!!Victoria’s 2020-21 business and investor visa nomination program (subclass 188 and 132) will open today at 9 am AEST, Tuesday, 8, September 2020.!!

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly changed the economic and social environment for migration policies and programs, but well-targeted migration policies and programs remain essential to Victoria’s economic recovery.

The Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs has provided the Victorian Government with an interim allocation of visa nomination places for the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) up until the Federal Budget on 6 October. A limited number of places are to be used to address the state’s economic recovery and health response to the pandemic.

The Commonwealth Government will advise after the Federal Budget what additional state nomination visa places will be allocated to the Victorian Government for the remainder of the 2020-21 program year.

Changes to nomination criteria

For the interim period, the Victorian Government’s business and investor migration program will reopen with no substantial changes to the existing nomination criteria, except for one additional requirement.  All business and investment activities must contribute to Victoria’s economic recovery or health response to be approved for visa nomination.

Places are limited and applications are expected to be highly competitive.

To have the best chance of success, it is important that your application is specific about the way your business or investment will assist Victoria’s economic recovery or health response to the pandemic.

Changes to application processing

The Commonwealth Government has provided the interim places for the Victorian Government to use until the Federal Budget.

To ensure that all applications received can be assessed within this timeframe, applications will close at 5 pm AEST, 21 September 2020.