The Australia Golden Visa Scheme

Australia has emerged as one of the premium destination for High-net worth immigration. The quality of life, stable conditions, education has made Australia a great investment destination. Australia has received several HNW millionaires from UK, as as a result of Brexit and also large number of rich americans and chinese have immigrated to Australia. The Golden visa scheme has received exceeding AUD10 billion FDI investments into Australia

Australia offers four types of visas conduct business investment and entrepreneur activity in Australia under Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188)

All applicants must make an Expression of Interest (EOI) if you are a skilled worker or business person from overseas who wants to migrate to Australia and accordingly will be invited. All australian visas are digital.

1. Business Innovation stream

Australian temporary visa is for people with business skills. It lets you operate a new or existing business in Australia.

Visa validity: 4 years and 3 months. multiple entry (enter and leave australia any time)
Fee: From AUD 4,985
Processing Time: 18-20 months

Requirements

Operate a new or existing business in Australia.
Stay in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months.
Nominated by an Australian state or territory government.
Score at least 65 on the points test
Proof of your business success (annual turnover, ownership stake)
Have total net business and personal assets of at least AUD800,000

Visa Cost:

Main applicant: AUD 4,985
additional applicant over 18 years old: AUD 2,495
additional applicant under 18 years old: AUD 1,245

Second installment extra charge for any applicant 18 years old or older who has less than functional English.

Main applicant: AUD9,795
Family members: AUD4,890

Other conditions: Not marry before first entry: The visa holder must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entering Australia.

2. Investor stream

Australia offers temporary investor visa which requires investment of AUD1.5 million (US$ 1m) in an Australian state or territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.

Visa validity: 4 years and 3 months multiple entry (enter and leave australia any time)

Processing Time: 20-21 months

Invest AUD 1.5 million in an Australian state or territory and maintain investor for four years (income from investment taxable).
Permission to stay in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months.
Must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government.
Score at least 65 on the points test
Have net business, investment and personal assets of at least AUD2.25 million
Eligible to apply for a subclass 888 permanent visa after 3 years and 11 months.

Complying investments

Have managed investments of AUD 1.5 million or a qualifying business
For at least 1 of the 5 fiscal years immediately before invitation to apply, have directly managed one of the following: a qualifying business in which you, your partner or you and your partner combined had at least 10% ownership interest, or eligible investments owned by you, your partner or you and your partner combined of at least AUD1.5 million

Have assets of AUD2.25 million
During the 2 fiscal years immediately before we invite you to apply, have legally acquired net business, investment and personal assets of at least AUD2.25 million. These must be available for legal transfer to Australia within 2 years of the visa being granted.

Make an investment of AUD1.5 million in your nominating state or territory
You must make a designated investment of at least AUD1.5 million in a state or territory government security. This investment must use unencumbered funds from qualifying businesses or eligible investments. You must also be prepared to hold that investment for at least 4 years from date of the investment’s issue in your nominating state or territory.

Conditions

have at least 3 years’ experience managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments
have a successful record of eligible investment or qualifying business activity
have a genuine and realistic commitment to your business or investment activity in Australia after the original investment

Visa Cost:

Main applicant: AUD 4985
additional applicant over 18 years old: AUD2,495
additional applicant under 18 years old: AUD1,245

Second installment extra charge for any applicant 18 years old or older who has less than functional English.

Main applicant: AUD9,795
Family members: AUD4,890

Conditions attached: 8515 – Not marry before first entry: The visa holder must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entering Australia.

3. Significant investor stream

Australia significant investor visa is for people who invest AUD 5 million (US$ 3.5m) in Australian investments, maintain business and investment activity in Australia.

Visa validity: 4 years and 3 months.

Commit an investment of AUD 5 million that meets our requirements and maintain it for 4 years
Stay in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months.
Nominated by an Australian state or territory government.
Invited to apply based on Expression of Interest (EOI)
Commit to live in the state or territory that nominates you
Family members can be included
Eligible to apply for a subclass 888 permanent visa after 3 years and 11 months.
Possible extend this visa for an additional 2 years or extend it twice, so this visa can last up to eight years.
Income earned from your complying significant investment in Australia may be subject to tax under Australian taxation law.

