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"Visa Plan Lawyers demonstrated exceptional professionalism, clarity, and attention to detail from start to finish… We highly recommend their team to any business seeking reliable and knowledgeable migration assistance."
Business visa lawyers in Melbourne
Business migration has changed. The Business Innovation and Investment Program is closed to new applications, and founders and investors who want to build in Melbourne now need a different route. We advise on which one fits, and act for existing 188 holders already running businesses in Victoria.
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Or call (03) 9958 5854
Business migration in brief
The Department of Home Affairs states that the Business Innovation and Investment Program is closed as of 31 July 2024, and that applications made before then are still processed. There is no direct successor. For people with an internationally recognised record as an entrepreneur, investor, researcher or in another field, the National Innovation visa (Subclass 858) is the closest current option; it is invitation-only and is not built around investment thresholds.
Business owners who do not fit the National Innovation visa may still have employer sponsored or skilled pathways open to them. Existing Subclass 188 holders continue on their own track to the permanent Subclass 888.
Founders and investors in Melbourne
Our Melbourne business clients include founders who came on a 188 and now run companies in Victoria, owners of established businesses overseas thinking about expanding here, and people already in Melbourne on another visa who have started a business. Each starts in a different place, and the first meeting is mostly about sorting out which rules apply to you.
For 188 holders, the work is usually about the evidence Victoria and the Department will want to see for the 888: turnover, ownership, employment and the time the business has been operating. Our page on the National Innovation visa and Victoria covers the state's role for 858 applicants.
For the full rules, subclasses and current processing information, see our national business visas page.
Meeting us about your business
Business clients usually prefer an in-person meeting at Level 13, 257 Collins Street, often with their accountant, because the discussion covers commercial detail. If you are overseas or travelling between countries, the same meeting runs by video and documents can be shared securely in advance.
We keep the matter with one lawyer from the first meeting onward, so the person who understands your business structure is the person who prepares the submissions. We quote our professional fees in writing after the first meeting, once the pathway is clear.
Our Melbourne office
Visa Plan LawyersLevel 13, 257 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8:45 am to 5:15 pm, closed on Victorian public holidays
- Phone
- (03) 9958 5854
Government charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| National Innovation visa (858), main applicant | $6,235 |
| National Innovation visa, additional applicant 18 or over | $3,120 |
| National Innovation visa, additional applicant under 18 | $1,560 |
No new Subclass 188 applications can be made, so no 188 charge is shown. For employer sponsored or skilled pathways, see the charges on those pages.
Checked on 22-10-2026. Source: Department of Home Affairs: current visa pricing. Our professional fees are separate and are quoted in writing before you instruct us.
How the matter runs
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Business and personal review
We look at your business, your record of achievement, your investment history and your family, in a confidential meeting.
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Pathway advice
You receive written advice on the routes open to you: the National Innovation visa, employer sponsorship, skilled migration or, for existing holders, the 888.
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Structuring and evidence
We work with your accountant on the records each pathway needs, from company structure to financial statements and evidence of achievement.
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Expression of interest or nomination
We prepare the expression of interest for the National Innovation visa, or the state nomination for an 888, and the supporting submissions.
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Application and follow-up
After an invitation or nomination, we lodge the visa application and respond to the Department's requests until a decision is made.
Questions from Melbourne clients
Can I still apply for a Business Innovation and Investment (188) visa to move my business to Melbourne?
No. The Department of Home Affairs states that the Business Innovation and Investment Program is closed as of 31 July 2024, and applications made before that date are still being processed. A new business migrant now looks at the National Innovation visa, employer sponsorship or skilled migration instead.
I already hold a Subclass 188 and run a business in Melbourne. What now?
Holders of a provisional Subclass 188 visa keep the pathway to the permanent Subclass 888, provided they meet the criteria of their stream, and some streams allow an extension where more time is needed. State or territory nomination is required for the 888. We review your Victorian business records against the stream criteria before the nomination is sought.
Is the National Innovation visa a replacement for the investor streams?
Not directly. The National Innovation visa (Subclass 858) is invitation-only and assesses an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement, for example as an entrepreneur or innovative investor. It does not have a fixed investment threshold, so an investment record alone is unlikely to be enough.
Can my Melbourne company sponsor me?
In some cases. A business owner may be sponsored by a genuine Australian business through the employer sponsored visas, where the business and the nominated role meet the sponsorship and nomination criteria. The structure of the company and the role need careful review, and we advise on that before any application is prepared.
Is what I tell you about my business kept confidential?
Business migration means sharing ownership structures, financial records and investment positions. Communications with a lawyer for the purpose of legal advice are protected by legal professional privilege, which lets you discuss those details openly. Many business clients prefer to do so in a private meeting at our Collins Street office.
Businesses and founders we have acted for
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"James took care of our sponsorship and nomination and visa for our case, even though our case was not easy because our business is still new business."
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"Great service, its worth every cent."
Reviewed by James Bae, Managing Director and Principal Immigration Lawyer. This page is general information about Australian migration law and is not legal advice for your circumstances.