• Business Migrants come under the Skilled Migrants Stream, but there are so many special provisions for them that Australian Visas puts them in separate categories.
• Business Skills Migration
• This information is about migrating to Australia as a business person.

Please note: on 1 March 2003, there were major changes to business skills entry whereby business migrants:

• will be granted a Business Skills (Provisional) visa, valid for four years;
  and, after establishing the requisite level of business activity or maintaining their investment,
• they will be eligible to make an application for permanent residence.

The Business Skills visa class of Australia's migration program encourages successful business people to settle permanently in Australia and develop new or existing businesses.

Business owners, senior executives and investors can apply for a visa under the Business Skills category

Under the two-stage arrangements introduced on 1 March 2003, business migrants are granted a Business Skills (Provisional) visa for four years and, after establishing the requisite level of business or maintaining their eligible investment, are eligible to make an application for a Business Skills (Residence) visa.

A direct permanent residence category will still be available for high-caliber business migrants sponsored by State/Territory governments. This is known as the Business Talent visa.

The Business Skills program is divided into four categories:

• business owner: for owners or part-owners of a business;
• senior executive: for senior executive employees of major businesses;
• investment: for investors/business people willing to invest in Australia;
• business talent: for high-caliber business people who have sponsorship from a State/Territory government.

In addition, the Business Skills program also has two categories for persons who are in Australia on temporary visas, other than the Business Skills (Provisional) visas:

• established business in Australia (EBA): for people temporarily in Australia who are owners or part owners of a business; and
• regional established business in Australia (REBA): for people temporarily in Australia who are owners or part owners of a business in a designated area of Australia.

Factors affecting Business Skills migrationThe Australian Government implemented a two-stage visa arrangement for business people on 1 March 2003.

• Most people interested in coming to Australia under the Business Skills category will need to apply for a Business Skills (Provisional) visa.
• After successfully establishing the requisite level of business activity or maintaining a designated investment in Australia, holders of a Business Skills (Provisional) visa will be eligible to lodge an application for permanent residence in Australia.
• State/Territory government sponsorship will be available at both the provisional and permanent residence stages, with significantly lower requirements when sponsored.
• A direct permanent residence category will still be available for high calibre business migrants sponsored by state/territory governments. This will be known as the Business Talent (Migrant) visa.
• Through the State/Territory sponsorship arrangements, the new system will provide for improved linkages with State and Territory government business services to provide the help that many business migrants need to get into business

The requirements for a business visa are varied and complex. You should request specific advice from your lawyer on your specific circumstances.

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