Many business people in Australia are familiar with the term 188 visas because immigration lawyers commonly use it to refer to an employer-sponsored temporary work visa subclass 188.
However, as with many things in life, the definition of this visa class has become blurred over time as Australians have become aware of its existence. Let's look at business innovation and investment visa 188 and whether it's relevant to you or your business.
What is visa 188?
If you're considering applying for a visa to live and work in Australia, you may wonder if 188 is a temporary visa. The answer is: it depends. While 188 visas are typically valid for four years, there are some circumstances under which they may be extended or even made permanent.
Here's what you need to know about 188 visas:
Visa 188 is an Australian skilled independent visa that allows holders to live and work permanently in Australia. It is available to those who have gained enough points from their education, employment experience, English language proficiency and age requirements.
The 188 visa does not grant the holder the right to enter Australia; instead, it permits them to apply for a subclass 190 (Skilled Regional Provisional) visa after entering the country on another visa.
Advantages Business Innovation and Investment Visa 188
There are many advantages to having a 188 visa.
- For one, it allows you to live and work in Australia for up to four years.
- Additionally, it allows you to apply for permanent residency after two years, and there is no limit on the times you can renew your visa.
- Plus, if you have children who are Australian citizens or permanent residents, they can also study and work in Australia on this visa.
Disadvantages
There are many disadvantages to having a 188 visa.
- It limits your ability to work in Australia to only certain types of jobs. Additionally, it does not allow you to apply for permanent residency, meaning you will eventually have to leave the country.
- Another downside is those holders of this visa are not eligible for government benefits, such as healthcare or education.
- Finally, if you want to travel outside Australia, you must obtain a new visa before reentering the country.
How long is it valid, and can you renew it?
If you're considering applying for a 188 visa, you're probably wondering how long it's valid. The short answer is that business innovation and investment visa 888 is valid for four years. However, there are some caveats.
- You can't renew it. Once your four years are up, you'll have to reapply for a new visa if you want to stay in the country.
- You need to keep track of the expiration date so that you don't run into any issues with your paperwork when it comes time to renew.
- Because this visa isn't renewable and has an expiration date, it's essential to research before applying to know what will happen if your application gets denied.
- You might be able to apply for a different type of visa instead.
- Even though you can't renew your business innovation and investment visa 188, it's still valid for four years while you reside in Australia.
