There are two broad categories, namely:-

1. Establishing a new business, purchasing a business or investing in Australia.
2. Being employed in Australia based on your business skills.<hotlink to Skilled Visa for No.2>

The Australian Government has a two-stage Business Visa Program.

This program permits business migrants to be granted a Temporary Visa for up to four years, and after establishing the required level of business or investment activities, they can apply to convert the temporary Visa to a Permanent Residence Visa and thereafter qualify for citizenship.

To be eligible for one of the temporary business visas, you must have:

	had a successful business or investment career,
	accumulated an appropriate level of assets,
	a genuine commitment to personally engage in business in Australia

Short-stay business visas
The Business (Short Stay) visa (subclass 456) allows the bona fide business person to make a visit to Australia of up to three months to conduct business. Examples of appropriate activities include a conference, negotiation or an exploratory business visit, but do not include acting or music performance or commercial film making.

A single-entry or multiple-entry Short Stay Business visa may be issued to applicants with genuine reasons for travel to Australia for business purposes.

In many countries, you can obtain a Business (Short Stay) visa at the same time you purchase an airline ticket. Ask for a Business Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for Australia.

The Business (Short Stay) visa cannot be extended whilst the holder is in Australia

Sponsored business visitors
If a member of an Australian parliament, authorised government agency representative or local government mayor or an organisation specified by the Minister is going to guarantee your visit, you can apply as a sponsored business visitor.

The business visitor sponsorship has been designed for individuals or delegations who would like streamlined service.

An Australian sponsor can provide an undertaking that their visitor will abide by visa conditions, including that they depart Australia before their visa expires.

The APEC Card For Frequent Business Travellers
The APEC Business Travel Card cuts though the red tape of business travel, and gives accredited business people pre-cleared entry to participating APEC economies. Card holders enjoy:

pre-cleared short-term entry to participating economies (no need to individually apply for visas or entry permits each time you travel). For information about the period of stay allowed in each participating economy, see the summary on the APEC Business Mobility Group website at www.businessmobility.org/key/stay.html

multiple entry to these economies (cards are valid for three years), and

faster immigration processing on arrival via access to fast-track entry and exit through special 'APEC' lanes at major airports. For information on the APEC Business Travel Card arrangements at international airports, see the summary on the APEC Business Mobility Group website at www.businessmobility.org/key/airports.html

Why the card was developed
The APEC Business Travel Card has been developed in response to the need of business people to gain streamlined entry to the economies of the Asia-Pacific region.

Participating economies
There are sixteen APEC economies currently participating in the ABTC scheme:

Australia
Brunei Darussalam
Chile
Chinese Taipei
Hong Kong (China)
Indonesia
Japan
Republic of Korea
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea*
People's Republic of China
The Philippines
Malaysia
Peru
Singapore*
Thailand
It is expected that further APEC economies will join in 2007.

* These economies have signed the ABTC operating framework, but some are yet to commence issuing cards to their passport holders, or granting pre-cleared entry to foreign card applicants.

They are expected to commence operations in the next three to six months. If you are an existing cardholder, and you wish to have your card endorsed for travel for these additional economies, please contact the department's APEC Unit for details.

Who is eligible
If you want to apply for the card, you need to be a business person who:

• holds a valid passport of a participating economy;
• travels frequently to conduct trade and investment activities within the APEC region;
• has never been convicted of a criminal offence.

There is an application charge, which is currently AUD$155 including GST. This charge may change from time to time - You should check with us to confirm the current charge before applying.

If you are a passport holder of one of the other participating economies, you should apply to the immigration authority of your home economy. The department's APEC Unit can assist you with contact details of the appropriate agency in your home economy.

If you believe that either through business you can contribute to Australia’s wealth or train others then you should contact us.

Click here to take your online Pre-qualification Test