Business, Investor & Talent - 2026

Business, Investor and Talent Visas: What Is Actually Open in 2026.

This is a confusing area right now, and a lot of websites still describe visas that no longer take applications. Here's the straight version: the old business and investment program is closed to new applicants, but there are real pathways for talented founders, investors and senior professionals.

Current as of 2026What's open, what's closedReal pathways, not dead ends

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Read This First

The old program is closed. Here's what replaced it.

The Business Innovation and Investment Program - the old 188 and 888 family - stopped taking new applications, and the 132 Business Talent visa is closed too. That sounds like bad news, but it isn't the whole story. The focus has shifted to genuinely exceptional talent, founders, investors, and to skilled and employer-sponsored routes for business owners and senior people. Below is an honest map of where the live pathways are now.

Don't apply to a closed visa. Some consultants still describe the old 188 or 132 as live options. They aren't. If you receive advice to apply to one of these programs, ask for the source - and then check it with us.

What's Open Now

Live pathways for founders, investors and senior professionals.

National Innovation Visa (858) - The permanent visa for exceptional talent, high-calibre founders and serious investors. This is where the old talent route went. Demanding, but real. About the 858 →
Employer Sponsored Visas - If you would move for a senior role, or sponsor yourself through your own Australian business, the 482, 186 and 494 are the live employer routes. Employer visas →
Skilled Migration - For founders and professionals who qualify on points, the 189, 190 or 491 remain open where your occupation makes the list. Skilled visas →
WA DAMA - If you're establishing in Western Australia, the Designated Area Migration Agreement may open occupations and concessions the standard program won't. WA DAMA →

Which Route Is Open?

Which route is actually open for you?

There's no single business or investor visa to fall back on any more. The live route depends on what you bring - exceptional standing, a senior role, points, or a regional plan. Use this as a starting map, then we confirm what's currently open against your profile.

Are you a high-calibre founder, investor or exceptional talent?If your profile is genuinely outstanding in your field, look first at the Subclass 858 National Innovation Visa. It's the live permanent route where the old talent and investor streams went. There's no fixed minimum investment - eligibility is individually assessed - so this turns on standing and contribution, not a set dollar figure. About the 858 →

Would you take a senior role, or sponsor yourself through your own Australian business?Then the employer-sponsored routes - the Subclass 482, 186 and 494 - are likely your most direct option. A business you establish or own can act as the sponsoring employer, provided the role, the business and the nomination meet the requirements. Employer visas →

Does your occupation make a skilled list, and do you score well on points?If so, the Subclass 189, 190 or 491 may be open to you on your own merits as a founder or professional. State nomination (190 and 491) can also open occupations the independent program won't. Skilled visas →

Are you establishing in Western Australia, and none of the above quite fit?The WA Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) may open occupations and concessions the standard program won't, where you're settling and working in the state. WA DAMA →

Not on this map: the 188 and 132. The Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment visa and the Subclass 132 Business Talent visa are closed to new applications. They aren't a fallback if nothing above fits - they simply aren't available. We won't put you on a path that no longer exists.

Pathways Compared

858, employer-sponsored and skilled, side by side.

A quick way to see how the live routes differ. Treat figures as indicative and conditional - the detail that decides your case is on the individual visa pages, and we confirm it for your situation.

	858 National Innovation	Employer-sponsored (482 / 186 / 494)	Skilled (189 / 190 / 491)
Who it suits	Exceptional founders, investors and talent	Those with a senior role or their own sponsoring business	Professionals whose occupation makes a skilled list
Key requirement	Standing and contribution - no fixed minimum investment; individually assessed	A genuine role plus an eligible sponsoring employer and nomination	A points score and, for 190 / 491, state nomination
Investment	No set threshold. Serious investors typically have substantial means (often 1M+ net worth), but it's assessed case by case, not against a fixed figure	Not an investor visa; driven by the role and business, not capital	Not investment-based; driven by points and occupation
Indicative timeline	Generally around 18 to 36 months, depending on complexity	Varies by subclass and nomination stage; confirmed on the employer page	Varies by subclass and state; confirmed on the skilled page
Permanence	Permanent on grant	482 is temporary with PR routes; 186 is permanent; 494 is provisional to PR	189 and 190 permanent; 491 provisional to PR
Where to next	858 page →	Employer page →	Skilled page →

What about fees? Government charges and our professional fees both depend on your circumstances, the subclass and how complex your case is, so we don't publish a flat price. We quote in writing once we've looked at your situation. How we quote →

How We Help

We find the live pathway that actually fits your situation.

