VEMVisa | Australian Business and Investment Migration
A practical guide to the permanent stage of the Business Innovation and Investment pathway, including streams, eligibility, evidence, cost and current application planning.
The business innovation and investment permanent visa subclass 888, formally the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa, allows eligible business owners, investors and entrepreneurs to continue their activities and live in Australia permanently. It is generally the permanent stage for people who hold, or in limited circumstances previously held, a relevant Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa subclass 188.
Subclass 888 is not a new entry pathway for people who have never held the relevant provisional visa. The Business Innovation and Investment Program closed permanently to new subclass 188 applications on 31 July 2024, but eligible provisional visa holders can still progress to subclass 888 if they meet the requirements of their stream.
This guide explains how the Australian business and investment visa pathway works, what evidence to prepare and why a subclass number should not be confused with a similarly numbered Partner visa form.
Reviewed 21 July 2026: Home Affairs lists subclass 888 as a permanent visa with a base application cost from AUD4,375. Visa charges, stream criteria and processing-time estimates can change. Check the official stream page and pricing tools before lodging or making financial commitments.
What is a Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa subclass 888?
The subclass 888 visa is a permanent residence visa for eligible holders of a qualifying business, investor or entrepreneur pathway. It lets successful applicants remain in Australia indefinitely while continuing the activities connected with their stream.
The official visa name is Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa. Expressions such as “888A”, “888B”, “888C”, “888D” and “888E” are commonly used shorthand for its streams, not separate visa subclass numbers.
Permanent residence
The visa permits indefinite residence in Australia. The five-year travel facility is separate from the right to remain permanently in Australia.
Stream-specific assessment
Eligibility depends on the provisional stream, invitation date, nomination, business or investment record, residence history and applicable concessions.
Online application
Home Affairs requires subclass 888 applications to be lodged online. The correct stream and current ImmiAccount checklist control what must be submitted.
Business Innovation and Investment visa subclass 888 and 188: how the stages connect
The subclass 188 visa is provisional. Subclass 888 is the related permanent stage. In practical terms, the provisional visa establishes the business, investment or entrepreneurial pathway, while the permanent application tests whether the applicant has met the relevant ongoing requirements.
| Stage |
Purpose |
Current planning point |
| Subclass 188 |
Provisional business, investment or entrepreneur stage. |
The BIIP closed permanently to new subclass 188 applications on 31 July 2024. Applications lodged before closure may still be processed. |
| Subclass 888 |
Permanent stage for eligible qualifying visa holders. |
The permanent visa remains available to eligible applicants who meet the correct stream requirements. |
Important: Closure of new subclass 188 applications does not automatically cancel an existing provisional visa or remove an eligible holder’s subclass 888 pathway. It does mean that a person cannot now begin the former BIIP pathway by lodging a new subclass 188 application.
Subclass 888 streams: which permanent pathway matches your provisional visa?
Choose the stream that corresponds with your qualifying visa and activities. Do not select a stream simply because its investment amount or residence test appears easier. Home Affairs assesses the actual provisional pathway and the criteria that apply to it.
| Subclass 888 stream |
Common shorthand |
Qualifying pathway |
Core evidence focus |
| Business Innovation stream |
888A |
Relevant 188 Business Innovation or Extension stream; limited 444 or qualifying 457 cases may also apply. |
Ongoing ownership and management, business activity, financial records, nomination and applicable residence or asset tests. |
| Investor stream |
888B |
Relevant 188 Investor stream. |
Required investment history, nomination, qualifying visa period and compliance with the conditions applying to the provisional investment. |
| Significant Investor stream |
888C |
Relevant 188 Significant Investor or Extension stream. |
Maintenance of the complying investment, nomination, visa-holding period and residence evidence where required. |
| Premium Investor stream |
888D |
Relevant 188 Premium Investor stream held for at least 12 months. |
Maintenance of the AUD15 million complying premium investment and the nomination relevant to the stream. |
| Entrepreneur stream |
888E |
Relevant 188 Entrepreneur stream. |
Successful entrepreneurial activity, nomination, qualifying visa period and at least two years of residence while holding the 188 visa. |
For background on the provisional routes, see VEM’s guides to the subclass 188A Business Innovation stream, subclass 188B Investor stream and subclass 188C Significant Investor stream. These pages describe historical pathways and should be read with the 31 July 2024 closure in mind.
Subclass 888 visa requirements: the core eligibility checks
There is no single checklist that proves eligibility for every stream. The subclass 888 requirements depend on the provisional visa, invitation date, business or investment structure, nomination and any concessions that apply.
Visa and nomination
- Hold, or where the stream permits, have held the qualifying provisional visa.
- Meet the minimum visa-holding period that applies to your invitation date and stream.
- Have a current nomination from the relevant state, territory or Austrade authority where required.
- Check whether a change of primary applicant is permitted in your stream and circumstances.
Business, investment or entrepreneur record
- Show the required business ownership, management or investment activity.
- Maintain the relevant designated, complying or premium investment for the required period.
