There are four investment streams for the BIIP in Australia. Each with increasing values and separate criteria:

Business Innovation Stream (Active investment)
The applicant must pass a points-test, must have met certain entrepreneurial standards through a career in business, and must acquire a “substantial” share in and manage an Australia-domiciled business. 

Investor Stream (Passive investment)
The applicant must pass a points-based test, meet certain business experience and net assets requirements, and place at least AUD 2.5 million in a managed fund* for the duration of the temporary status.

Significant Investor Stream
The applicant must place at least AUD 5 million in a managed fund* for the duration of the temporary status.

Premium Investor Stream
The applicant must place at least AUD 15 million in a managed fund*, a philantropic venture, government bonds, LLCs, real estate (excluding residential), or annuities for the duration of the temporary status.

Entrepreneur Stream
Applicants must be under 55 years of age, obtain the nomination of a state or territory, and undertake or propose to undertake a complying entrepreneurial activity in Australia. The activity should relate to “an innovative idea” that will leads to the commercialization of a product or service in Australia or the development of an enterprise or business in Australia. 

The entrepreneurial activity may not be related to residential real estate, staffing services, or the acquisition of an existing business in Australia.

For detailed requirements for each stream, please see the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ overview.

*Managed capital must be invested according to the following framework:

At least 20% in venture capital and growth private equity funds;
At least 30% in approved managed funds investing in listed, emerging companies;
A balancing investment of 50% in managed funds.

Program benefits

• Path to citizenship;
• Minimal physical presence requirements;
• Permits dual/multiple citizenship;
• Safety and security;
• Warm climate;
• Enhanced education opportunities;
• Enhanced business access to large economies;
• English as official language

Requirements to qualify for citizenship

The initial 188 BIIP visa is valid for 4 years and 3 months and there are varying criteria for obtaining permanent residency depending on the investor stream: 

Under the Investor stream, applicants are eligible for PR after four years;
Under the Signficant Investor stream, applicants are eligible for PR after three years;
Under the Premium Investor stream, applicants are eligible for PR after 1 year.

For the Investor and Significant Investor streams, though not for the Premium Investor stream, eligibility for permanent residency is contingent on having been physically present in Australia for at least two years and absent for no more than 90 days during any year.

In order to obtain citizenship, an applicant needs to have held their permanent residency for at least 12 months and had legal residency for 4 years in Australia. Mastery of English language the history of Australia are required.

Applications for this program may be directed to:

Department of Home Affairs 

Legislation upon which this program is based:

Migration Regulations 1994 Statutory Rules No. 268, 1994 Schedule 2 Subclass 188

See more statistics on this program, and dozens of others, in the IMI Data Center.