Business migration

Business and Investment in Australia 

The Australian Government’s business skills entry schemes aim to attract people with proven experience and skill in business, senior business management and investment. The aims are state development and wider economic benefit to Australia.

Business Entry Criteria 

Business entry criteria may vary from state to state.

State and territory government sponsorship can offer substantial concessions, at both the provisional and permanent residence stage, to applicants who are able to show that they will be likely to create economic benefit for specific regions. Sponsorship also gives senior business employees the opportunity to enter business in Australia.

But whatever the state, the visa rules for business entry are stringent, and they require detailed and comprehensive documentation.

It goes without saying that professionally presented applications are essential. Having a South African and Australian qualified Accountants and an Attorney working on your business application is strongly recommended. There are costly government charges and, in most cases, no right of appeal against rejections.

Applicants must meet criteria which generally relate to:

• Age;
• English Language Ability;
• Business Career;
• Net Personal and Business Assets; AND
• Other business/employment/investment related criteria are required dependent on subclass.

Guide to business skills categories - Pathways to permanent residence

Before investing in Australia 

We recommend that applicants be familiar with the Australian business environment. If seeking State sponsorship we can provide further information about he requirements for obtaining sponsorship.

We recommend that you make at least one visit to Australia with the specific objective of researching market conditions, labour costs and the other costs of doing business in Australia. We can assist in performing market research into various business sectors in the Australian market.

Applicants may either start a new business or buy an existing one. Sometimes it will be possible to buy a share in an existing business and enter into a joint ownership or partnership with an Australian business owner. 

All visas, with the exception of the Business Talent visa, are ‘provisional’ visas. This means that they are not permanent and last for 4 years. Within this time, if the applicant carries out his or her business proposals it is likely that permanent residence status will be achieved. However, a grant of permanent residence will be dependent on implementing business plans and, where State sponsorship has been obtained, maintaining the support of the State Government for the permanent visa application.