- Provide tax, financial, corporate and transactional evidence that is consistent across the application.
- For the Entrepreneur stream, demonstrate an overall successful record of entrepreneurial activity.
Residence and compliance
- Meet any residence test applying to the chosen stream.
- Comply with Commonwealth, state or territory laws relevant to the business and investment activity.
- Address Australian Government debts and material visa-history issues.
- Meet health, character, identity and Australian Values requirements where applicable.
Family members
- Eligible family members may be included according to the stream and application rules.
- Provide identity, relationship, health and character evidence for included applicants.
- Functional English evidence or a second instalment charge may apply to some adult applicants.
- Tell Home Affairs about changes in family composition before a decision.
Do not rely on the old 888A–888E threshold table alone. Requirements can differ according to the date you were invited for subclass 188, the stream, extensions and COVID-19 concessions. Match your evidence to the current Home Affairs page for your exact stream.
Searches such as “888 form partner visa”, “partner visa 888 form” and “888 form visa” usually refer to Form 888, a supporting relationship statement used in Partner or Prospective Marriage visa applications. They do not refer to the Business Innovation and Investment visa subclass 888.
The phrases “888 visa form” and “visa 888 form” are also used by people looking for the subclass 888 application. Subclass 888 is lodged online through ImmiAccount; it is not replaced by the Partner visa Form 888 PDF.
| Term |
What it is |
Used for |
| Subclass 888 visa |
A permanent business and investment visa. |
Eligible business owners, investors and entrepreneurs progressing from a qualifying pathway. |
| Form 888 |
A supporting statement about a couple’s relationship. |
Partner and Prospective Marriage visa evidence, subject to the current checklist and any special validity requirements. |
Special warning for some onshore Partner visa applicants: Home Affairs states that where an applicant does not hold a substantive visa and must provide recent Commonwealth statutory declarations to make a valid application, Form 888 is not accepted as a statutory declaration for that specific requirement. Read the current Partner visa instructions rather than assuming every witness statement uses the same document.
For relationship-visa information, use VEM’s Partner Visa Australia guide. Keeping the two “888” concepts separate improves both application accuracy and search intent.
Benefits of the subclass 888 permanent visa
A grant provides Australian permanent residence. The exact practical position still depends on visa conditions, citizenship eligibility, travel-facility validity and waiting periods for certain government benefits.
Live permanently
Remain in Australia indefinitely as a permanent resident.
Work and study
Work and study in Australia without the temporary limits of the provisional pathway.
Medicare
Enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme if the enrolment requirements are met.
Sponsor relatives
Sponsor eligible relatives under the requirements of the relevant family visa.
Travel facility
Travel to and from Australia for five years from grant while the travel facility remains valid.
Citizenship pathway
Apply for Australian citizenship later if all citizenship requirements are met.
Subclass 888 is one of several permanent residence pathways discussed in VEM’s PR visa Australia guide.
Subclass 888 visa document checklist
A strong application is not the largest upload folder. It is a coherent record showing that the correct applicant, provisional pathway, nomination and stream criteria line up. Repeated documents and unexplained spreadsheets can make the evidence harder to assess.
| Evidence group |
Examples |
Quality check |
| Identity and visa history |
Passport, birth record, name-change evidence, subclass 188 grant details and relevant travel history. |
Names, dates and passport details should match across all records. |
| Nomination |
Current state, territory or Austrade nomination and supporting correspondence. |
Confirm the nomination has not been withdrawn and matches the selected stream. |
| Business evidence |
Company extracts, ownership records, financial statements, BAS, tax returns, payroll, contracts and management evidence. |
Explain ownership, control, turnover, assets and employment figures rather than leaving the assessor to reconstruct them. |
| Investment evidence |
Fund or treasury confirmations, portfolio statements, transaction records and evidence of continuous maintenance. |
Cover the entire required period and explain transfers, substitutions or temporary discrepancies. |
| Entrepreneur evidence |
Commercialisation, funding, revenue, partnerships, customers, intellectual property, employment or other success indicators. |
Connect the evidence to the claimed entrepreneurial activity and explain both progress and setbacks honestly. |
| Residence evidence |
Movement records, leases, utility accounts, employment or business attendance records and other proof of physical presence. |
Calculate days consistently and identify any concession being relied on. |
| Family, health and character |
Marriage or de facto evidence where needed, birth certificates, police certificates, health examinations and English evidence. |
Use the current ImmiAccount checklist for each applicant and update any material change. |
Document strategy: Create a short index explaining what each file proves. Use readable scans, certified translations where required, consistent file names and clear calculations. Home Affairs may request more information, but the initial application should still be decision-ready.
How to apply for a subclass 888 visa
Subclass 888 applications are made online. The sequence below is a planning map; the stream page and ImmiAccount checklist remain the controlling instructions.
1
Identify the correct stream
Check the provisional visa, invitation date, primary applicant position, extension history and any concessions before preparing evidence.
2
Secure the relevant nomination
Confirm the nomination process, evidence and timing with the state, territory or Austrade authority responsible for your stream.
