Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) – Extension

To be eligible to apply for nomination extension, you must hold a Victorian nominated provisional visa, either a:

• Business Innovation stream (subclass 188A) visa
  • for at least 2 years and 9 months, and
  • own and actively operated your Victorian business for at least 1 year and 9 months.
• Significant Investor stream (subclass 188C) visa
  • for at least 2 years and 9 months, and
  • maintained complying investments for the duration of your provisional visa.

You should also check that you meet the Department of Home Affairs' requirements for extension:

• Business Innovation Extension stream (subclass 188A), or
• Significant Investor Extension stream (subclass 188C).

Please note that the Department of Home Affairs’ COVID-19 concession periodexternal link has ended, and concessions on the number of Extension applications no longer apply.

To apply for nomination extension, you must:

1. Prepare your evidence to support your application.
2. If you wish to swap the secondary visa holder to the primary applicant, prepare to lodge the application under the name of the applicant seeking to satisfy the primary criteria.
3. Submit a 188X Extension nomination application on the Live in Melbourne portalexternal link
   1. Respond to any requests for further information within 14 days.

After you apply

1. The Skilled and Business Migration Program will assess your application.
2. We will email you if we require more information to support your application. You must respond within 2 weeks.

Once you are nominated

1. You and your agent will be notified of our decision by email.
2. Submit your visa application to the Department of Home Affairs within 90 days.
3. Keep your contact details up to date so we can provide you important services.
   • We have a dedicated Relationship Management team that may contact you to assist you to navigate the Victorian business environment.
4. Comply with your Victorian nomination obligations for subclass 188A or subclass 188C.

In your application, you will need to provide the following documents to show you meet the requirements:

• Department of Home Affairs' Nomination - Business Skills class Form 1414