About Australia

The population of Australia is about 1,900 people, in which mostly are living in the eastern coastal cities that face the Pacific Ocean. Most people are migration from Europe long ago. In recent decades, there are also many immigrants from Asia and Pacific countries. It makes Australia become a multicultural country. Australia is an English-speaking country, and it has close connection with the United Kingdom, the United States and other Western countries. Also, it establishes strong relationship with neighboring countries in Asia-Pacific region. Australians are friendly, warm, and the environment is quiet and tranquil so it is desirable for further studies and is an ideal place for tourism.

The climate of Australia is generally more moderate than that of Europe and the America. Especially in the north, its climate is similar to the Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. In Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia province, the average daytime temperature in January (summer) is 29 degrees Celsius, while 20 degrees Celsius at night; and the average temperature in July (winter) is around 22 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius. The average daytime temperature in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia in January is around 26 degrees Celsius, 16 degrees Celsius at night, and in July are 15 degrees Celsius and 7 degrees Celsius.

Eligible Criteria

According to the Australian immigration regulations, each applicant who applies for immigration has to apply for the right of abode at the same time. The rights of abode guarantees the applicant live, learn and work in Australia freely.

In Australia, residency and citizenship are different. If the applicant's resident status is approved, the applicant can still retain their original nationalities, and can apply for Australian citizenship after immigration. The Australian Immigration Department is responsible for the evaluation of immigration applications. They assess applications under the policy with no exceptions. One should submit a high standard of documentations during the application procedures. Any forms of immigration applications have certain amount of application fees, while these fees are not refundable. The following are the nine types of immigtaion:

Business Development - Provisional
For business people to establish a business in Australia, manage a new or existing business or invest in Australia. These are temporary visas that offer a pathway to a permanent visa (except for the Subclass 405 – Investor Retirement visa).
Note: If you are a business owner, investor or senior executive overseas and you intend to migrate to Australia, you will not be guaranteed permission to enter Australia to operate a business until you are granted an appropriate visa.

Business Owners
Business Owner (Provisional) (Subclass 160)
For people who have a successful business career, and have a genuine and realistic commitment to be involved as an owner in a new or existing business in Australia.
State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) (Subclass 163)
For people sponsored by a state or territory of Australia. Applicants must have a successful business career, and a genuine and realistic commitment to be involved as an owner in a new or existing business in Australia.

Senior Executives
Senior Executives (Provisional) (Subclass 161)
For senior executive employees of a major overseas business, who have significant net assets and a genuine and realistic commitment to participate in the management of a new or existing business in Australia.
State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) (Subclass 164)
For senior executive employees of a major overseas business, sponsored by a state or territory of Australia, who have significant net assets and a genuine and realistic commitment to participate in the management of a new or existing business in Australia.

Investors
Investor (Provisional) (Subclass 162)
For people who have a successful business or investment career, and have a genuine and realistic commitment to be involved in investing or business in Australia.
State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) (Subclass 165)
For people sponsored by a state or territory of Australia, who have a successful business or investment career, and have a genuine and realistic commitment to be involved in investing or business in Australia.
Investor Retirement Visa (Subclass 405)
A temporary visa for people aged 55 years or older who are able to make a significant long term financial investment in Australia. This visa is not a pathway to a permanent visa.

Independent Executives
Independent Executive Further Application Onshore (Subclass 457IEFAO)
For holders of a Temporary Business (Long Stay) Independent Executive visa (subclass 457IE) who need more time to be eligible to apply for a permanent business visa.

In addition, for the eight former immigration categories above, the main applicant's legal spouse can accompany the applicants as dependents. The criteria of the dependent children are as follow:

• Single and aged 19 years and below;
• Do not have their own children;
• Wholly or partly depend on their parents or guardians to provide financial assistance;

No matter what categories you fall in, applicants and their dependents should be with good health. This is to ensure that the applicants would not threat the public health; will not be a burden on health services; for the purpose of the initial entry. Therefore, physical examinations and testing are needed. Also, the applicant and dependents must have good moral character. For all applicants who are 17 years old and above must provide no criminal record certificates.

All the main applicants and their dependents that age 16 years old or above have to meet the standard of an English proficiency test. If they fail the test, they must attend the assigned language courses.

