Business Visa

If you want to attend a work-related event or start your business in Australia, you need to apply for the right business visa. Australia offers multiple options, either for those interested in business travel only or for UK citizens looking to establish themselves in Australia for a longer period. The Australian Business Visa Program encourages successful business owners, investors and senior executives to settle in Australia while developing new or existing opportunities in Australian business.

Australia offers either short-term, temporary, or permanent business visas to those looking to travel for business purposes, start up a new business, or invest in an existing business in the country². In order to find out which visa you might need, it’s important to understand what kind of business purposes you’ll be visiting Australia.

If you just want to attend a conference, business meeting, or investigate a business contract, for example, UK nationals can apply for an eVisitor visa³ (Subclass 651) or an Electronic Travel Authority⁴ (ETA – Subclass 601), both are electronically linked to your passport and provide authorization to travel to and enter Australia. However, keep in mind that on both these visas you cannot get paid for any business activities. If you’re planning on doing any paid activities you’ll need a different visa, more on that below. The eVisitor and ETA visas are relatively easy and fast to get, and they’re very similar. The main difference between the 2 is in the way you apply and what the costs are⁵.

Both the eVisitor and ETA visas are visitor visas, this means that you can only carry out business activities for which you won’t get paid. If you want to invest or manage a business in Australia, for example, you’ll have to apply for a business-related work visa. There are several different visas in this category, and the Australian government has a handy visa finder that can help you determine the right visa for your situation.

Business visas are recognized as the most complex visas to apply for, which is why we are here to help you successfully submit an application. If you have plans of establishing a business in Australia, investing in a company or migrating to Australia as a business owner or investor, it is vital you receive the correct immigration advice. For many, applying for a business visa may be the only option for residency in Australia.

If you apply to migrate to Australia under the Business Innovation and Investment program, you will be assessed against a points test.

You must score sufficient points to reach the pass mark. The current pass marks for the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) is 65 points.