Australia is open for business! There are many opportunities to forward your business aspirations in Australia from exploratory visits, through to investment and setting up operations in Australia. With a stable economy, transparent and fair business practices, good infrastructure, innovation incentives and proximity to the Asia Pacific region, Australia is a clear choice for business growth and expansion.
Further information on the various business visas available is presented below. You may also wish to visit our information on Employer Sponsored visas. Alternatively, if you are interested in discussing your business options further, please contact our office for a confidential consultation.
All visa applicants must meet the relevant health and character criteria. For temporary visas, this could include a requirement to obtain health insurance for the period of your stay in Australia.
Do you have meetings to attend in Australia? Are you exploring business or investment opportunities, negotiating a contract, or attending a conference or seminar? A Subclass 600 Temporary Business Visitor Stream visa may be appropriate for you. This 3-month stay visa allows you the opportunity to meet your business trip needs in Australia.
In general, you must have short business term purpose in Australia as well as relevant personal attributes and a business background suitable for your business activities in Australia. You also need to have access to sufficient funds to cover your costs whilst you are in Australia.
There is also a Frequent Traveller stream for citizens of the People's Republic of China who travel often to Australia for business or personal reasons.
The visa does not permit any work activities. If you do need to work, either on a short- or long-term basis, you will need to consider a Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Subclass 400 visa (below), one of the Employer Sponsored visas or other Business visas available.
Visitors from certain countries may be eligible to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or an eVisitor visa, instead of a Business Visitor visa. The ETA and eVisitor visas for business activities generally have fewer requirements and conditions than the Visitor visa, as well as lower application fees.
Please contact us if you would like further information regarding these visas.
If your visit to Australia will include more than just meetings or attending seminars, for instance, you may need to consider a visa that allows for work. If you have specialised skills, knowledge or experience that is needed by an Australian business on a non-ongoing basis (generally, a one-off period of less than 6 months) and cannot be reasonably sourced in the Australian labour market, this visa may suit your needs.
You will need to show that you have the skills, knowledge and experience to do this work. The Australian business will need to provide a contract or letter of offer for the employment period and may also need to show that the work and/or skills cannot be sourced locally.
The visa may include your family members (spouse and children) however they will not have work or study rights in Australia. You will only be permitted to work in the position/work identified in the visa application.
If you require a longer-term work visa solution, you may need to consider one of the Employer Sponsored or other Business visas to suit your needs.
If you are an entertainer, or support crew for an entertainer, performing in Australia or will work on a production for viewing/listening in Australia, you will need to apply for a Temporary Activities subclass 408 visa in the Entertainment stream.
A new 'National Investment' visa is coming in late 2024 so stay tuned!
The provisional (Stage 1) Business Innovation and Investment visa program (BIIP) closed to new applications from 1 July 2024.
If you are already provisional business visa holder, you may be able to apply for the second permanent stage of your visa if you meet the requirements such as, business turnover and direct management, maintaining complying investments and residing in your nominated state (as applicable). Alternatively, if eligible, you may be able to apply for an extension to your temporary Subclass 188 visa (Business Innovation and Significant Investor streams only).
Please contact us for more information on these permanent and extension visa pathways and to discuss your eligibility.
As a thriving business, Migration Plus is well positioned to help investors and entrepreneurs enter the Australian market to further diversify Australia’s economy and Australians’ access to innovative, world-class goods and services.
One of our experienced team members would be happy to talk you through the various visa requirements and assess your eligibility for a business visa to meet your needs. We can then work with you to progress your visa application to achieve your Australian business goals.