This visa is designed for high calibre business people who are owners or part owners of an overseas business and have a genuine and realistic commitment to participate in the management of a new or existing business in Australia. You must be sponsored by a state or territory government.

Who is this visa for?

This visa is for high calibre business people from overseas who are less than 55 years old, and their family.

What does this visa let me do?

With this visa you can:

• • work in a new or existing business in Australia
  
• • travel in and out of Australia any number of times as long as the visa is valid
  
• • study in Australia
  
• • have your family accompany you to Australia. They will have access to
• • work and study rights
  
• • live in Australia as a permanent resident for five years (after 5 years,
• • you will need to apply for a resident return visa).
  

Bringing family

The following people may be included in your application:

• • your spouse
• • your or your spouse's dependent children
  
• • other dependent relatives living with you.
  

Visa validity period

This visa is a permanent residence visa. This visa allows you to travel to and enter Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted. If you wish to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident after the initial visa has expired, you must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV).

Age

You must be less than 55 years old (except where the regional authority considers that the proposed business will be of exceptional economic benefit to the region).

Business success

You have an overall successful business career.

Sponsorship

You must be sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a State or Territory Government.

Significant business assets

You (and your spouse combined) had net assets in a qualifying business of A$400,000 for at least two (2) of the four (4) fiscal years immediately before you apply.

Significant annual turnover

The annual turnover of your main business (or two main businesses combined) was at least A$3,000,000 in at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you apply.

Significant assets

Your (or your and your spouse's) total assets have a net value of at least A$1,500,000, and were legally acquired and are capable of being transferred to Australia within two years of being granted this visa.

Acceptable business record

You (or your spouse) have never been involved in unacceptable business activities.

Committed to business in Australia

You have a commitment to maintain an ownership interest in a business in Australia and direct and continuous involvement in the management of that business.

Health

You must meet certain health requirements and may need to undergo a health examination.

Character

You must be of good character for you to enter Australia.

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.