Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) – Business Innovation stream 

This visa is for Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa holders (subclass 188) to apply for permanent residency. It allows you to stay in Queensland permanently to manage a business or investment.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a Queensland nomination you must: 

• hold a current provisional visa (subclass 188)
• show you meet the Department of Home Affairs visa eligibility criteria for the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888)
• have met the Queensland nomination requirements of your provisional visa
• register your interest in a Queensland nomination directly with Migration Queensland. 

Evidence required

• Evidence of your genuine commitment to Queensland includes:
  • a property purchased for a family residence in Queensland
  • study in Queensland (either you or your children)
  • additional investment in Queensland (e.g. investment in other innovative businesses)
• Evidence you have lived in Queensland for at least 1 year.

The Queensland eligibility criteria are based on your provisional visa and are different depending on when you submitted your Expression of Interest (EOI). 

EOI submitted after 1 July 2021

• Provide evidence you have transferred a minimum of AUD 1.25 million to Queensland after you were granted your provisional visa (subclass 188).
• Provide evidence you have invested a minimum of AUD 400,000 in one or two qualifying business(es), if they are in the Greater Brisbane or Gold Coast regions, or
• Provide evidence you have invested a minimum of AUD 300,000 in one or two qualifying business(es), if they are in regional Queensland.

Additional requirements

• Export businesses must export Queensland products or services and develop business links with international markets.
• General importing businesses are not accepted unless the imported products are highly innovative, advanced in technology, or currently unavailable in Queensland. You should also provide a value-adding service to the imported products, such as customised design, product assembly, installation, testing, repair or maintenance.
• Property development businesses are not accepted.

EOI submitted 14 July 2016 - 30 June 2021

• Provide evidence you have transferred a minimum of AUD 800,000 to Queensland after you were granted your provisional visa (subclass 188). 
• Provide evidence a minimum of AUD 200,000 was invested in one or two qualifying business(es) in Queensland.

Additional requirements

• Entry level small retail businesses, such as convenience stores, cafés, restaurants, are only accepted if your business(es) are established in regional Queensland.
• Export businesses must export Queensland products or services and develop business links with international markets.
• General importing businesses are not accepted unless the imported products are highly innovative, advanced in technology, or currently unavailable in Queensland. You should also provide a value-adding service to the imported products, such as customised design, product assembly, installation, testing, repair or maintenance.
• Property development businesses are not accepted.

EOI submitted before 14 July 2016

• Provide evidence you have transferred a minimum of AUD 800,000 to Queensland after you were granted your provisional visa (subclass 188). 
• Provide evidence that a minimum of AUD 500,000 was invested in one or two qualifying business(es), if they are in Brisbane or the Gold Coast, or
• Provide evidence that a minimum of AUD 300,000 was invested in one or two qualifying business(es), if they are in regional Queensland.

Please contact us if:

• your current business is different to the business you initially proposed, and you have not received approval from Migration Queensland, or
• you were nominated by Migration Queensland under an age exemption.

Note:
It is recommended you seek advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer regarding your eligibility for a Queensland nomination and permanent visa (subclass 888). 

Document checklist

After you receive an invitation from Migration Queensland, please submit the following documents to the document portal:

• Queensland State Nomination Application form (available for download from the Migration Queensland document portal)
• Department of Home Affairs Form 1414
• Copy of your current Australian visa
• Evidence of your business investment activities (see the Department of Home Affairs document checklist)
• Business documents (including a summary of business activity and organisational chart)
• Business ownership
• Management
• Taxation (Business Activity Statements)
• Financial documents
• Evidence of employees (if applicable)
• Net assets
• Evidence of funds transferred to Queensland after you were granted your provisional visa (subclass 188)
• Evidence of Queensland residency (e.g. property purchase contract and settlement statement, property lease agreement, council rates, or utility bills).

Please visit the Application Process webpage for more information.