🇦🇺 Australia

Australia’s immigration and visa procedures are managed by the Department of Home Affairs. For business-related visas, the Department of Home Affairs oversees applications through its online ImmiAccount portal, where applicants submit documents, pay fees, and track their case status.

These guides are useful for entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors who have held a provisional Business Innovation and Investment visa (subclass 188) and wish to transition to permanent residence in Australia through the subclass 888 visa. They are also relevant for migration agents and legal advisers supporting such applicants.

Available procedures

• Requirements for the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888): Covers the eligibility criteria, stream options, documents required, and the application process to obtain permanent residence as a business owner or investor in Australia through the Department of Home Affairs.

General tips for procedures in Australia

• Create an ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website before starting any visa application, as most applications must be lodged online.
• Use myGov to link and manage related government services, such as the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) records, which may be required as supporting evidence.
• Ensure all documents not in English are accompanied by a certified translation; the Department of Home Affairs does not accept untranslated foreign-language documents.
• Keep copies of all submitted documents and correspondence, including transaction receipts and application reference numbers, throughout the process.
• Check processing times regularly on the Department of Home Affairs website, as they are updated frequently and can vary significantly depending on the visa stream and volume of applications.

Official resources

• Department of Home Affairs – the main Australian government body responsible for immigration, visas, and citizenship, including the subclass 888 visa.
• ImmiAccount – the official online portal for lodging and managing visa applications in Australia.
• myGov – the central Australian government portal for accessing linked services including the ATO, Services Australia (Centrelink, Medicare), and more.
• Australian Taxation Office (ATO) – provides tax records and business activity statements often required as supporting documents for business visa applications.