Foreign businessmen interested in immigration in Australia have the possibility of applying for a visa created especially for investment purposes. The investor visa in Australia provides the right of living in this country for an undetermined period of time and, in this case, the investor can also obtain Australian citizenship (through the naturalization process).
Starting with 2025, foreign businessmen are invited to apply for a new visa designed for investments, the National Innovation Visa. This visa, known as the Subclass 858, is established as a permanent visa addressed to several categories of businessmen, such as innovators, highly talented individuals and entrepreneurs.
The new program established four pillars of interests (priorities), based on the economic sectors that Australia wants to further develop.
Those who want to apply in 2025 must initiate an Expression of Interest and if the Australian authorities deem the application suitable, the applicant will receive an invitation to apply for the visa. Once the invitation is sent, the foreigner has a period of 60 days to complete the visa formalities.
Our Australia immigration lawyer can present the steps investors have to follow when applying for this type of visa.
Our lawyer can also help with advice on the minimum requirements investors have to satisfy prior to participating in this visa program, as well as other aspects they have to respect after the visa was issued and the foreigners relocated here for business purposes. You can also find out all the steps in receiving a residence permit in Australia.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Nationalities accepted (EU/Non-EU) |
Both EU and non-EU investors can apply for the Investor Visa in Australia. |
|
Business investment option for the Investor Visa in Australia (YES/NO) |
Yes |
|
Real estate investment option (YES/NO) |
Yes, but this is available only for certain programs, such as the Significant Investor Stream. |
| Other investment options (if available) |
Investments in listed Australian companies, commercial real estate, government bonds, investments in equity funds that invest in startups and small companies, setting up your own company, etc. |
| Living requirement in Australia (YES/NO) | Yes – there are residency obligations for the investor visa in Australia, based on the selected visa. |
| Residence or direct citizenship option |
Permanent residency can be granted for certain programs, such as the Investor Visa Subclass 891. Citizenship is not granted automatically under any program. |
| Direct immigration with family members (YES/NO) |
Yes |
| Family members allowed to join the program | Spouse, children with an age below 18 years old, dependent children with an age above 18 years old and other persons that are part of the close family unit. |
| Residence visa/citizenship processing time (approx.) | Permanent residency can be obtained in 4 years for most of the immigration programs. A foreign investor can apply for citizenship only after becoming a permanent resident (the procedure can be started after minimum 1 year of permanent residency). |
| Additional financial requirements for family members (YES/NO) | There are some costs regarding the visa processing. The fees vary depending on the age of the family members (below or above 18 years old), but also on their knowledge of the English language. |
| Timeframe for obtaining citizenship/residency by investment | Permanent residency: 3-4 years of stay. Citizenship: after 5 years. |
| Dual citizenship permitted (YES/NO) | Yes, as long as the reciprocity principle applies. |
| Reasons to choose Australia | The country is one of the world’s leading economy, it has a stable market, it is reviewed by international bodies as a state with a good economic outlook for the following years, it provides various tax incentives for business sectors. |
| Personal income tax rate | The income of individuals is taxed based on a progressive system at the following rates: 0%, 19%, 32.5%, 37% and 45%. |
| Visa free travel to other countries (approx. number of countries) | 180 (it includes the states where the visa is granted upon arrival). |
Table of Contents
Applying for the new investor visa in Australia (Subclass 858)
As mentioned above, the Australian immigration authorities have enacted a new visa for investment purposes, the Subclass 858, which is designed for exceptionally talented foreigners. There are 4 criteria of specialists that can apply for this document, namely:
- researchers;
- entrepreneurs;
- innovative investors;
- athletes and creatives.
Additionally, it must be noted that the program has a priority system under which the visa can be granted to the 4 categories of specialists mentioned above, as follows:
- 1st priority – candidates of excellence, who can be global specialists, experts, recipients of international/top level awards;
- 2nd priority – candidates from various sectors who have been nominated by the Australian Commonwealth or other Australian national/regional agencies;
- 3rd priority – exceptional candidates who have notable achievements in fields such as health industry, critical technology or renewable energies;
- 4th priority – candidates with remarkable results in a wide range of fields (defence, education, financial services, infrastructure, transportation, agri-food, etc.).
You can also watch this presentation on how to obtain an investor visa in Australia:
How to submit an Expression of Interest for the Subclass 858 visa
Foreigners who plan to migrate to Australia under this new visa program must initially submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), as mentioned in the beginning of this article. For this, they need to submit the National Innovation Visa Expression of Interest Form, along with the required paperwork.
The basic documentation refers to the person’s identification documents, his or her resume, and the papers attesting the applicant’s highest level of qualification. Those who will migrate to Australia under the requirements for the 2nd priority must submit the Form 1000 and a supporting document issued by the agency that nominated the applicant.
Please mind that documents that are not written in English must be accompanied by an English translation. The application rules for this visa state that once the application has been submitted, the applicant can no longer edit it or add other documents, therefore the application should be made with the utmost care.
