Investor visa (subclass 891)

The Investor visa (subclass 891) is for people who undertake business and investment activities in Australia. It allows you to stay in Australia indefinitely. To apply as a primary applicant, you must have a qualifying visa granted on a particular basis.

What can you do on the Investor visa (subclass 891)?

On the Investor visa (subclass 891), you can:

  • stay in Australia permanently
  • work and study in Australia
  • enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
  • sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
  • travel to and from Australia for 5 years
  • if eligible, become an Australian citizen

How long you can stay on this visa?

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. The visa has a travel component that expires 5 years after the date of visa grant from the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA). You become a permanent resident on the day that the visa is granted.

Can you include family on this visa?

You can include members of the family unit in your application. You can:

  • include them when you lodge your visa application
  • add them after you lodge your application but before the Department of Home Affairs decides on your visa

Where can you apply for this visa from?

You must be in Australia when you submit your application. Members of your family unit can be in or outside Australia but not in immigration clearance. You must hold an eligible visa to make a valid application for this visa.

What are your obligations?

You and members of your family unit must obey all Australian laws.

Can you travel on this visa?

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date the Department of Home Affairs grant this visa. 

Visa label

Your visa label will digitally be added to your passport by the Department of Home Affairs. There are no longer any physical visa labels.

What are the eligibility criteria for this visa?

You must hold Subclass 162 – Investor (Provisional) visa that was granted to you on the basis that you satisfied the primary criteria for that visa.

Residence requirement

You must have lived in Australia as the holder of a Subclass 162 (Investor (Provisional) visa for a total of at least 2 years in the 4 years immediately before you submitted the application. The 2-year period does not have to be continuous.

Business requirements

You, or you and your partner together, must:

  • have held continuously for at least 4 years, in your name or your name and your partner’s name, your designated investment of $1.5 million AUD you made for the purpose of satisfying a requirement for the grant of a Subclass 162 – Investor (Provisional) visa
  • have a genuine and realistic commitment to continue a business or investment activity in Australia
  • never been involved in unacceptable business activities

Meet health and character requirements

You and members of your family unit (any family members who apply) will have to meet the Department of Home Affairs health and character requirements.

Debt to the Australian Government

If you or any members of your family unit (including those who have not applied for the visa with you) owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.

Have you had a previous application refused or visa cancelled?

You may not be eligible for this visa if you have had a previous application refused or visa cancelled whilst you were in Australia.

Become an Australian citizen 

After a certain time, you might be eligible for Australian citizenship. Talk to our team about applying and becoming an Australian citizen.

Want more information on the Investor visa (subclass 891)?

If you’ve read through the above information and would like to apply, contact our team today to discuss your migration options.