Under the Business Talent Programme, foreign nationals conducting business in the country may obtain a permanent visa subclass 132 (permanent residency), together with his or her dependents. To be eligible the entrepreneur must be nominated by a state or territory government or Australian agency.
To be nominated, the investor/entrepreneur must file an application for State Nomination with the Business Migration Centre (BMC). Once approved it is required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the SkillSelect Online process of the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Once nominated in SkillSelect, the applicant will receive an invitation from Department of Immigration and Border Protection to apply for a Permanent visa subclass 132. After 4 years of permanent residency, he or she may be eligible to apply for citizenship.
To apply for the permanent visa subclass 132 under the Venture Capital Stream, you must have received at least AUD1 million in funding from an Australian venture capital firm.
The funding must be for the start-up, product commercialization or business development of a promising high-value business idea.
The venture capital firm must be a member of the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL). AVCAL has information about the venture capital category of membership in its Venture Capital entrepreneur visa factsheet.
You must have entered into a formal agreement with the venture capital firm for the funding.
– Be under 55 years of age (some states or territories may waive this requirement, provided that business will bring exceptional economic benefits to the country).
– A legally binding venture capital agreement with an Australian company that is a member of the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL) to show that you have obtained venture capital funding of at least AUD1 million from an Australian venture capital firm, and a letter stating that the funding is for the start-up, development or expansion of a business, or for product commercialisation in Australia.
– Evidence that your nominating Australian state or territory government agency is satisfied that you, your partner or you and your partner combined have sufficient assets to allow you to settle in Australia.
– Evidence of your genuine and realistic commitment to continuously maintain a substantial ownership interest in new or existing eligible business in Australia and to engage directly and continuously in the daily management and decision-making of the business.
– An overview of your business career and intentions in Australia, including a statement outlining your intended business and/or investment activities and a description of your research or study in relevant sectors in Australia.