Business Visas - State Sponsorship

The Tasmanian Government welcomes applications for sponsorship from business migrants who genuinely wish to settle in Tasmania to own and operate a business in and of benefit to the state.

The Department of Economic Development assesses and grants sponsorship for the:

Business Talent (Subclass 132) visas
State Sponsored (Provisional) Business Skills visas
State Sponsored (Residence) Business Skills visas.

NB: Each stage of 2 and 3 (above) constitutes a separate visa application (with separate applications for sponsorship) and provisional sponsorship does not automatically guarantee residence sponsorship. For 132 sponsorship guidelines, please click on this link.

To apply for Tasmanian Government state sponsorship you must:

1. Visit Tasmania to investigate business opportunities, lifestyle, education and housing and while in the state arrange to meet with staff from Economic Development and Tourism to discuss settling in Tasmania.

2. Complete a sponsorship application form.

Economic Development and Tourism will consider any additional, relevant information provided and reserves the right to request additional information or waive the requirement to provide all of the above information.

Important: Tasmanian Government sponsorship is not available for people residing in any other state or territory.

You must meet all relevant Department of Immigration and Citizenship criteria for the State sponsored Business Migrant visas.

To qualify for sponsorship at the second (residence) visa stage you must:

meet minimum DIAC criteria (Subclass 892 visa);
hold a valid Provisional Business Skills visa or a 457IE visa;
have owned and operated a business which is of economic benefit to Tasmania for at least two years; and
have owned and operated a business of the type described in your initial stage one business proposal (unless Economic Development and Tourism was notified in writing of the changed business plan at the time the business was purchased or started).

Business migrants currently in Australia on a 457 (Independent Executive) visa are eligible to apply for state sponsored residence under either:

pre-March 2003 Permanent residence business visas (such as REBA); or
the State sponsored (residence) business owner visa.

Migration agents note: The Department of Economic Development and Tourism will not consider sponsorship requests lodged on behalf of applicants by individuals not registered with the MARA.

Business Talent Visa Sponsorship

If you wish to apply for Business Talent Sponsorship you must complete the three step application process above.

You must also demonstrate that you will make or have made a commercial investment in an actively operating Tasmanian business of no less than AUD$1 million (lesser amounts may be accepted in some circumstances).

“Talk is cheap” - applications evidencing financial commitment such as contract negotiations/exchange, payment of deposit, lodgement of tender or investment of funds will be considered favourably.

Tasmanian Government Business talent sponsorship is only for people intending to live and do business in Tasmania.

Investment Linked Visas

If you are seeking sponsorship for an Investment linked visa you do not need to submit a business proposal but should visit Tasmania and arrange to meet with staff fromEconomic Development, Tourism and the Arts.

Please send sponsorship applications to:
The Manager - Business Migration
Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts
GPO Box 646
Hobart Tasmania, Australia 7001
ph: +61 3 6233 5888
fax: +61 3 6233 5800
email: businessmigration@development.tas.gov.au

Useful links
Multicultural Tasmania

Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC)

Registered Migration Agents

Foreign Investment Review Board FIRB