Business visa stream

       If you 

1. are under 45 years old;
2. have vocational English;
3. can show that you can transfer at least A$500,000 (business and personal net assets) to Australia;
4. have a successful business career;
5. have ownership interest in a qualifying business that is no less than A$200,000 for at least 2 years;  AND
6. have ownership interest in a qualifying business that had a turnover of at least A$500,000 per year in at least 2 out of the last 4 years,

then you may be qualified to apply for a business visa as a Business Owner.    

If you cannot meet the above criteria but

1. you are under 55 years old (or over if you will be of exceptional economic benefit to Australia);
2. you can show that you can transfer at least A$250,000 (business and personal net assets) to Australia;
3. you have a successful career;
4. you have ownership interest in a qualifying business for at least 2 out of the last 4 years, or were employed as a senior manager for at least 4 years;
5. if applicable, your ownership in a qualifying business had a turnover of at least A$300,000 per year in at least 2 out of the last 4 years; AND
6. a State/Territory is willing to sponsor you to set up a business there,

you may be qualified to apply for a State/Territory sponsored visa as a Business Owner.

These visas are mandatory provisional visas that ultimately lead to the grant of permanent visas when you have settled and started your business in Australia for a period.

Regional (skilled) opportunities

If you are willing to settle outside Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Brisbane and Perth. BUT cannot achieve the 120 points required for most of the skilled subclasses visas, you may like to consider the opportunities available for people who are willing to settle in ACT, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and certain regional areas in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia.

There are a number of different visa subclasses available and some do not require points test others merely require you to pass 70 points.   

Most of these subclasses of visas are temporary visas that ultimately allow  visa holders to apply for permanent visas after a few years when they can demonstrate that they have settled (ie, lived, worked) in a regional area.

Some of these subclasses of visas are permanent and generally they are for those who have relatives living in regional areas who can sponsor the applicant.  

FAQ – difficult issues

Family stream visas:

1. Partner visas
2. Child visas
3. Remaining relative
4. Schedule 3 requirements

Student visas:

1. Schedule 5A requirements – documentary evidence
2. Change of education provider
3. Section 20 Notice
4. Merits review and Judicial review
5. Subclass 880