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This stream is for migrants who are currently living and operating a small business in a regional area. Applicants must have an occupation that is on Home Affairs Instrument LIN 19/051, and a have a positive skills assessment in their nominated occupation. Applicants under this stream must have full-time work rights and not be currently studying.

Note: It is recommended you seek professional legal and financial advice before making an investment or starting a business. BSMQ takes no responsibility in the event that your business or investment is not successful.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants need to submit a 491-SBO Assessment Form prior to submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), so that your EOI will be picked up.

From 1 April 2021 – the pre-existing business purchased will need to have been in operation for 2 years instead of 1 year.

There will also need to be a minimum purchase price of $100,000 (rather than total investment in the business).

Furthermore, sub-leases of franchises (such as petrol stations), and home-based businesses (such as courier and cleaning businesses) will not be considered.

These requirements are aimed at ensuring the program is sustainable in the long-term.

Please note: businesses that have been purchased prior to 1 April 2021 are not subject to these requirements.

Nominations are offered under the following visa subclasses:

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for Queensland nomination, you must meet both the Australian Department of Home Affairs (HA) criteria and Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) criteria for your chosen visa category.

The HA criteria requires you to:

• have a points test result of 65 or higher, inclusive of state nomination points
• have a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation
• be under 45 years of age
• meet the minimum English language requirement of COMPETENT, unless a higher level is required by your assessing authority
• submit additional documents if invited to lodge an application for a subclass 491 visa.

BSMQ criteria requires you to:

• have an occupation on HA’s Legislative instrument (LIN 19/051)
• have prior business experience (operating the business successfully for at least 6 months meets this criteria), qualifications to successfully run the business, or previous family-run business experience.
• be on a visa that allows full-time work and operation of the business for a minimum of 35 hours per week
• have purchased an existing business in regional Queensland (Note: not available for start-ups or home based businesses, franchise businesses must have been operating for at least a year prior to purchase)
• invested a minimum of $100,000 in the business prior to submitting an EOI
• have 100% ownership of the business (partnerships or joint ventures not eligible)
• be trading in the business for 6 months prior to application
• employ one (1) employee who is an Australian resident working a minimum of 20 hours per week. Please note: an Australian resident for 491-SBO purposes is an Australian permanent resident, Australian citizen or New Zealand citizen on a subclass 444 Special Category visa.
• provide evidence of sufficient settlement funds.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants need to submit a 491-SBO Assessment Form prior to submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), so that your EOI will be picked up.

From 1 April 2021 – the pre-existing business purchased will need to have been in operation for 2 years instead of 1 year.

There will also need to be a minimum purchase price of $100,000 (rather than total investment in the business).

Furthermore, commission agents or leasing agents of franchises (such as petrol stations), and home-based businesses (such as courier and cleaning businesses) will not be considered.

These requirements are aimed at ensuring the program is sustainable in the long-term.

Businesses that have been purchased prior to 1 April 2021 are not subject to these requirements.

For more information regarding the eligibility of Queensland 491 – Small Business Owners (SBO) visa, please speak to our migration team either via email at info@australasiaeduconnect.com.au or contact our office via phone +61423064265.

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