There are various state nominated visa options available for migrants wanting to establish a business or invest in South Australia.

The visa categories also offer different streams depending on whether you already own a business, want to start a business in South Australia or if you want to invest in the state.

Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa
Subclass 188

This is a state-nominated provisional residence visa for business owners and investors. It is the first step in a two-step pathway to permanent residency.

This visa is for business owners and investors who want to establish a business, or invest, in South Australia.

This visa offers applicants the choice of four streams:

  1. Business Innovation stream: Business owners who want to relocate their overseas business or establish a new business in South Australia.
  2. Investor stream: Successful investors or business owners willing to invest a minimum AUD $1,500,000 in South Australia for four years. 
  3. Significant Investor stream: People willing to benefit South Australia and invest $5 million into a complying investment for four years 
  4. Entrepreneur stream: People who have support from a selected Service Provider to undertake a complying entrepreneurial activity that is proposed to lead to either the commercialisation of a product or service in South Australia or the development of a business in South Australia.
Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Visa
Subclass 888

This is a state-nominated visa for business and investor migrants who hold a four-year provisional subclass 188 visa and are seeking permanent residency.

This visa is for business owners and investors who already hold a four-year provisional 188 visa aligned to the visa stream you originally applied for: 

  1. Business Innovation stream: Business owners who want to relocate their overseas business or establish a new business in South Australia.
  2. Investor stream: Successful investors or business owners willing to invest a minimum AUD $1,500,000 in South Australia for four years. 
  3. Significant Investor stream: People willing to benefit South Australia and invest $5 million into a complying investment for four years. 
  4. Entrepreneur stream: Have continued to operate your business in South Australia and meet the obligations to maintain your nomination status.
Business Talent (Permanent) Visa
Subclass 132

This is a state-nominated permanent residence visa for business owners and entrepreneurs who have a proven successful business history and want to do business in Australia.

This visa is for business owners and entrepreneurs and offers a choice of two streams: 

  1. Significant Business History: High level business owners who want to undertake significant business activity providing either, employment, exports or high level investment. The 132 Significant Business History visa has a Department of Home Affairs review after two years.
  2. Venture Capital Entrepreneurs: People who have obtained at least AUD$1 million in agreed funding from an Australian venture capital firm, which is also an AVCAL member, to develop an innovation to a commercial stage. 
Significant Business History Stream Review
Subclass 132

The 132 Significant Business History visa has a Department of Home Affairs review after two years.

To qualify for South Australian nomination, you must ensure you meet and fulfil the Significant Business History Requirements prior to commencing your application for a subclass 132 visa. 

Business Owner Visa
Subclass 892

This is a state-nominated permanent residence visa for business owners already holding a South Australian state-sponsored 163, 164 or 165 visa.

This visa is for business owners already holding on of the following South Australian state-sponsored visas: 

  • Business Owner provisional subclass 163 visa
  • Senior Executive provisional subclass 164 visa
  • Investor provisional subclass 165 visa
Investor Visa
Subclass 893

This is a state-nominated permanent residence visa for investors already holding a South Australian state-nominated 165 visa.

To be eligible to apply for the subclass 893 visa, applicants must hold a valid South Australian state-nominated subclass 165 visa.

Investor Retirement Renewal visa
Subclass 405

This is a four-year temporary visa for people wishing to retire in South Australia.

To be eligible to apply for the Investor Retirement Renewal visa (subclass 405), applicants must already hold a valid Investor Retirement visa (Subclass 405) as nominated by the South Australian Government. This visa is not available for new applicants.

Which visa should I apply for?

If you are having difficulty navigating the state nomination and visa application process, you may wish to engage the services of a registered migration agent or legal practitioner who can help you understand all requirements and options available to you.

To learn more about the purpose, support and responsibilities of a registered migration agent or legal practitioner, visit the Immigration Assistance page.