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Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) points system

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Applicants for the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) business Innovation stream and Investor stream must score at least 65 points from the following tables to be eligible for a visa. Applicants for the Significant Investor stream and Premium Investor stream are not subject to the points test.

Applicants are scored on the following factors:

  • Age
     

  • English language ability
     

  • Qualifications
     

  • Experience in business or investment
     

  • Net personal and business assets
     

  • Business turnover
     

  • Business innovation
     

  • Special endorsement

Age – maximum 30 points

Applicants receive points for their age on the day that they receive their invitation to apply.

Age

Points

18–24

20

25–32

30

33–39

25

40–44

20

45–54

15

55

0


English language ability – maximum 10 points

Citizens of the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland automatically score 10 points for English language. Other applicants may take one of the following tests:

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test
     

  • Occupational English Test (OET)
     

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT)
     

  • Pearson Test of English (PTE)
     

  • Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)

All test results provided must have been achieved within the 3 years leading up to the application. With the exception of the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE), which must have been taken after January 1st 2015.

    Language ability

    Points

    Vocational English

    5

    Proficient English

    10

     

    Qualifications – maximum 10 points

    Applicants can gain up to 10 points for a diploma or bachelor degree. Please note that higher degrees, such as as Master's degrees and PhDs do not count towards the points requirements.

    Qualification

    Points

    Australian trade certificate, diploma or bachelor degree by an Australian education institute, or equivalent

    5

    Bachelor degree in business, science or technology by an Australian institution, or equivalent

    10

     

    Experience in business or investment – maximum 15 points

    Applicants can gain points for recent business OR investment experience depending on their visa stream.

    (Business Innovation stream only) Owning one or more businesses               

    Points

    For at least 4 years in the last 5 years

    10

    For at least 7 years within the last 8 years

    15

    (Investor Stream only) Having an eligible investment of at least AUD$100,000

    Points

    For at least the past 4 years

    10

    For at least the past 7 years

    15

     

    Net personal and business assets – maximum 35 points

    Applicants can gain points for their net assets. Your partner or spouse's assets also count towards this total

    Net business and personal assets

    Points

    AUD$800,000

    5

    AUD$1.3 million

    15

    AUD$1.8 million

    25

    AUD$2.25 million

    35

     

    Business turnover – maximum 35 points

    Applicants can score points for annual turnover in the main nominated business for the visa. Turnover must have been achieved in at least 2 financial years in the previous 4 financial years. 

    Annual turnover

    Points

    AUD$500,000 or more

    5

    AUD$1 million or more

    15

    AUD$1.5 million or more

    25

    AUD$2 million or more

    35

     

    Business innovation (Business Innovation stream only) – maximum 65 points

    Applicants can score points for various innovations in their nominated business(es). Points can be awarded for multiple factors, but only once for each factor.

    Business Innovation stream only) Innovation factor

    Points

    Registered patents or designs

    • Must have been registered for at least 1 year
       

    • Must be have been regularly used in the normal running of the main nominated business

    15

    Registered trademarks

    • Must have been registered for at least 1 year
       

    • Must be have been regularly used in the normal running of the main nominated business

    10

    Joint venture agreements

    • Must be a formal agreement
       

    • Must have been in effect for at least 1 year
       

    • You must have been involved at a senior management level of the joint venture

    5

    Export trade

    • At least 50% of the annual turnover of one of the main nominated business must have been through export trade for at least 2 financial years in the past 4 financial years

    15

    Ownership interest in a gazelle business

    • The nominated main business must have been registered less than 5 years ago
       

    • The average turnover growth for the main nominated business must have been more than 20% per year for 3 consecutive financial years
       

    • In that 3 year period the business must have had at least 10 employees for 1 financial year or more

    10

    Receipt of grants or venture capital funding

    • You must have received a grant of at least AUD$10,000 from the government of your home country in the last 4 years
      OR
       

    • You must have received venture capital funds of at least AUD$10,000 in the last 4 years

    • These funds must have been received during the early stages of the business for the purpose of establishment, development, expansion, and/or product commercialisation

    10

     

    Special endorsement – maximum 10 points

    10 points can be awarded if the nominating state or territory believes the proposed business or investment would be of spcial benefit to the area.

    Special endorsement

    Points

    Special endorsement from the nominating state or territory

    10

     

    You can add up your points score below:

    You will need to gain 65 points to be eligible for a visa

    Factor

    Maximum points

    Your score

    Age

    30

    		 

    English language ability

      10

      		 

      Qualifications

      10

      		 

      Experience in business or investment

        15

        		 

        Net personal and business assets

          35

          		 

          Business turnover

            35

            		 

            Business innovation

            65

            		 

            Special endorsement

            10

            		 

            Total:

            210

            		 

             

            Further Information, help, and advice

            Workpermit.com has over twenty years of experience helping people immigrate to countries all over the World. If you feel you can meet the conditions for an Australian business or investment visa please contact us!

            For more information and advice on Australian immigration law and Australian visa applications please contact us on 0344 991 9222 or at london@workpermit.com