3
Prepare and reconcile the evidence
Compare tax, accounting, ownership, investment, residence and family records. Resolve inconsistencies before lodgement rather than explaining them only after a request.
4
Apply online and pay the correct charge
Complete the subclass 888 application in ImmiAccount, attach the required documents and pay the amount generated for the application.
5
Monitor requests and update changes
Check ImmiAccount, complete health or character steps when instructed and notify Home Affairs of relevant changes in passport, address, business, investment or family circumstances.
6
Receive the decision in writing
Home Affairs will provide the outcome and, if granted, the visa grant number, start date and travel-facility information.
After lodgement, use ImmiAccount for correspondence. VEM’s guide to checking visa status in Australia explains the role of ImmiAccount and VEVO.
Subclass 888 visa cost and 888 visa processing time
Visa application cost
Home Affairs lists the subclass 888 visa cost from AUD4,375 as at 1 July 2026.
Additional applicant charges, a second instalment for some adult applicants without functional English and costs for health checks, police certificates, translations or professional services may also apply.
Processing-time planning
VEM’s processing-time guide reviewed on 10 July 2026 gives an approximate planning range of 4–8 months, depending on the subclass 888 stream.
The Home Affairs tool uses recently decided applications and does not guarantee a decision date for an individual case.
The actual 888 visa processing time may be longer where documents are incomplete, information must be verified, health or character checks remain outstanding, the charge is incorrect or the application raises complex business, investment or visa-history issues.
Before relying on a timeframe, check VEM’s updated Australia visa processing times guide and then use the official Home Affairs processing-time tool for the exact stream and application date.
Avoid copying old fee or timing tables: Visa charges and processing-time estimates change. Use the current Home Affairs pricing and processing-time tools before lodging or making financial plans.
After subclass 888 is granted: permanent residence and travel
Subclass 888 lets you remain in Australia permanently. The travel facility usually allows travel to and from Australia for five years from the grant date. Permanent residence does not expire merely because the travel facility ends, but re-entry after overseas travel requires a valid travel facility.
If you plan to travel after the five-year facility has expired, you may need a Resident Return Visa Australia or Australian citizenship, depending on eligibility.
Use VEVO to confirm the visa record and travel-facility expiry date. Newly arrived permanent residents may also face waiting periods before accessing some Australian Government payments and benefits.
Need a subclass 888 stream and evidence review?
VEM can review the qualifying visa, nomination pathway, business or investment evidence, residence history and family documents before lodgement. No adviser can guarantee approval or a faster decision, but a consistent application can reduce avoidable problems.
Contact VEM
About VEM migration services
Subclass 888 visa frequently asked questions
Is subclass 888 still open after the business migration program closed?
Yes, subclass 888 remains available to eligible applicants progressing from a qualifying pathway. The closure on 31 July 2024 stopped new applications for the former subclass 188 BIIP streams; it did not automatically remove the permanent pathway for eligible existing visa holders.
Do I need to hold a subclass 188 visa before applying?
Most applicants need the relevant subclass 188 stream. The Business Innovation stream also covers limited subclass 444 and certain subclass 457 cases. Some stream pages permit applicants who previously held the qualifying visa, subject to detailed conditions.
Is there a paper 888 visa form?
Subclass 888 applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount. Follow the online application and document checklist for the selected stream rather than relying on an old paper checklist or an unrelated PDF.
Is Partner visa Form 888 part of a subclass 888 application?
No. Partner visa Form 888 is a relationship-supporting statement for Partner or Prospective Marriage visa evidence. It is not the application form for the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa subclass 888.
How much does a subclass 888 visa cost?
Home Affairs lists a base application cost from AUD4,375 as at 1 July 2026. The total can increase for family members, second-instalment charges and related document or examination costs.
How long does the subclass 888 visa take?
A VEM planning guide reviewed on 10 July 2026 lists approximately 4–8 months, stream dependent. Check the official Home Affairs processing-time tool because the estimate is historical, changes over time and is not a guarantee.
Can family members be included?
Eligible family members may be included according to the stream and application rules. They may need identity, relationship, health, character and English evidence, and additional charges can apply.
Can I travel after the visa is granted?
Yes. The visa normally carries a five-year travel facility. After it expires, obtain a valid Resident Return Visa or Australian citizenship before leaving Australia if you need to return as a permanent resident.
Official sources and useful VEM guides
This article provides general information and does not replace the current legislation, Home Affairs instructions or advice based on an individual case.
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Greetings! I’ve been following your website for a long time now and finallygot the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from New Caney Texas!Just wanted to tell you keep up the great work!
Hi Peter , we have been waiting for a positive outcome for 21 months after our lodgement of 888 a visa. it is very stressful and frustrating. Are you able to call me soon?
Sure Varuni!
Hi for applying for 888b, how can I obtain the proof from the Australian Treasury of having maintained the AUD1.5M investment? Will you do that for me? Also what do I have to write for the obligation of future investment? It’s just me and my partner. How much would you charge for assisting the visa application?