For high-net-worth individuals who wish to migrate to Australia, the Significant Investor Visa (SIV) and the Investor Visa (IV) provides a pathway to secure permanent residency by investing a certain amount of money into complying investments framework.

The Australian government introduced the SIV ‒ a stream within the country’s permanent Business Innovation and Investment (Subclass 888) visa ‒ in 2012 as a way of attracting innovation and investment into the country. 

The IV, which falls under Australia’s provisional Business Innovation and Investment (Subclass 188) visa, underwent an investment framework adjustment in 2021 to require that investments meet the same compliance regulations as the SIV.

Candidates

According to the Australian Home Affairs, those who wish to take advantage of either the SIV or the IV will first need to submit an expression of interest, which can be done through SkillSelect. They also need to be nominated before being invited to apply. This nomination can be made by  a territory government or a state.

If all the requirements are met and the complying investments are made as prescribed, then SIV holders can apply for permanent residency after a minimum of three years. SIV holders have up to a maximum of five years to meet all of the requirements.

Complying Investment Framework Summary

If all the requirements are met and the complying investments are made as prescribed, then SIV holders can apply for permanent residency after a minimum of three years. SIV holders have up to a maximum of five years to meet all of the requirements.

For the IV, a total investment portfolio of $2.5-million needs to be achieved in complying investments. These are comprised of $500 000 invested into Australian private equity or venture capital, $750 000 invested into emerging Australian companies and a range of other investments into managed funds, Australian real estate investment trusts (A-REITs), infrastructure trusts, corporates bonds, real estate, annuities and Australian listed companies.

The same applies to the SIV, except that the investment into Australian private equity or venture capital must come to at least $1-million, the investment into emerging Australian companies must come to at least $1.5-million, while the balancing investments must equal a minimum of $2.5-million. This amounts to a total investment portfolio of $5-million.

These SIV amounts only apply if the application was made after 1 July 2021. If the SIV application was made prior to that date, then the investment in private equity or venture capital must only be $500 000, while balancing investments must equal $3-million. The total investment amount, however, remains the same.

Rod Mackay, CEO of Boutique Investment Fund, Hamilton Knight, can help you get your SIV or IV secured today. Contact us to find out how!