The Significant Investor visa is a 5 year visa for people willing to make an AUD 5 million investment in Australia. It is one of the streams within the Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment visa.

Duration and Conditions
This is a 5 year temporary visa. Once you have maintained an investment in Australia for 3 years, you can apply for permanent residence through the Business Innovation & Investment (Residence) Subclass 888 visa.

You will need to spend at least 40 days per year in Australia on your Significant Investor visa for the last 3 years, and be sponsored by a state or territory government to qualify for a permanent subclass 888 visa.

State/Territory/AusTrade Nomination
This visa is only available to applicants who are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government or by AusTrade.

Visa Requirements
Unlike other business migration categories, there is no upper age limit for this type of visa.

For grant of the visa, applicants must make an investment of at least AUD 5 million in a “complying investment”. A “complying investment” for the purposes of the Significant Investor Visa must be made up of:

• At least $1 million in venture capital and growth private equity funds which invest in start-ups and small private companies
• At least $1.5 million in approved managed funds investing in emerging companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
• A ‘balancing investment’ of up to $2.5 million in managed funds that may invest in a range of assets, including ASX-listed companies, Australian corporate bonds or notes, annuities and commercial real estate