How to arrive and

Visa processing times and final decision

The processing times below apply to applications lodged with complete documentation. Processing times vary depending on 'high risk' or 'low risk' country requirements. Low risk countries are Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) eligible. High risk countries are those not on the ETA list. www.eta.immi.gov.au

75% of Business Skills applications should be finalised within:

• 
  9 months, if the applicant is from a low risk country; or
  
• 
  15 months, if the applicant is from a high risk country.
  

Note: The service standards are a target only, that is, individual cases may take longer than the service standard depending on the caseload of the office concerned, the complexity of the case etc.
If the visa is approved
The department will advise you (or your authorised recipient). A Business Talent (Migrant) visa (subclass 132) will be granted.
If the visa is not approved (refused/declined)
The department will advise you (or your authorised recipient) in writing of the reasons for that decision and if the decision is eligible for review by the Migration Review Tribunal.

2.2 ) Business Owner (Residence) - Subclass 890

This visa is for business owners from overseas who have held one of the provisional business visas, and their family. The visa allows you to stay in Australia on a permanent basis for the purpose of owning a new or existing business. This is thus the visa required after having been on a temporary business visa.

http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/890.aspx
With this visa you can:

• 
  work in a new or existing business in Australia
  
• 
  travel in and out of Australia any number of times as long as the visa is valid
  
• 
  study in Australia
  
• 
  have your family accompany you to Australia. They will have access to work and study rights
  
• 
  become a permanent resident of Australia.
  

The following people may be included in your application:

• 
  your spouse
  
• 
  your or your spouse's dependent children
  
• 
  other dependent relatives living with you.
  

This visa is a permanent residence visa. This visa allows you to travel to and enter Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted. If you wish to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident after the initial visa has expired, you must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV).

With this visa you are unable to access social security payments nor access Family Assistance.

The Australian Government provides help with medical expenses and hospital care through a scheme called Medicare. As a permanent resident in Australia you are eligible to enrol in Medicare. Private Health Insurance is available to you, but it is not a requirement for the grant of this visa.

A payment called Special Benefit may be available to you if you suffer a substantial change of circumstances beyond your control. Being unemployed, or running out of money will not qualify you for this payment.

This visa’s requirements

To be eligible for this visa you must have met the obligations of the provisional visa you held, as well as meeting the following requirements. You must provide evidence of each of the requirements with your application.

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 an ownership interest and direct and continuous management for at least two years immediately before you apply.
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 spouses combined) assets in the main business (or two main businesses) in Australia is at least A$100,000 throughout the 12 months immediately before you apply.
The net value of your (or you and your spouse's combined) personal and business assets in Australia has been at least A$250,000 throughout the 12 months immediately before you apply.
Your main business (or two main businesses together), had a turnover of at least $300,000 in the 12 months immediately before you apply.
Throughout the 12 months immediately before you apply, your (or your and your spouses) 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 or your spouse (if any) have never been involved in illegal business activities. You must meet certain health requirements and may need to undergo a health examination. You must be of good character for you to enter Australia. If you are aged 18 years or over, you are required to sign an Australian values statement as part of your visa application.

Eligible family members

Your family members must meet the following requirements to be eligible for this visa. Evidence of each of the requirements must be provided with your application. You can include the following people in your application for this visa.

• 
  your spouse
  
• 
  your or your spouse's dependent children
  
• 
  other dependent relatives living with you.
  

If your child is born after you lodge your application (but before a decision has been made) the child can be added to your application, once you notify the department of the details of the new-born child. You can also request in writing for a dependent child to be added to your application. Your spouse can apply separately as long as your visa has not yet been granted.

All family must meet certain health requirements and may need to undergo a health examination. All family members must be of good character for you to enter Australia. From 15 October 2007, all visa applicants aged 18 years or over, are required to sign an Australian values statement as part of their application.