Application Procedure

I.
A. State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) (Subclass 163)

• Less than 55 years old (except where the regional authority considers that the proposed business will be of exceptional economic benefit to the region).
• Must be sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a State or Territory Government.
• Must have an ownership interest in a main business (or two main business combined) with an annual turnover of at least AUD300 000 in at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you apply and you (and your partner combined) must have owned 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.
• Your (and your partner's combined) business and personal assets have a net value of at least AUD500 000 and were legally acquired and are capable of being transferred to Australia within two years of being granted this visa.
• You demonstrate there is a need to live in Australia on a temporary basis for business reasons.

B. State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) (Subclass 164)

• Less than 55 years old (except where the regional authority considers that the proposed business will be of exceptional economic benefit to the region.)
• Must be sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a State or Territory Government.
• You have occupied a position in the three highest levels of the management structure of a major business in which you were responsible for the strategic policy development affecting a major component or a wide range of operations of that major business for at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you apply.
• Your (or you and your partner's) total assets have a net value of at least AUD500 000, and were legally acquired and are capable of being transferred to Australia within two years of being granted this visa.
• Your (or your and your partner's) total assets have a net value of at least AUD500 000, and were legally acquired and are capable of being transferred to Australia within two years of being granted this visa.
  

C. Business Owner (provisional) (subclass 160)

• Less than 45 years old.
• You have notified the appropriate regional authority of a state or territory of your intention to develop a business in that State or Territory.
• You must have a vocational level of English. To show this you must you have one the following:
  have evidence you are a native English speaker
  undertake the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). You need to take the general training test, and must achieve a band score of at least five from a maximum of nine, for all four components of the test; speaking, reading, listening and writing. (Your IELTS test results may not be more than 12 months old when you apply)
• You (and your partner combined) had net assets in a qualifying business of AUD200 000 for at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you apply.
  The annual turnover of your main business (or two main businesses combined) must have been at least AUD500 000 in at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you apply.
• In addition, you (and your partner combined) must have owned 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.
• Your (and your partner's) total assets have a net value of at least AUD800 000, and were legally acquired and are capable of being transferred to Australia within two years of being granted this visa.
• You have sufficient assets (additional to those above) of at least AUD100 000 to settle in Australia.
• You have not been engaged in a business where the provision of professional, technical, or trade services took up more than half your time.

D. Senior Executive (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 161)

• Less than 45 years old.
• You must have a vocational level of English. To show this you must you have one the following:
  have evidence you are a native English speaker
  undertake the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). You need to take the general training test, and must achieve a band score of at least five from a maximum of nine, for all four components of the test; speaking, reading, listening and writing. (Your IELTS test results may not be more than 12 months old when you apply)
• You have notified the appropriate regional authority of a state or territory; and your intention to develop a business in that State or Territory.
• You have occupied a position in the three highest levels of the management structure of a major business. In that position you were responsible for the strategic policy development affecting a major component or a wide range of operations of that major business, and have done so for at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you apply.
• Your (or you and your partner's) total assets have a net value of at least AUD800 000, and were legally acquired and are capable of being transferred to Australia within two years of being granted this visa.
• You have sufficient assets (additional to those above) of at least AUD100 000 to settle in Australia.

II.
A. State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Residence) (Subclass 892)

• You are the holder of one of the following visas:
  Business Owner (Provisional)
  State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional)
  Senior Executive (Provisional)
  State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional)
  Investor
  State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional)
  Business (Long Stay) Independent Executive visa
  Skilled-Independent Regional
• You have been sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a State/ Territory government.
• 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.
• For each of these businesses, an Australian Business Number has been obtained for all Business Activity Statements (BAS) required by the Australian Taxation Office and you can provide evidence that the BAS were lodged to the ATO for the 2 years before you lodged your visa application.
• You have been in Australia for at least one year cumulatively in the two years before you apply.
• You must also meet at least two of the following three requirements (unless the appropriate state/territory authority has determined there are exceptional circumstances).
  Net business assets – the net value of your (or your and your partner's combined) assets in the main business (or two main business) in Australia is at least AUD75 000 throughout the 12 months immediately before you apply.
  Net personal and business assets – the net value of your (or you and your partner's combined) personal and business assets in Australia has been at least AUD250 000 throughout the 12 months immediately before you apply.
  Provided employment – throughout the 12 months immediately before you apply your (or you and your partner's) business or two main businesses employed at least the equivalent of one full–time employee who is:
  
  • an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand passport holder
  • not a member of your family.
• Your main business (or two main businesses together), had a turnover of at least AUD200 000 in the 12 months immediately before you apply. This may not apply if you meet all of the following conditions:
  you met at least two of the three requirements above (net business assets, net personal and business assets, provided employment)
  the appropriate state/territory authority has determined there are exceptional circumstances
  both your business and residence is located in a designated regional or low growth area.

