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Business Innovation & Investment Visa (188) Eligibility

By VISA AI Editorial TeamReviewed by VISA AI Immigration Research DeskUpdated May 16, 2026

The Business Innovation and Investment Visa (subclass 188) is for business owners and investors who want to establish or manage a new or existing business, or invest in Australia. Use our free tool to assess your likely eligibility for this visa.

Processing:Varies significantly by stream and individual circumstances, often several months to over a year.Min score:65FreeOfficial source

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Free • Australia

1. What is your age range?

2. What is your net business and personal assets value (AUD)?

3. What is your annual business turnover (AUD) in at least 2 of the last 4 fiscal years?

4. How many years of business experience do you have?

Answer all questions to see your score

Australia Business Innovation & Investment Visa (188) Overview

Business Innovation & Investment Visa (188) is one of the most searched immigration pathways for people moving to Australia

This page gives you a fast, no-signup way to check where you stand before you spend money on application fees or agents. Our calculator mirrors the official rule set and then translates the answers into a clear, percentage-based eligibility score. You will see exactly which requirements you already meet, which ones need work, and what the realistic next step looks like.

If you want a deeper, AI-personalised plan covering documents, timeline, costs and alternative pathways, run the full assessment — it compares your profile against every visa we track for your destination and ranks the routes most likely to succeed for someone with your background.

188 Visa Key Requirements & Criteria

Age

You must be under 55 years of age to apply, unless exceptional economic benefit is demonstrated.

Net Business & Personal Assets

You must have net business and personal assets of at least AUD 800,000 that are lawfully acquired and available for transfer to Australia within two years of visa grant.

Business Turnover

Your nominated main business (or two main businesses) must have had an annual turnover of at least AUD 500,000 in at least two of the four fiscal years immediately before you are invited to apply.

Ownership Share

You must have genuinely had an ownership interest in a main business of at least 30% (or 10% for a publicly listed company).

Innovation Points Test

You must score at least 65 on the points test to be eligible for this visa.

Verify with the official government source

Want to double-check requirements? Read the rules directly from . Our calculator is a guide — official policy can change at any time. Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Business Innovation & Investment Visa (188) FAQs

At-a-glance summary

Headline numbers for this visa route. Always verify the live figure on the official source linked at the bottom of this page.
Item	Value
Typical processing time	Varies significantly by stream and individual circumstances, often several months to over a year.
Minimum qualifying score	65 points
Last verified by editorial team	2026-05-16

Step-by-step application process

Self-assess eligibility. Use this calculator and review the official Business Innovation & Investment Visa (188) Eligibility criteria before paying any fees. Confirm you meet every hard gate (age, language, health, character, qualifying offer or investment) — failing one gate cannot be offset by scoring well elsewhere.
Gather and translate documents. Collect passport, civil documents, qualifications, language test, police clearances from every country lived in 12+ months since age 17, and proof of funds. Obtain certified translations and apostilles/attestations where the destination authority requires them.
Submit the formal application. Lodge online through the official government portal listed on this page. Pay the correct government fee, complete biometrics at the designated centre, and upload supporting evidence in the exact format the authority specifies.
Respond to requests for evidence. Caseworkers commonly request additional payslips, employer letters, or medicals. Respond inside the deadline given — most refusals come from missed deadlines, not weak profiles.
Travel and activate status. On approval, collect your visa vignette or eVisa, enter the country before it expires, register your address where required, and collect any biometric residence permit/card. Keep digital and paper copies of every document.

Sources & references

Every figure on this page is sourced from official government or regulator publications. Cross-check before applying — rules change.

This calculator is editorial guidance, not legal advice. Immigration thresholds, points, salary floors and occupation lists change frequently — always verify your route against the official government source linked on this page before applying. For complex cases, consult a licensed immigration adviser regulated in the destination country.