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Unless the applicant has a very successful business career and proposes to invest substantial sums to obtain immediate residence with a Talent Visa (hard to get apparently), the easiest way forward is with a two step visa process.

This involves obtaining a provisional visa for up to 4 years and successfully establishing a business within that time. The visa allows a 2 year establishment period before any time complications would set in.

Obtaining State or Territory sponsorship has the effect of lowering the entry requirements for provisional AND residence stages. This generally means moving less capital to Australia, having a lower turnover in the home country and Australian businesses, fewer jobs are required, higher ages are allowed for the main applicant - and no English is required.

After a minimum of 2 years business operation, and subject to meeting some simple criteria, permanent residence can be obtained with modest additional effort.

Here is an illustration of the process.

The two most common categories are Business Owner (including General Manager) and Senior Executive. A basic assessment tool is here, but please remember that a good agent would not just rely on this device but would examine the detail of the policy before deciding to take on a case.

Please note that each State has its own rules that modify or add to the basic DIAC criteria.

For example, in some States if the business is intended for the main city areas then at least one new job is required to be created (additional to the owner’s).

Other States happily provide heavily subsidised schooling for under-university aged children, but others will charge higher foreign student fees to all age pupils. Some States require substantial living money as well as investment capital, others allow applicants to factor in early business profits into their means of support.

And some States have excellent meet-and-greet, settlement and business support packages with financial subsidies, whereas other States offer much less assistance.

We suggest that agents always educate applicants about each State’s treatment of business migrants, as the location can have a significant financial impact and place additional overhead on the business.

Applicants should select the State based on personal preference (research), their business and personal fit with policy, and overall financial requirements for business and personal purposes.

(C) State Sponsorship Services Pty Ltd 2007. This web site does not contain Australian immigration advice. Viewers who need this advice should consult a registered migration agent, refer to Migration Agents Registration Authority. Entry to and use of this web site means that the viewer acknowledges that State Sponsorship Services Pty Ltd does not provide immigration advice and cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any immigration application that is lodged as a result of the viewer accessing this web site.