888 – Investor stream
This visa is the second stage application for permanent residency for holders of the 188 – Investor stream.
State nomination for this visa is managed by the Queensland Government, through Migration Queensland, in collaboration with the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs.
Eligibility criteria
To be considered for Queensland nomination, you must:
- hold a current 188 visa – Investor stream,
- have complied with all the Migration Queensland nomination requirements you undertook for the 188 visa,
- demonstrate that you meet the Home Affairs Immigration Eligibility Criteria for the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888), and
- register your application directly with Migration Queensland.
Additional eligibility criteria are based on your original provisional visa
- Provide evidence of your genuine commitment to Queensland, such as: purchase of properties for family residence, additional investment, study in Queensland, and;
- Provide evidence that you have resided in Queensland for at least 2 years.
EOI for 188 visa submitted from 1 July 2021
- Provide evidence that you have transferred at least A$3 million to Queensland, Australia, including A$500,000 for settlement in Queensland and A$2.5 million held in Complying Investment for the entire period of your 188 visa.
EOI for 188 visa submitted prior to 1 July 2021
- Provide evidence that you have transferred at least A$2.25 million to Queensland, including A$1.5 million of Designated Investment into Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) Bond for at least 4 years,
- the designated investment in the Queensland Treasury Corporation Bond has been held for at least 4 years, and
- you have resided in Queensland for at least 2 of the last 4 years.
Department of Home Affairs note for 888 visa lodgements
If you applied for your provisional visa before 1 July 2015: You are eligible to apply for an 888 permanent visa after holding your provisional visa for 3 years and 11 months.
If you applied for your provisional visa after 1 July 2015: You are eligible to apply for an 888 permanent visa after holding your provisional visa for at least 4 years.
If you applied for your provisional visa on or after 1 July 2021: You are eligible to apply for an 888 permanent visa after holding your provisional visa for at least 3 years.
Application process
Step 1
Review your eligibility criteria, visa conditions, and document checklist on the Department of Home Affairs website and the Migration Queensland website. Ensure that you meet both the Home Affairs Immigration Eligibility Criteria and Migration Queensland nomination criteria and that you have all your documentation ready before you apply.
Step 2
Register your interest here.
Step 3
Lodge the requested documentation:
- Queensland State Nomination Application form
- Home Affairs Form 1414
- Copy of your 188 visa grant notification letter
- Evidence that you have held a Designated Investment of A$1.5 million in Queensland Treasury Corporation for 4 years.
- If the investment has not matured:
- Copy of certificate of inscription that was issued at commencement of investment, and;
- 1-page summary statement
- If the investment has matured:
- Written or email confirmation from the Queensland Treasury Corporation, or
- Bank statements confirming repayment of amount.
- If the investment has not matured:
- Overview of current and future business or investment activities in Queensland – including activities in addition to:
- the designated investment:
- Undertaken over the preceding 4 years, and;
- Intended to be undertaken in the next 2 years
- Evidence of Queensland residency – property purchase contract and settlement statement, property lease agreement, council rates, or utility bills.
- the designated investment:
Step 4
After you have uploaded your documents, you will be required to pay the non-refundable application fee to finalise your application.
Migration Queensland will then review your application and may contact you if further information is required.
Note: You will be given 14 days to finalise your application from the date of invitation. If you are unable to provide the relevant information within this time frame, you must seek an extension from Migration Queensland. Applications not finalised within the time frame will be closed and you will need to submit a new application if you wish to seek Queensland nomination again.
Step 5
Once Migration Queensland has received and approved your completed application, you will receive a confirmation of Queensland nomination and a signed copy of the HA Form 1414 to lodge with your visa application. You will be given 90 days to lodge your application with the Department of Home Affairs, but you must do so before your provisional visa expires.