Start a business in Australia as a foreigner
If you’re not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you need a visa to run a business in Australia. Understand how to get the right visa and your other obligations.
Apply for a visa
The Department of Home Affairs issues Australian visas. Visit the department’s website to see all the visas available.
You can apply for a permanent visa if you already have a provisional visa and meet certain conditions.
Changes to business visas
The Department of Home Affairs is no longer accepting new applications for the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188). If you applied for this visa before July 2024 then the department will still process your application.
This change means there are no provisional business visas currently open to new applicants. A new innovation visa will be available at the end of 2024.
If you already have a provisional subclass 188 visa, you may be able to apply for an extension or a permanent visa. Find out more on the Department of Home Affairs’ website.
Set up your business in Australia
Once you’ve got the right visa, you can start your business in Australia.
Our guide to starting a business has the main steps you should follow.
Some things that might be different in Australia compared to your home country:
- Registering a business – use our tool to work out the registrations you need to start your business.
- Licences – the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) helps you find the licences, permits and approvals your business needs.
- Tax – find out about the different taxes that might apply to your business.
- Business laws – read about the main laws your business needs to follow.
- Importing – understand government requirements if you’re planning to import goods from another country.
We use cookies to give you a better experience on our website. Learn more about how we use cookies and how you can select your preferences.