AUSTRALIA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT

Australia is one of the top 5 countries which provide citizenship by investment. The emerging middle class in India and China have made overseas investments pour since the last 5 years. As this number increases it won’t be long before the government makes getting permanent residency through investment stricter. If you are NOT an Australian resident or citizen but would like to invest in a property or start a business in Australia, refer to all the information you need to know about immigration to Australia through business and property investment.

BUSINESS INVESTMENT AUSTRALIA
The department of immigration and border protection has a number of Business visas. Some are suitable for investors, some for existing business owners and others for entrepreneurs.

Business Innovation and Investment Visa Subclass 188
This most common business visa – it has multiple streams and is usually valid for 4 years, after which the applicant can apply for a PERMANENT VISA (subclass 888).

The 5 main streams of this visa are:

• Business Innovation Stream
• Investor Stream
• Significant investor stream
• Premium investor stream
• Entrepreneur stream

What are the specific requirements for each stream of the visa?

Business Innovation Stream:

• The visa holder must have owned a business for the last 2 years
• The business has lodged it Australian Business Statements to the Australian Tax Office for the last 2 years
• The business turnover of at least $300K for the last 12 months. It should be noted that if the business is located in a regional area, there are exceptions to this requirement.
• Achieved 2 of the following 3 requirements in the last 12 months:
  • The business has recruited 2 full time employees, who are Australian Citizen or NZ citizen into the business.
  • Net assets of at least $600,000
  • The business has business assets of at least $200,000.

Investor Stream

The visa holder must have been in Australia for at least 2 of the last 4 years.

• The visa holder must have maintained the investment of $1,500,000 with an Australian State or Territory bonds for a continuous period of 4 years.

Significant Investor Stream

• The visa holder has been on the Significant Investors stream visa for a period of 160 days or 40 days per year while the visa was held.
• The visa holder must have held the $5,000,000 in the complying investments for 4 years.
• Held the Significant Investor Stream visa for at least 4 years.

What are the benefits for the visa?

• Allows the applicant of the visa to gain access to Australia’s health and education services
• Work and Study in Australia
• Apply for Australian citizenship.

TOP reasons why people chose Australia over other countries:

• Health Care

Australia has basic health insurance covered by the government (Medicare)

• Quality of life/ Climate

Australia has been ranked as the second-best country in the world for its quality of life by a UN report that assessed economic, education and life-expectancy data. Australia experiences all weathers in moderation and doesn’t have any major extremities.

• Education

Government covered education with Education loans for higher education for all permanent residents and citizens.

• Opportunities

Australia has very low unemployment rate (approx. 6%) and a very high return on investment.