The Visa 888 (Business Innovation): Buying Australian PR

The Millionaire's Pathway

For international students from wealthy families, the skilled migration points test (Subclass 189/190) feels like a humiliating grind. If you cannot get 85 points as an Accountant, you might ask your parents: "Can we just buy a business and get PR?"

The answer is yes, but the pathway (Subclass 188 progressing to Subclass 888) is fraught with extreme financial risk and massive capital requirements.

The Subclass 188 (Provisional) Visa

You cannot just buy a café and instantly get Permanent Residency. First, you must apply for the Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment) provisional visa.

To even be invited by a State to apply, you must pass the Business Innovation and Investment Points Test (passing mark is 65 points).

You get points for your age, English level, and educational qualifications.

Crucially, you get massive points for your Business Turnover and Personal/Business Assets.

You must prove a successful business career (meaning you usually need to have run a business in your home country before coming to Australia).

The Subclass 888 (Permanent) Transition

Once you have the 188 visa, you must run a genuine business in Australia for a specific period (usually 2 to 3 years) before you can apply for the 888 Permanent Residency visa.

The Brutal 888 Requirements: In the 12 months before you apply for the 888 visa, your Australian business must have achieved an annual turnover of at least $300,000 AUD.

In addition, you must meet TWO of the following three requirements:

Assets in the Business: Have a net value of at least $200,000 AUD in the business.

Personal/Business Assets: Have a net value of at least $600,000 AUD in personal and business assets in Australia.

Employees: Employ the equivalent of at least two full-time Australian citizens, PRs, or eligible New Zealand citizens (family members do not count).

The Common Failure

International students often try to open a small bubble tea shop or a franchise to meet these requirements.

They quickly realize that generating $300,000 in genuine, documented turnover (which means paying massive amounts of tax) while paying two full-time Australian staff ($90,000+ in wages) completely drains their family's capital. Many businesses go bankrupt before the 2-year mark, leaving the applicant with no money and no PR.

This is not an easy backdoor. It is a highly scrutinized financial audit. Use our Visa 888 Points Calculator to see if you even meet the initial asset and turnover thresholds required to start this high-risk journey.