I am currently holding a student visa in Sydney and will graduate with a Ph.D. next year. I want to make an investment or set up my own business in the country. What is the process of switching from a student visa to an investor visa? Do I have to return to my home country during this process?
If you obtained a Ph.D. qualification in Australia you will be eligible for a temporary graduate 485 visa in the Post Study Work stream which will be valid for four years. During this time you will be able to establish a business in Australia or make an investment and transition to a business visa. To prepare for this visa pathway and choose the correct visa stream it will necessary to speak with a migration professional to determine your eligibility and choose the best option for you.
You can submit an application for subclass 188 investor visa when you held a student visa. You do not have to return to your home country for submitting the visa application. However, please note that the investor visa is based on the submission of Expression of Interest (EOI) online, and only on being nominated by a State or Territory government Agency or by Austrade, you will be invited to apply for the visa. Accordingly, only after being invited from the EOI, you will be making the actual visa application. Should you be able to complete the above process and make the visa application before the expiry of your student visa, you will be granted a bridging visa, and thus you do not have to return to your home country for this purpose.
The switch will be simple provided that your circumstances allow.
If you are a full-time student, you cannot just switch to an investor visa unless you already have a strong background as an investor. The 188 Investor visa stream for designated investments in state bonds requires at least three years of prior direct and successful management experience of your own personal portfolio of investments/ company. This would logically not fit the profile of students unless you can prove you already have that background. You also need to have a personal net worth of $2.25million held for at least two full financial years before you lodge your visa. The other investment visa, 188 Significant Investor visa stream of AUD$5 million, is only open to applicants who can prove their source of funds in obtaining the $5 million prior to application. You generally do not need to prove investment background for this visa, however, there are other aspects your will need to prove and are highly recommended to seek professional advice for this visa. You won't need to return to your country provided you have all your documentation in place and your current substantive visa is still valid at the time you lodge your investment visa. Before you make plans in establishing your background or to lodge a visa, you are strongly advised to consult a migration professional to help you plan your visa pathway.
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