Australian Residency Through Investment: How to Apply

The first thing to know about obtaining Australian residency through investment is that you must have at least AUD2.5 million available for investment. You will receive a provisional visa in exchange for that investment that provides a route to permanent residence.

Before we go into the specifics of how to obtain residency by investment, let’s address a few fundamental concerns.

I want to buy a house in Australia. Can I acquire PR?

The acquisition of real estate in Australia does not grant permanent residency. The minimum investment is AUD 2.5 million. Even then, you will only be granted a provisional visa, which allows you to live there temporarily. After three years, however, you will be able to submit a PR application. You must fulfill the Investor stream’s requirements for permanent residence in order to do this.

How much money must I invest in Australia in order to obtain PR?

The minimum investment is AUD 2.5 million. However, investing in Australia does not guarantee you permanent residence, as was previously stated.

Can you purchase citizenship in Australia?

You can’t, sorry. You will initially apply for a temporary visa before moving on to permanent residence. If you match the requirements, you can only apply for Australian citizenship after obtaining permanent residency.

The Australian Investor Visa: What Is It?

We frequently refer to a visa in the Investor stream when discussing the Australian Investor visa. Under Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment program, this visa stream is included.

What are the fundamental prerequisites?

You must comply with the following in order to qualify for the Investor stream:

to not be older than 55

pass the innovative points test with at least 65 points.

Be asked to apply for your visa after being recommended by a government organization from an Australian State or Territory.

really intend to reside in the State or Territory where you submitted your investment application for at least two years.

meet the prerequisites for health, fitness, and moral character

What are the necessary financial and business requirements?

Everyone who wishes to apply for a visa through the Investor stream in Australia must meet the following precise and stringent requirements set forth by the Australian Department of Home Affairs:

1. A qualifying firm or investments worth at least AUD2.5 million must have been under your management.

You must have overseen one of the following for at least one of the five fiscal years prior to receiving an invitation to apply:

Owning at least 10% of the entire value of a qualifying business that you (and/or your spouse or de facto partner, if applicable) control

You (and/or your spouse or de facto partner, if applicable) possess at least AUD2.5 million worth of eligible investments.

2. You must possess property worth at least AUD2.5 million.

You (and/or your spouse or de facto partner, if applicable) must have possessed company and personal assets with a net value of at least AUD2.5 million for the two fiscal years preceding the invitation to apply for a visa.

Within two years of the date your visa is approved, these assets must have been legally obtained and must be transferable to Australia.

3. In Australia, you must make a compliant investment.

A qualifying large investment of at least AUD2.5 million must be made, and it must be held continuously for the entire time that you are granted a provisional visa.

The following ratios must be used when investing your money:

Investments in start-ups and small private firms must total at least AUD500,000 through venture capital and growth private equity funds.

AUD750,000 or more in authorized managed funds. The managed funds are required to make investments in newly public firms on the Australian Stock Exchange.

a “balancing investment” in managed funds of at least AUD1.25 million

The assets the managed funds may invest in include:

Listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange,

Australian company debt securities,

annuities,

and real estate for businesses.

The Department of Home Affairs rigorously regulates indirect residential real estate investment through managed funds and forbids direct residential real estate investment.

Austrade’s Guide to Investing has further in-depth information about compliant substantial investments.

4. You must possess the necessary business expertise.

The following is what the Department of Home Affairs is looking for in terms of your business experience:

You must have at least three years’ worth of experience running one or more eligible enterprises or investments.

You must have a track record of profitable investments or qualifying business ventures, as well as have proven your superior managerial abilities in regard to these ventures.

Moreover, you (and your spouse/de facto partner, if applicable) must have abstained from engaging in any improper commercial or investment activity.

Below is a description of the application procedure…

Evaluation is the first step.

Before applying for a visa under the Investor stream, you must first have your eligibility evaluated.

In order to determine if you are likely to satisfy the necessary standards, a licensed advisor will analyze your personal circumstances during an assessment along with the specifics of your investments and/or business operations.

Expression of Interest in Step 2

You may submit an Expression of Interest if your eligibility evaluation reveals that you are eligible to apply for a visa through the Investor stream (EOI). Your expression of interest outlines how you satisfy the necessary criteria.

The Australian State or Territory you want to nominate for your visa application is something else you’ll mention in your Expression of Interest. You might also decide to be open to nomination by any State or Territory.

Step 3: State or territory nomination

The government organization of the State or Territory that you have selected will assess your EOI after it has been submitted to see whether you match their requirements for nomination.

The State or Territory government organization will then nominate you for the visa if they find your supporting documentation to be suitable.

Step 4: Apply for a visa

You can submit a visa application if the Department of Home Affairs has invited you to do so and you have successfully received a State or Territory nomination.

Next actions

You’ll receive an invitation to make your chosen investment in Australia after the Department of Home Affairs is prepared to approve your visa application. You must make the aforementioned approved investment of at least AUD2.5 million.

After you’ve made your investment and your visa application has been approved, you’ll be granted a five-year provisional visa. When your visa is granted, you may be in Australia or abroad.

Your family is welcome to join you as well.

Members of your immediate family unit may be included in your visa application. Your family members must also meet Australia’s health and character requirements.

After three years, you can apply for Permanent Residence.

If you meet the requirements and have held your provisional visa for at least three years, you will be able to apply for permanent residence under the subclass 888 Business Innovation and Investment visa.

Are there any other options for Residency by Investment?

Yes, you can obtain Australian residency by investment through the Significant Investor route. Instead, the Significant Investor stream requires an investment of at least AUD5 million, but there are no age restrictions and no points test.