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BBR Migration
BBR Migration

188E Entrepreneur Visa

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188E Entrepreneur Stream

This 188E visa is only available to applicants who are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government. To be nominated, the applicant must lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the SkillSelect system.

This is a 4-year temporary visa, for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and financial backing from a third party. After spending 2 years in Australia and being sponsored by a state or territory government to qualify for a permanent residence through the Business Innovation & Investment (Residence) Subclass 888 visa.

The applicants can either be in Australia or overseas to lodge this visa. If the applicant is in Australia, he/she must hold a Substantive Visa or a Bridging A, B, or C visa.

The Business Innovation and Investment visa program (BIIP) will cease, with refunds of the visa application charge provided from September 2024 for those who wish to withdraw their BIIP application.


188E Entrepreneur Stream

General Requirements

Pre July 2021 Criteria

  • Nomination by a state or territory government
  • Competent English
  • Under 55 Years of age, unless a State or Territory Government nominates you as providing an “exceptional economic benefit” to the state or territory

    • The applicant will need to have an agreement for at least $200,000 in funding from one or more of the following sources:
  • Commonwealth agencies
  • State and territory governments
  • Publicly funded research organisations
  • Investors registered as Venture Capital Limited Partnerships or Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships

    • Once you have the funding from any of the above we can assist with the visa process. We do not assist in finding the funding.

Acceptable Business Activities
    The proposed venture would need to be either:

  • Commercialisation of a product or service in Australia; or
  • Development of an enterprise or business in Australia

    • Certain activities which are not considered sufficiently innovative will be excluded. This are defined by legislative instrument and include:

  • Purchase of an existing business or franchise
  • Real estate activities
  • Labour hire activities
Eligible Funding
    To apply for the Entrepreneur Visa, the applicant will need to have an agreement for at least $200,000 in funding from one or more of the following sources:

  • Commonwealth agencies
  • State and territory governments
  • Publicly funded research organisations
  • Investors registered as Venture Capital Limited Partnerships or Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships

    • The funding agreement must involve the transfer of at least 10% of the funds within 12 months of commencing the activity in Australia.

If you were invited to apply on or after 1 July 2021, be endorsed by a recognised body

If you were invited to apply for this visa on or after 1 July 2021, you must be endorsed by your nominating State or Territory government agency to develop your entrepreneurial concepts.


To check your eligibility, click here