Regional Established Business in Australia (Subclass 846)

If you are a temporary resident in Australia, and have a proven ownership interest in one or more successful businesses in Australia, you can apply for permanent migration under the Regional Established Business in Australia (Subclass 846 visa) category. You must be sponsored by a state/territory government authority.

If you hold a Business (long stay) visa (Subclass 457), and have owned a business in a designated regional area of Australia for at least two years, you may be able to apply for this visa.

If you are granted this visa you can:

• work in your established business in Australia
• travel in and out of Australia any number of times as long as your visa is valid
• study in Australia
• have your family accompany you to Australia, who will have the same entitlements as you
• live in Australia as a permanent resident for five years (after 5 years, you will need to apply for a resident return visa)

You must be in Australia and hold a Business (Long Stay) 457 visa for at least 12 months out of the last 24 months immediately before applying for this visa.

Designated regional areas

• Victoria
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Australian Captial Territory
• New South Wales - except Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong
• Queensland - except Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast
• Western Australia - except Perth metropolitcan region

Bringing family

The following people may be included in your application:

• • your spouse
• • your or your spouse’s dependent children
• • other dependent relatives living with you

This visa is a permanent residence visa. You will be able to travel to and enter Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted. If you wish to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident after the initial visa has expired, you must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV).

With this visa you are unable to access social security payments.

The Australian Government provides help with medical expenses and hospital care through a scheme called Medicare. As a permanent resident in Australia you may be eligible to enroll in Medicare. You should wait 10 days after you arrive, and then go to a Medicare office with your passport or travel documents.

A payment called Special Benefit may be available to you if you suffer a substantial change of circumstances beyond your control. Being unemployed, or running out of money will not qualify you for this payment.

Eligibility

Main Applicant Eligibility

Below are the requirements you must meet to be eligible for a Regional Established Business in Australia visa. You must provide evidence of each of the requirements with your application. For further information read form 1215i Independent executives and permenent residence.
Hold correct visa
You hold a Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457).
Sponsorship
You have been sponsored by the relevant State/Territory government authority.
In Australia recently
You have been in Australia as a temporary resident for at least 12 months cumulatively out of the last 24 months before the date of application.
Ownership interest
You have held an ownership interest of at least 10% in up to two main businesses in a designated area of Australia for at least two years immediately before applying and continue to have an interest of that kind.
Annual turnover
Your main business (or two main businesses) have had a turnover of at least A$200,000.
or
Your main business has total exports of at least A$100,000; in each of the two years immediately before you apply.
Net assets in Australia
Your (or your and your spouse’s) total net assets in Australia were at least A$200,000 for the two years before you apply.
Net assets in business in Australia
Your (or your and your spouse’s) net assets in your main business (or two main businesses) in a designated area of Australia were no less than A$75,000 in the 24 months before you apply.
Business involvement
You have been actively involved in, and directly responsible for, the day to day management and overall performance of your main business (or two main businesses) for the 24 months before you apply.
Business success
You have an overall successful business career.
Acceptable business record
You have not been involved in business or investment activities considered unacceptable in Australia.
Points test
You must score at least 105 points in the regional established business in Australia points test (unless there are exceptional circumstances).
The department will work out your points score from the information you give in your application.
To complete your own preliminary points test.
Health
You must meet certain health requirements and may need to undergo a health examination.
Character
You must be of good character for you to enter Australia.
Australian Values Statement
If you are aged 18 years or over, you are required to sign an Australian values statement. The statement is included in your visa application form and all applicants aged 18 years and over will need to sign it to confirm that they will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws. Before signing this statement you are required to have read, or had explained to you, material made available by the government on life in Australia which is contained in the Life in Australia book.
The Life in Australia book provides more information on the values that Australians share and their way of life.

Family Member Eligibility

Below are the requirements family members of the applicant must meet to be eligible to accompany the applicant to Australia on this visa.

You can include the following people in the application for this visa.

• your spouse
• your or your spouse’s dependent children
• other dependent relatives living with you.

If your child is born after you lodge your application (but before a decision has been made) the child can be added to your application, once you notify the department of the details of the newborn child.

You can also request in writing for a dependent child to be added to your application.

Your spouse can apply separately as long as your visa has not yet been granted.

All family members must meet certain health requirements and may need to undergo a health examination.

All family members must be of good character to enter Australia.

All visa applicants aged 18 years or over, are required to sign an Australian values statement. The statement is included in the visa application form and all applicants aged 18 years and over will need to sign it. Before signing the statement, applicants for this visa are required to have read, or had explained to them, material made available by the government on life in Australia which is contained in the Life in Australia book.

The Life in Australia book provides more information on the values that Australians share and their way of life.

Obligations

You must:

• intend to maintain ownership interest in an eligible business in Australia
• keep the department informed of your current address for three years
• participate in monitoring surveys conducted by the department
• abide by all Australian laws as a permanent resident

You must abide by all Australian laws as a permanent resident.

If your circumstances change, such that any answer in your application or information given to the department is no longer correct, you must inform the department (in writing) as soon as possible.

Charge Type	Charge Amount
1st instalment	$4090
2nd instalment For primary applicants with less than functional English.	$5865
2nd instalment For dependents 18 or over with less than functional English.	$2925