- Subclass 188 Visa (Business Innovation & Investment – Provisional Visa)
- Subclass 888 Visa (Business Innovation & Investment – Permanent Visa)
Important: the Business Innovation and Investment Program closed permanently to new applications on 31 July 2024. No new subclass 188 applications can be lodged. The pages linked below are retained for people who already hold a subclass 188 visa or have an application on hand. If you are a business owner or investor looking for a current pathway, the National Innovation visa and employer-sponsored options are the usual starting points. This page is general information only, checked against the Department of Home Affairs; complex cases need personal advice from a registered migration agent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still apply for an Australian business or investor visa?
No. The Business Innovation and Investment Program closed permanently to new applications on 31 July 2024, so no new subclass 188 applications can be lodged. Applications made before that date continue to be processed. Existing subclass 188 holders may still be eligible to apply for permanent residence through the subclass 888 visa.
What happened to the subclass 188 and 888 visas?
The subclass 188 provisional visa is closed to new applications from 31 July 2024. The subclass 888 permanent visa remains available, but only to people who already hold a subclass 188 visa and meet the ongoing business or investment requirements for their stream. The pages below are retained for existing visa holders.
Can I get a refund if I withdraw a business visa application?
The Department of Home Affairs allows refunds of the subclass 188 visa application charge where an application is withdrawn on or after 31 July 2024, for the Business Innovation, Investor, Significant Investor and Entrepreneur streams. Refunds are not available for the Business Innovation Extension or Significant Investor Extension streams. Requests are made through ImmiAccount and assessed individually.
What are the current options for business owners and investors wanting to move to Australia?
With the Business Innovation and Investment Program closed, business owners and investors generally look at the National Innovation visa (subclass 858), employer-sponsored pathways where a business employs them in a skilled role, or skilled points-tested visas. Which of these you are eligible to apply for depends on your occupation, skills, English and age.
Can I sponsor myself through my own Australian business?
A business you own or control can in some circumstances sponsor you, but the Department applies close scrutiny to the genuineness of the position and the business. The role must be a genuine full-time vacancy in a nominated occupation, and the business must meet standard business sponsorship requirements. This is an area where advice before lodging matters.
Is the subclass 132 Business Talent visa still available?
No. The subclass 132 Business Talent visa is closed. The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that refunds of the subclass 132 visa application charge are available to Significant Business History and Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream applicants who withdrew their application on or after 31 July 2024.
Related pages
Subclass 188 visa (closed to new applications) · Subclass 888 visa · Subclass 858 National Innovation visa · Employer-sponsored visas · Book a consultation