B. Business Owner (Residence) (Subclass 890)

• You are the holder of one of the following visas:
  Business Owner (Provisional) (subclass 160)
  State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) (subclass 163)
  Senior Executive (Provisional) (subclass 161)
  State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) (subclass 164)
  Investor (Provisional) (subclass 162)
  State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) (subclass 165).
• You must have been in Australia as the holder of one of the qualifying visas for a total of at least one year in the two years immediately before you apply
• In your main business (or two main businesses) in Australia, you have had and continue to have direct and continuous management for at least two years immediately before you apply. In addition 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.
• For each of these businesses, an Australian Business Number has been obtained and all Business Activity Statements required by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have been submitted to the ATO and certified copies of these are included in your application.
  The net value of your (or your and your partner's combined) assets in the main business (or two main businesses) in Australia is at least AUD100 000 throughout the 12 months immediately before you apply.
• The net value of your (or you and your partner's combined) personal and business assets in Australia has been at least AUD250 000 throughout the 12 months immediately before you apply.
• Your main business (or two main businesses together), had a turnover of at least AUD300 000 in the 12 months immediately before you apply.
• Throughout the 12 months immediately before you apply, your (or your and your partner's) business (or two main businesses) employed at least the equivalent of two full-time employees who are:
  Australian citizens
  Australian permanent residents
  New Zealand passport holders
  not members of your family.
• You have been in Australia for at least one year cumulatively in the two years before you apply.

III.
A. State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) (Subclass 165)

• Less than 55 years old.
• You must be sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a State or Territory government.
• At the time of the decision you made a government approved Designated Investment of at least AUD750,000 in a state or territory of Australia. This amount must be available for transfer to Australia within a reasonable period when requested.
• For at least one of the five fiscal years immediately before you apply:
  you have maintained direct involvement in either managing a qualifying business in which you (or you and your partner together) had an ownership interest of at least 10% of the total value of the business;or
  you maintain AUD750,000.
• You have a total of at least three years experience of direct involvement in managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments.
• You have demonstrated a high level of management skill in relation to an eligible investment or qualifying business activity.
• The net value of your (or your and your partner's combined) assets was at least AUD1,125,000 for the two fiscal years immediately before you apply.

B. State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Residence) (Subclass 893)

• You are the holder of a State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) visa as the main applicant and have been in Australia for at least 2 of the 4 years immediately before you apply.
• You have been sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a state or territory government.
• At time of decision, the designated investment held in your name (or you and your partner together) has been held continuously for at least 4 years.

C. Investor (Provisional) (Subclass 162)

• You must be less than 45 years old.
• You have notified the appropriate regional authority of a state or territory; and your intention to develop a business in that State or Territory.
• You have a total of at least three years experience of direct involvement in managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments.
• You have demonstrated a high level of management skill in relation to an eligible investment or qualifying business activity.
• At the time of the decision you have made a government approved Designated Investment of AUD1,500,000 in a state or territory of Australia. This amount must be available for transfer to Australia within a reasonable period when requested.
  You must have a vocational level of English. To show this you must you have one the following:
  have evidence you are a native English speaker
  undertake the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). You need to take the general training test, and must achieve a band score of at least five from a maximum of nine, for all four components of the test; speaking, reading, listening and writing. (Your IELTS test results may not be more than 12 months old when you apply)
• For at least one of the five fiscal years immediately before you apply:
  
  • You have maintained direct involvement in either managing a qualifying business in which you (or you and your partner together) had an ownership interest of at least 10% of the total value of the businessor
  • You maintained direct involvement in managing your (or you and your partner's combined) eligible investments. The total value of that investment was at least AUD1,500,000.

D. Investor (Residence) (Subclass 891)

• You are the holder of an Investor (Provisional) visa as the main applicant and have been in Australia for at least two (2) of the four (4) years immediately before you apply.
• At time of decision, the designated investment held in your name (or you and your partner together) has been held continuously for at least 4 years.