491 visa– Queensland Small Business Owners Pathway - Blog By Migration Agent In Sydney

Subclass 491 visa - to operate a business in regional Queensland has a pathway for Small Business Owners that allows the state to nominate who are operating a small business in regional Queensland and currently living in Queensland. The applicant must meet the Queensland BSMQ's Requirements and department of Home Affairs requirement to get eligible and also go for professional immigration agency in Sydney.

Department of Home Affairs requirement:

• Be under 45 years old
• Have minimum 65 points
• Positive assessment of skills
• Meet the minimum English efficiency & English language requirement test
• If invited to lodge an application for a subclass 491 visa, submit additional documents.

BSMQ's Requirements:

• An occupation have on HA’s Legislative instrument (LIN 19/051)
• be on a visa that allows operation of the business for a minimum of 35 hours per week and full-time work 
• have previous family-run business experience,  qualifications to successfully run the business,  have prior business experience (Successfully operating the business for at least 6 months to meet this criteria.
• In regional Queensland have purchased an existing business (for start-up, home based business not available.must have been operating for at least a year prior for franchise businesses to purchase)
• Provide sufficient settlement funds evidence 
• Prior to submitting an EOI invested a minimum of $100,000 in the business 
• Ownership of the business must be 100% (Joint venture or partnership not eligible)
• For 6 months prior to application be trading in the business.
• Employ one Australian resident employee working a minimum of 20 hours per week. Purpose is an Australian permanent resident for 491-SBO,New Zealand or Australian citizen on a special category subclass 444 visa.

 PROCESSING TIME - 10 days
FEES - $220 including GST is processing fee

491 visas:
491 visas are for skilled Workers who want to work and live in regional Australia. It is a 5 years provisional visa. In designated regional area of Australia it allows you to work and study. through the 191 visa, the 491 visa has a pathway to PR.