For this, you can always rely on the services of our Australia migration lawyer, who will make sure that your application is flawless. We also mention that if you, regardless of the reason, are no longer interested in continuing the application process, you can withdraw the EOI by personally contacting the representatives of the Department (via e-mail).
General information on the investor visa in Australia (Subclass 891) in 2025
Foreign businessmen generally seek to expand their business opportunities in new markets. In other cases, businessmen may simply want to relocate for an undetermined period of time in a new country, while carrying a new business venture in the respective country or participating in a local business.
For this, a foreign individual can opt for an investor visa in Australia, which is a type of immigration document that can be used by those interested in starting a business or participating in an investment project on the local market.
One of the ways to relocate here for investment purposes is by applying for the Subclass 891 visa. Some of its highlights are presented below:
- in order to start the process for immigration to Australia, the applicant has to pay a processing fee of AUD 2,890;
- however, in order to obtain this document, which grants the right to permanent residency in Australia, the applicant must be the holder of a Subclass 162 – Investor (Provisional) Visa;
- when applying for the visa Subclass 891, the applicant must have already lived in Australia for 2-4 years;
- the applicant must be able to prove that he or she has already invested in Australia at least AUD 1,5 million in the period in which the person has lived here.
Prior to applying for an investor visa, we highly recommend you to address to our lawyer, as the law was changed in 2021 and new requirements have to be met. For example, one of the main things to consider when applying for an investor visa in 2025 in Australia is that the local government has reduced the quota on investor visas.
What should investors know on the Subclass 891 visa?
The Australia investment visa that can be issued under the Subclass 891 provides the right to permanent residency in this country and the right to work and study in Australia. The investor can also benefit from the right of being a part of the public health system and the visa holder can bring his or her relatives to Australia.
Applicants are expected to pay a processing fee of AUD 2,890 in 2025. This visa type can also open the possibility of applying for citizenship. Although the Australia investment visa grants the right to permanent residency, it is necessary to know that its holder can travel freely to and from Australia for a period of 5 years.
The possibility of bringing close family members can open when the applicant lodges the visa application, by mentioning the respective family members who will relocate here, or after the visa application was lodged, but prior to the moment when the Australian authorities will issue the visa.
Please be aware that the members of the family must comply with the character requirements, as well as the health requirements applicable under the Australian migration law. The application for this document has to be done in Australia, and the family members can also be in Australia or outside the country, but not in the immigration clearance process.
As we mentioned above, this document allows permanent residency, but after 5 years the right to free travel will expire, and this is why, after the end of the 5 years period since the Australia investment visa was obtained, the visa holder must apply for a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 and subclass 157 will apply).
Australia investment visa – the Subclass 892
Amongst the extensive options that are available for foreign investors, the law on immigration to Australia stipulates the State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa ( the Subclass 892). This visa type provides permanent residency to its holder after two years of having developed a new business in Australia.
In order to participate in this visa program, however, the applicant must have obtained a sponsorship from a state or territory governmental institution of this country. Eligibility is not limited to certain business sectors, as almost all business activities are eligible, with the exception of few business endeavors, such as warehousing or property development.
The eligibility criteria imposed for this type of investor visa in Australia can be studied on the website of the Department of Home Affairs, operating under the Australian Government. However, for more in-depth details regarding this, you can also address to our immigration lawyer in Australia. Our lawyer can assist you with more information on the process of applying for Australian citizenship as well.
If you want to apply for this visa program in 2025, you will be required to pay a processing fee of AUD 2,890.
What are the requirements of the Subclass 893 investor visa in Australia?
The legislation on immigration in Australia also prescribes the possibility of arriving in this country for investment purposes when applying for a Subclass 893 visa, also designed especially for foreign investors. The Subclass 893 is known as the State or Territory Sponsored Investor Visa, which is a document that grants the right to permanent residency.
Since permanent residency is not granted automatically, it is important to know that the applicants interested in this immigration document can obtain it after being the holders of other types of provisional investor visas, which generally grant the right to temporary residency.
In the case of the Subclass 893, applicants have to be the holders of a Subclass 165 visa – State/Territory Investor (Provisional) Visa.
Having the Subclass 165 visa implies that the holder is a businessman who has arrived in this country for developing a business activity and, at the moment when the application for the Subclass 893 visa is made, the person must prove that the business is still running and that the said investment activity will be carried on further.
There are specific requirements that have to be met by the applicant, who, at the moment of the application, must make the proof of having made an investment of AUD 750,000 for a period of 4 years.
If these two basic conditions are met, then the applicant can request the issuance of this visa, which will provide permanent residency in Australia. Just like in the case of other visas, the applicant is required to pay a processing fee, which, for this visa, the fee is established at AUD 2,890.
You are invited to contact our Australia migration lawyer for legal assistance and legal representation on the issuance of one of the visas presented in this article.