We cut through the outdated information, confirm which visa programs are currently accepting applications, and work out which one fits your profile - as a founder, investor, senior professional, or business owner. If the right path isn't open yet, we tell you what needs to be in place before it is.

Common Questions

Business, investor and talent questions.

Can I still apply for the 188 or 888 business visa?

No. The Business Innovation and Investment Program - the 188 and 888 family - is closed to new applicants. It no longer exists as a live pathway. If you've been told otherwise, we'd encourage you to verify that advice. The pathways that are genuinely open are different, and we map those for you based on your actual situation.

What happened to the 132 Business Talent visa?

The 132 is also closed. It used to be the visa for business owners and entrepreneurs with significant backing, but it no longer takes applications. The nearest live option for genuinely exceptional founders and investors is the 858 National Innovation Visa, though it sets a high bar. We'll tell you honestly whether your profile is in range.

I have money to invest. Is there still an investor visa?

The old dedicated investor streams are closed. Investment as a pathway now flows mainly through the 858 National Innovation Visa for exceptional investors, or through the skilled and employer-sponsored routes for business owners and senior professionals. The right path depends entirely on your specific profile and plans for Australia.

I run a business. Can I sponsor myself into Australia?

In some cases, yes. If you establish or own an Australian business that can act as the sponsoring employer, an employer-sponsored visa like the 482 or 186 may be open to you. There are genuine requirements around the role, the business and the nomination. See how the sponsored pathways work →

What is the minimum investment or net worth required for the National Innovation Visa?

There's no fixed minimum. The Subclass 858 National Innovation Visa is individually assessed, so there isn't a set investment figure or net worth threshold you have to clear. In practice, serious investors typically have substantial means - often 1M+ in net worth - but that's an illustration of the kind of profile, not a published rule, and it's weighed case by case alongside your standing and contribution. We'll give you an honest read on whether your profile is in range. About the 858 →

How long does the National Innovation Visa take from start to grant?

As a general guide, the 858 tends to take somewhere around 18 to 36 months from start to grant, depending on how complex your case is and how strong the evidence is at lodgement. That's a typical range rather than a promise, and processing times do change. Building a thorough, well-evidenced case up front is usually what keeps it at the shorter end. See the 858 steps →

Can I pursue more than one business visa pathway at the same time?

Often there's a sensible strategy here rather than a single visa. For example, some people move on an employer-sponsored route like the 482 or 186 while building the case for an 858 over time, or apply through skilled migration if they already qualify on points. What makes sense depends on your timing, your evidence and your goals, so we'd map and prioritise the options for you at an assessment rather than have you chase several at once blindly.

What if my occupation isn't on the skilled migration list?

It isn't necessarily a dead end. State nomination through the 190 or 491 can open occupations the independent program doesn't, and the WA Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) may cover roles and concessions the standard lists won't, where you're settling and working in the state. Employer sponsorship through the 482 or 186 is another route that doesn't hinge on the same lists. An assessment is the practical way to see which of these is actually open for your occupation. WA DAMA →

Related Help

Where to from here.

Exceptional talentNational Innovation Visa 858The live permanent pathway for outstanding founders and investors.Through workEmployer Sponsored VisasSponsor yourself through a business you establish.Skilled migrationSkilled MigrationPoints-tested pathways if your profile is competitive.

Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)

Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.

Founder, investor, or senior professional?

Tell us about your situation and we'll map the live pathways that are actually open to you - not the ones that closed.