Living requirements

You must also live in Australia for at least 40 days per year for the duration of your provisional visa. Or your spouse must live for at least 180 days per year for the duration of your provisional visa. These days do not need to be consecutive.

Complying Investments

Startups: Invest at least AUD 500,000 in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies
Emerging companies: at least AUD 1.5 million in approved managed funds. The managed funds must invest in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
Managed funds: A balanced investment’ of at least AUD 3 million in managed funds. The managed funds can invest in a range of assets, including companies listed on the Australian stock exchange, Australian corporate bonds or notes, annuities and commercial real estate. Direct or indirect investment through managed funds in residential real estate is prohibited.
Use investments as security or collateral for a loan is prohibited.

Visa costs

Main applicant: AUD 7,310
additional applicant over 18 years old: AUD 3,655
additional applicant under 18 years old: AUD1,830

Second installment extra charge for any applicant 18 years old or older who has less than functional English.

Main applicant: AUD 9,795
Family members: AUD 4,890

Conditions:

8515 – Not marry before first entry
8557 – Maintain investment

4. Premium Investor stream

Australia offers premium visas for ultra-high-net worth investors (UHNW) who are able to invest AUD 15 million (US$10m) in Australia. This who investment nominated by Austrade agency

Visa: Up to 4 years and 3 months (multiple entry leave and re-enter Australia anytime)
Cost: From AUD 8,770

Invest AUD15 million in Australian investments and hold for 12 months
Have net assets of at least AUD15 million single or joint partners.
Invstment must be nominated by Austrade on behalf of the Australian government
Stay in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months
Apply for permanent residence through the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) Premium Investor stream.
Commit to continuing your business and investment activity in Australia after the conclusion of your provisional visa
Receive an invitation from Austrade to apply
Income earned from your complying investment in Australia is subject to tax under Australian taxation law.

Complying investments

Australian securities exchange listed assets
Australian government or semi-government bonds or notes
corporate bonds or notes issued by an Australian exchange listed entity (or wholly owned subsidiary of the Australian listed entity), investment grade rated Australian corporate bonds or notes rated by an AFS licenced debt rating agency
Australian proprietary limited companies that operate qualifying businesses (providing goods or services to the public with a profit-making intention, and not passive or speculative in nature)
real property in Australia excluding residential property
deferred annuities issued by Australian registered life companies
state or territory government approved philanthropic contribution

Visa costs

Main applicant: AUD 8,770
additional applicant over 18 years old: AUD 4,385
additional applicant under 18 years old: AUD 2,195

Second installment extra charge for any applicant 18 years old or older who has less than functional English.

Main applicant: AUD 9,795
Family members: AUD 4,890

5. Entrepreneur Stream

This visa issued to foreigners to carry out entrepreneurial activities in Australia.

Visa: 4 years and 3 months (multiple entry visa, leave and enter australia anytime)
Stay: Temporary
Cost: From AUD3755
Processing Time

Funding agreement with a third party to carry out entrepreneurial activities.
Nominated by an Australian state or territory government.
Apply for permanent residence through business innovation entrepreneur stream

Entrepreneur activities

A complying entrepreneur activity must relate to an innovative idea that will lead to:

Commercialisation of a product or service in Australia, or
Development of an enterprise or business in Australia

This activity must not relate to any of the following categories: residential real estate, labour hire, purchase of an existing enterprise or a franchise in Australia

Provide Legally enforceable agreements to receive funding with a total of at least AUD 200,000. The funding must be from one of the following entities:

Commonwealth Government agency
State or territory government
Publicly funded research or innovation organisation
Higher education provider specified as a Table A or Table B provider under Part 2-1 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003
Investor registered as an Australian Venture Capital Limited Partnership or Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership

At least 10% of the funding must be payable to the entrepreneurial entity within 12 months of the activity starting in Australia. This must be in the agreement.

