Immigration experts in Australia and NZ

Immigration experts in Australia and NZ

[gtranslate]

Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram
Subscribe
News
Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram
Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram
Subscribe
News
Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram
Entrepreneur 188E visa

Entrepreneur Stream (subclass 188E) visa

The Entrepreneur Stream (Subclass 188E) Visa is a pathway for entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas and a desire to develop and manage their own venture in Australia. This visa falls under the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188) program, designed to promote entrepreneurship and drive economic growth in Australia.

This visa is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to establish and develop their ventures in Australia, with a potential pathway to permanent residency. The complex application process and the requirement for a substantial funding agreement, means guidance from an experienced registered migration agent or legal expert to ensure a successful visa application is advisable.

Schedule a Call
Email Us
Entrepreneur 188E visa

Entrepreneur Stream (subclass 188E) visa

The Entrepreneur Stream (Subclass 188E) Visa is a pathway for entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas and a desire to develop and manage their own venture in Australia. This visa falls under the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188) program, designed to promote entrepreneurship and drive economic growth in Australia.

This visa is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to establish and develop their ventures in Australia, with a potential pathway to permanent residency. The complex application process and the requirement for a substantial funding agreement, means guidance from an experienced registered migration agent or legal expert to ensure a successful visa application is advisable.

Schedule a Call
Email Us

Requirements To Apply For an Entrepreneur Stream (Subclass 188E) visa

Notable Requirements:

  1. Innovative Business Proposal: To be eligible for the Subclass 188E Visa, applicants must have a funding agreement of at least AUD 200,000 with an eligible funding entity to support their entrepreneurial activities in Australia. They must also submit a comprehensive business proposal outlining their innovative idea and how it will benefit Australia.

  2. Age Requirement: Applicants must be under 55 years of age, although state or territory government waivers may be available for exceptional cases.

  3. State or Territory Nomination: Applicants must be nominated by a state or territory government in Australia, which may have specific criteria for nomination.

  4. English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in the English language is mandatory. Applicants must provide evidence of their English language skills through recognized tests.

  5. Health and Character Requirements: Applicants must meet health and character requirements as specified by the Australian government.

Visa Conditions:

  • Visa holders must actively and continuously manage their entrepreneurial activities in Australia.

  • Compliance with Australian laws and regulations is mandatory.

Application Process:

  • The application process for the Subclass 188E Visa involves multiple steps, including expression of interest (EOI) submission, state or territory government nomination, and visa application.

  • Applicants must provide a well-structured business proposal that outlines their innovative idea, market research, commercialization plan, and how the venture will benefit Australia.

  • Evidence of the funding agreement with an eligible funding entity is a critical component of the application.

Different Streams Of The 188 Visa

There are different streams of Visa depending on the type of business you are starting or investing in.

Business Innovation Stream (188A)

This stream is for individuals with a successful business career and a genuine desire to own and manage a business in Australia. Applicants must have a certain level of business turnover and a commitment to continuing their business activities in Australia.

Investor Stream (188B)

This stream is for applicants who are willing to make an AUD 1.5 million investment in an Australian state or territory and maintain that activity in Australia.

You need to meet business turnover and net asset requirements, you must have a successful business history, and be under the age of 55.

Significant Investor Stream (188C)

This stream targets individuals who are willing to invest a significant amount in specified investments in Australia, including venture capital and small private equity funds.

Premium Investor Stream (188D)

  1. Designed for high-net-worth individuals with an exceptional business history, this stream requires a significant investment in premium investments in Australia.

Apply for a Business Innovation
and Investment (subclass 188) visa

Step 1

Once you reach out to Absolute Immigration, we set up a discovery call to understand what your needs are and what Visa best suits you.

Step 2

From there, we will send you a Strategy proposal outlining the steps we will take to assist you in getting a Visa for you to sign off on.

Step 3

Now our team leaps into action, following immigration pathways, taking care of the paperwork and helping you through the entire application process.

Take the first step and schedule a call

Call us

You can reach our team via our support lines at 1300 227 658 or +61 3 9827 3721 or schedule a consultation through our Acuity Portal.

Schedule a Call

Email us

You can get in touch with the team through our support email: aisupport@absoluteimmigration.com

Email Us

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a Visa that allows people who are significant investors in Australian Business or Innovation, the opportunity to stay in Australia for up to 4 more years.

There can be a long processing time for a 188 Visa, anywhere up to 20 months in some cases. Have a word with our team to find out more about timelines.

The Business Innovator stream has a base application charge of $6270AUD; The Premium Investor Stream’s base charge is $9455 AUD; and the Entrepreneur stream has a base charge of $4240AUD.

Contact Absolute Immigration, and talk to one of our qualified and friendly team members.  Through a Discover Call, they will discuss your preferred visa pathway.

Subscribe for the latest immigration updates

Subscribe to keep current with the latest immigration changes affecting your situation and industry. Follow us on our social media channels so you don’t miss an update.

Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram
Subscribe

Recent articles

Employer sponsorship in South Australia shaped by 2026 occupation shortages

South Australia continues to face persistent skills shortages, with 289 occupations in shortage. Data from Jobs and Skills Australia highlights why employer sponsorship is becoming an increasingly important workforce strategy.
Read More

New Immigration Advisory Group for mobility sector

TEMi has launched a new Immigration Advisory Group to enhance collaboration between industry and the Department of Home Affairs, improve access to timely immigration insights, and support employers navigating Australia’s
Read More

NSW confirms closure of Subclass 491 Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 for 2025-26

The New South Wales Government has closed Subclass 491 Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 for the 2025–26 migration program year. No new applications are being accepted. Applications already lodged will
Read More

Changes to Australian citizenship evidence now in effect

The Australian Government introduced digital evidence of Australian citizenship on 5 December 2025 under the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Act 2025. These changes modernise how citizenship evidence is issued, corrected and
Read More

State nomination places 2025 – 2026 and skilled migration settings

Australia has allocated 20,350 state nomination places for the 2025 to 2026 program year across subclass 190 and subclass 491 visas. Each state and territory has confirmed its program settings,
Read More

Update on Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) processing times

Subclass 186 backlog acknowledged by the Department of Home Affairs; assessing applications lodged March 2024–April 2025 by occupation, sponsor status, and region.
Read More
Read more resources
Subscribe
download

About Sleek

Sleek.com is your one-stop shop for everything back office related, from setting up your company to handling day-to-day accounting, taxes, ASIC/ATO compliance, payroll and more – all on a single platform.

We take a human-first approach, using technology to tackle the boring stuff so you can focus on building your business. Our expert team is always here to give you personalised advice, with in-house tax experts who can handle your big questions.

With a presence in Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Hong Kong, we’ve gained the trust of over 450,000+ modern businesses, and are a team of 500 strong devoted to your success.

Free initial consultation with Sleek experts:

Get your free initial consultation with Sleek experts. Mention ‘Absolute Immigration’ and enjoy a free initial consultation and subsequent discounting.

Find out more