To gain permanent residency in Australia through investment, the Significant Investor Visa (SIV) is your ticket in. This visa requires a minimum investment of AU$1,500,000 into complying investments in Australia for a period of 4 years before you can apply for permanent residency.
To qualify, you must be nominated by a state or territory government or Austrade on behalf of the Australian government. The investment funds need to be allocated to qualifying investments like government bonds, managed funds, or direct investment into Australian companies. The good news is you can invest in a range of sectors like agriculture, energy, infrastructure, tourism, among others.
Once nominated, you’ll have 12 months to make the AU$5 million investment in Australia. The investments need to be held for the duration of the provisional 4-year visa before you can apply to transition to permanent residency. During those 4 years, you’ll need to live in Australia for at least 2 years, learn basic English, and pass health and character checks.
Australia: stunning scenery, outdoor lifestyle, vibrant cities. High quality of life: healthcare, education, economic opportunity, work-life balance. Safe, prosperous, beautiful. Appeals to foreigners. Permanent residency allows settling in.
Entrepreneur-friendly Australia: minimal red tape, low corporate tax rates, investor-friendly policies. Permanent residency via investor visa facilitates starting/investing in business.
Australian permanent residency by investment enables enhanced global travel. Enjoy visa-free or visa on arrival access to 170+ countries, including EU and UK.
One of the biggest benefits of Australian residency by investment is the ability to travel more freely around the world. As an Australian permanent resident.
The Australian government routinely issues Treasury Bonds to raise capital, and investing a certain amount can qualify you for permanent residency.
To be eligible, you’ll need to invest at least AU$1.5 million in Treasury Bonds for 4 years. The bonds are very low risk since they’re backed by the government, but interest rates are often higher than a savings account. Your initial investment is returned in full after 4 years, along with interest payments during that time.
Once you’ve invested the required amount for the minimum term, you can apply for permanent residency. The process typically takes 6-18 months and involves health checks and background screening. If approved, you’ll have nearly all the rights of citizens including healthcare, education, and the ability to live, work or study anywhere in Australia.
After 4 years, you’re free to withdraw your funds if desired. However, keeping them invested for longer means continuing to earn interest and maintaining your permanent residency status. For many, the opportunity to gain citizenship after just 1-2 more years makes it worthwhile to keep funds in place.
Investing in government bonds is a straightforward way to gain permanent residency if you have the means. With a stable economy, high standard of living, and natural beauty, Australia offers an appealing place to invest your future. Gaining the right to call it home may be the ultimate return on investment.
Managed Funds: An Easy Option
Investing in managed funds is one of the simplest ways to gain residency in Australia. Managed funds are investment funds run by professional fund managers who invest your money on your behalf. All you have to do is invest a minimum of AUD $1-3 million in an eligible fund for at least 4 years to qualify.
The major benefits of managed funds are that they require little involvement from you, the investor. You don’t need in-depth financial knowledge or experience picking stocks and balancing portfolios. The fund managers handle all that for you. They invest in a diversified set of assets like shares, bonds, cash and property to maximize returns while minimizing risk.
Another perk is that managed funds are highly regulated in Australia, so your investment is relatively safe and secure. Regular reporting and transparency requirements protect investors. And since your goal is residency, not maximum returns, managed funds fit the bill nicely without the stress of direct investing.
While managed funds do charge management fees, for residency investors the convenience and simplicity they offer can be well worth the cost. Hands-off investing lets you sit back while your fund and residency application grow.
Investing in Australian Companies
To gain residency in Australia through investment, you’ll need to invest a substantial amount of money in approved Australian companies. The minimum investment amount is currently a$5 million.
There are a few options for investing this capital:
Once you’ve made the qualifying investment, you can apply for permanent residency under the Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 188). This visa allows you and your family to live, work and study in Australia indefinitely. After 4 years, you can apply for citizenship. Investing in the Australian economy and gaining permanent residency is a win-win – you get residency status and the potential for financial returns, while contributing capital to support Australian companies and economic growth.
So, who exactly qualifies for Australian residency by investment? As an open and welcoming country, Australia offers several pathways to permanent residency based on business investment.
If you have a successful business or investment background and want to make a substantial financial contribution to Australia, the Significant Investor Visa (SIV) may be for you. To qualify, you must:
For experienced business owners or investors looking to establish a new or existing business in Australia, the Business Innovation and Investment Visa (BIIP) provides a permanent residency pathway. The key requirements are:
The BIIP has three streams based on your business experience and investment amount. The higher your investment, the less stringent the business experience requirements become. Whether the SIV or BIIP is right for you depends on your financial capabilities, business background, age, and family situation. With the help of a registered migration agent, you can determine your eligibility and the best pathway to achieve permanent residency in Australia through investment.
The time it takes to obtain residency in Australia under this program can vary depending on several factors, including:
Once residency is granted, you’ll receive confirmation from the Department of Home Affairs. At this point, you are free to make plans to move to Australia as a permanent resident! Most applicants aim for residency approval within 6 to 12 months from submission of their application. The key is ensuring you provide a comprehensive application upfront to avoid delays.
No, Australia’s residency by investment program does not require you to live in Australia permanently. However, there are minimum requirements to maintain your residency status:
Yes, as an Australian permanent resident, you are on the pathway to citizenship. After living in Australia for 4 years, including at least 1 year as a permanent resident, you can apply to become an Australian citizen. Dual citizenship is allowed, so you do not have to relinquish your current citizenship.
Once you’ve made the qualifying investment, you can apply for permanent residency under the Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 188). This visa allows you and your family to live, work and study in Australia indefinitely. After 4 years, you can apply for citizenship. Investing in the Australian economy and gaining permanent residency is a win-win – you get residency status and the potential for financial returns, while contributing capital to support Australian companies and economic growth.