This visa is for Senior Executive employees of major businesses outside Australia, who have sufficient net assets and a genuine and realistic commitment to participate in the management of a new or existing business.

This visa will let you:

• establish a new or existing business in Australia,
• travel in and out of Australia any number of times as long as the visa is valid,
• have your family accompany you to Australia. They will have access to work and study rights. Your family includes your spouse and any dependants.

There are several qualifying criteria for this visa subclass:

Duration

The initial four year provisional Australian business visa subclass can lead to Australian permanent residence. You may be eligible for a permanent Business Skills visa after holding this visa for a minimum of two (2) years.

Eligibility Criteria

Age

Applicant who through their experience have gained the skills to successfully manage a business in Australia, are less than 45 years old, and their family.

English

The visa applicant should score vocational level of English in International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A band score of at least five (5) is required in all four components of the test, speaking, reading, listening and writing.

Business Experience

The Australian senior executive visa is an option for those who have been employed at a senior level in a business and who intend to participate in the management and ownership of a business in Australia.

The following requirements need to be satisfied by visa applicants:

• Have had an successful business career;
• Have personal and business net assets of at least AUD$ 500,000, which are capable of being transferred to Australia within 2 years;
• For at least 2 of the 4 years prior to application the applicant must have occupied a position in one of three of the business' highest management levels,
• Must have sufficient net assets to settle in Australia;
• Must have notified an Australian state or territory government of business intentions.

Additional Information

Migration to Australia on a senior executive visa is based on the system outlined above. The total requirements are open to change and are dependent on decisions made by the DIMIA.

Health & Character

Australia has strict health and character requirements. The same has to be met before grant of visa. People attempting to migrate to Australia on an Australian business visa will be required to:

• Undergo a medical examination and chest x-ray undertaken by one of a panel of doctors selected by the Australian authorities, and;
• Obtain police certificates for all countries in which they have lived for more than 12 months in the 10 years leading up to the application.

Processing Times

The current processing time for migration to Australia on a business owner visa is 9-12 months, from the start of the process.