsing entrepreneur visa applications, and these may include sector priorities, job creation targets or investment thresholds.
After holding the provisional visa and meeting specified business milestones, which may include business revenue, employment creation and ongoing business activity, you can apply for the permanent visa (Subclass 888 Entrepreneur stream). The specific milestones are set at the time of your provisional visa grant.
You must generally be under 55 years of age at the time of application. However, a state or territory may waive this requirement if your business proposal is considered to provide exceptional economic benefit.
If you have an innovative business idea and are considering bringing it to Australia, the Entrepreneur visa may offer the right pathway.
Our team can assess your business concept, advise on funding and nomination requirements, and guide you through the full application process from provisional visa to permanent residency.