Breaking into the Australian Market with a Business Visa

Diversify your business portfolio by investing in an Australian-based business. Australia has several options to let you do just that.

For a business visit -- such as attending a conference or training session, opening negotiations, exploratory business visit - all you would need is an Australia visa for up to three months. There are 5 business-purpose visas to choose from: ETA (Business Entrant), eVisitor, Business Short Stay (Subclass 456), Sponsored Business Visitor (Subclass 459) and the APEC Business Travel Card.

Business people who are planning a path towards permanent Australian migration, can avail of Business Skills visas. There are two types of these Australian business visas: provisional and permanent.

Provisional Business Development Visa
Provisional business skills visas are for those who would like to manage a new or existing business or invest in the country. This is available to the following:
• Business Owners - for overseas business owners, less than 45 years old
• Senior Executives - employees of major overseas businesses with significant net assets and have gained the skills necessary to manage a business. Must not be more than 45 years old.
• Investors - investors or business people residing overseas who are willing to invest funds in Australia for at least 4 years.
• Independent Executives - existing visa holders with visas that are near expiry

All applicants for provisional visas must show a genuine interest to be involved in investing or running a business in Australia. For business owners, senior executives and investors, the age limit is 45.

For investors who are older (age 55 and above), there is also the option to get an Investor Retirement Visa (Subclass 405) if they decide on making a significant long-term financial investment in the country. However, this cannot be used as a pathway to a permanent visa.

In addition to establishing an Australian business, the provisional business visa also allows the holder to travel in and out of the country as long as the visa is valid. They can also have dependents with access to work and study rights.

Permanent Business Development Visa
The permanent business development visa is for high-calibre business people who have established a certain level of business in the country while holding a provisional visa. This is available to the following:
• Business talent - for owners or part-owners of an overseas business that have been sponserd by a state or territory government in Australia.
• Business owners - designed for people with smart business acumen who want to assist in the economic development of Australia.
• Investors - holders of provisional Investor visa how have maintained their designated investment for 4 years and have been in the country for at least 2 years.

The permanent business visa has similar benefits to the provisional business visa. An added advantage is that it allows the visa holder to live in Australia as a permanent resident for five years. After such time, he/she can apply for a resident return visa. It is the more popular way to secure a permanent Austalian migration.