Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa
This visa allows you to own and manage a business in Australia, conduct business and investment activity in Australia or undertake an entrepreneurial activity in Australia
7-day free trial, no card needed
Closed to new applications since 31 July 2024. Existing applicants continue under the previous framework.
At a glance
- Base application charge
- A$1,505 to A$18,335
- Depending on stream: Significant Investor Extension stream A$1,505, Business Innovation Extension stream A$1,505, Entrepreneur stream A$8,455, Premium Investor stream A$9,455, Business Innovation stream A$12,505, Investor stream A$12,505, Significant Investor stream A$18,335
- Checked with the Department on 22 October 2026
- Primary applicant only. The Department publishes five further charges per row.
- 90% decided within
- 4.9 years
- Slowest of 2 streams - see below
- Age limit
- Under 55
- English
- Functional English (Vocational English for some streams; Significant and Premium Investor streams exempt)
Processing times
How long the Department took to decide recently finalised applications. Each figure is a percentile, not an average or a promise.
| Stream | 50% decided within | 90% decided within |
|---|---|---|
| Business Innovation | 4.3 years | 4.9 years |
| Business Innovation Extension | 7 months | 11 months |
Captured from the Department of Home Affairs on 14 August 2026. The Department does not state a reporting period for this source. Check the Department's tool for the figure as it stands today.
Streams
Each stream has its own eligibility, duration and charge. Read them alongside the Department's page before lodging.
| Stream | Duration | Base fee | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
Significant Investor stream This provisional visa requires you to invest at least AUD5 million in Australian investments that meet certain requirements and maintain investment activity in Australia. This stream closed to new applications on 31 July 2024. | 5 years | A$18,335 Primary applicant | Not required Pathway to subclass 888 |
Entrepreneur stream This visa requires you to be a startup and early-stage entrepreneur who has been endorsed to develop your concepts and been nominated by a state or territory government agency. This stream closed to new applications on 31 July 2024. | 5 years | A$8,455 Primary applicant | |
Investor stream This provisional visa requires you to make a complying significant investment or a designated investment and maintain business or investment activity in Australia. This stream closed to new applications on 31 July 2024. | 5 years | A$12,505 Primary applicant | Functional English (IELTS 4.5 overall, or equivalent) Pathway to subclass 888 |
Business Innovation stream This provisional visa is for people with business skills. It lets you operate a new or existing business in Australia. This stream closed to new applications on 31 July 2024. | 5 years | A$12,505 Primary applicant | Functional English (IELTS 4.5 overall, or equivalent) Pathway to subclass 888 |
Premium Investor stream This provisional visa requires you to be nominated by Austrade and invest at least AUD15 million in Australian investments and/or philanthropic contributions. This stream closed to new applications on 1 July 2024. | 3 months | A$9,455 Primary applicant | |
Business Innovation Extension stream This provisional visa lets you extend your stay in Australia if you hold a subclass 188 visa in the Business Innovation stream. | 8 years | A$1,505 Primary applicant | |
Significant Investor Extension stream This provisional visa lets you extend your stay in Australia for maximum total of four years, by applying for up to two Extension stream visas, if you hold a subclass 188 visa in the Significant Investor stream. | 9 years | A$1,505 Primary applicant |
As published by the Department of Home Affairs on 22 October 2026
Data verified from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Charges and processing times are published by the Department of Home Affairs and change from time to time. Each figure on this page carries its own capture date - the page has no single “as at”, because the charge and the processing times are captured separately.
Running visa applications for clients?
ImmiIQ keeps each case on one client record, with its documents, the Department's forms and a portal the client signs in to.
7-day free trial, no card needed