The entity that will conduct the activity (the entrepreneurial entity) must be either an individual (yourself), a company or a partnership. You must have held at least 30% interest in your entrepreneurial entity when you entered into the agreement. You must also have a business plan for the entrepreneurial entity.

This business plan should note how your innovative idea will lead to:

the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia, or
the development of an enterprise or business in Australia

Points table

Factor	Description	Points
Age	18–24 years	20
	25–32 years	30
	33–39 years	25
	40–44 years	20
	45–54 years	15
	55 and older	0
English language ability	Vocational English	5
English language ability	Proficient English	10
Qualifications	Australian trade certificate, diploma or bachelor degree by an Australian education institute; or a bachelor qualification recognised by an education institution of a recognised standard	5
Qualifications	Bachelor degree in business, science or technology by an Australian institution; or a bachelor qualification by an education institution of a recognised standard	10
Special endorsement	The nominating state or territory government agency could decide that your proposed business is of unique and important benefit to the state or territory where the nominating government agency is located	10
Financial assets	Net business and personal assets of you, your partner or you and your partner combined in each of the preceding two years of at least:
	AUD800 000	5
	AUD1.3 million	15
	AUD1.8 million	25
	AUD2.25 million	35
Business turnover	Annual turnover in your main business during a period of at least two years of the preceding four fiscal years of at least:
	AUD500 000	5
	AUD1 million	15
	AUD1.5 million	25
	AUD2 million	35
Business Innovation stream only Business experience	You have held one or more businesses before you were invited to apply for the visa for:
	Not less than four years within the preceding five years	10
	Not less than seven years within the preceding eight years	15
Investor stream only Investor experience	Eligible investment of at least AUD100 000 held for:
	At least four years before the time of invitation to apply for the visa	10
	At least seven years before the time of invitation to apply for the visa	15
Business innovation qualifications At the time of invitation to apply for the visa:	Evidence of registered patents or registered designs	15
	Evidence of registered trademarks	10
	Evidence of formal joint venture agreements	5
	Evidence of export trade	15
	Evidence of ownership interest in a gazelle business	10
	Evidence of receipt of grants or venture capital funding	10
State or territory nomination	Special endorsement (limited places)	10

Australia Permanent resident

Permanent residence status lets you to stay in Australia indefinitely and also sponsor family and relatives for permanent residence.

Investor stream: You can apply for PR status after you have held your provisional investor visa for 2 years out of 4 years.
Significant stream: You can apply for PR status after you have held provisional visa and you have been in Australia for atleast 40 days per year, and held investments continuously for 4 years.
Premium stream: You can apply for PR status after you have held provisional visa and investments for atleast a 1 year

Australian permanent residents are residents of Australia who hold a permanent residency visa but are not citizens of Australia. A holder of a permanent residency visa may remain in Australia indefinitely. A 5-year initial travel facility, which corresponds to the underlying migration program, is granted alongside the permanent residency. Until the travel facility expires, the visa holder may leave and re-enter Australia freely. After that period the visa holder needs to re-apply for the travel facility.

Permanent residency may be revoked at the discretion of the responsible Minister, for example in cases of criminal misconduct.

Permanent residents enjoy many of the rights and privileges of citizens, including access to free or subsidised legal and health services. They do not have the right to vote in federal or state/territory elections, unless they were registered to vote prior to 1984, but may vote in some local government elections. Permanent residents are not entitled to an Australian passport.

Most permanent residents are eligible to become citizens after a waiting period. When the waiting period is complete, the process of sitting the citizenship test and attending the ceremony will add three to twelve months to gaining citizenship.

Australian Citizenship

You can apply for Australian citizenship after 4 years of living, plus 12 months of holding Permanent residency status. You may not be absent for more than 3 months and more than 1 year in total. Usually, you need to pass a citizenship test and on passing the test, you become citizen of Australia.