Queensland:  

                                                                        The program is for migrants living in and operating small businesses in regional Queensland.                                                                                        It is a five-year visa with a pathway to permanent residency after three years. 

Pathway 1: Business purchase

You must be looking to purchase an existing registered business outside South East Queensland with a minimum purchase price of $100,000.

Your business must:
+ employ at least one Australian resident; and 
+ be operating for a minimum of six months before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Additionally, the business purchase must be settled within 18 months of the EOI. This business must: 
+ have been operating for at least two years at its current location;
+ continue operating for six months or more after settlement; and
+ employ at least one Australian resident for 20 or more hours per week.

Pathway 2: Start-up business

This pathway applies if you have started your own business, which must:be running continuously for a minimum of two years; and generate a profit. 

The business should have a turnover of at least $200,000 in the 12 months prior to submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

The ACT allows eligible applicants to claim Matrix points in the small business owner category under the Subclass  491 nomination program. 

To secure ACT state nomination, you must:

• + be the majority owner (51%) of an eligible registered business located in the ACT; 
• + live in Canberra for the last three months; 
• + work in Canberra as a small business owner in the last three months; and
• + commit to living in Canberra. 

The following businesses are ineligible businesses for ACT state nomination:

• + sub-tenancy;
• + ride-share, taxi, delivery and courier services; and
• + an on-sold business previously used to qualify for ACT nomination.

To claim Matrix points in the Small Business Owner category, you must satisfy the following criteria:

• + the business is operating in the ACT for at least 12 months with a minimum turnover of $200,000 OR
• + the business is operating for at least 6 months with a minimum turnover of $100,000; 
• + the business is profitable;
• + you earn at least $13,000 taxable income in the last three months (for Subclass 491) OR $26,000 taxable income in the last 6 months (for Subclass 190); and
• you employ at least one Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen for at least 13 weeks (minimum 20 hours per week).

Tasmania

Tasmania provides a  Business Owner stream within their Subclass 491 program.

To be eligible for this, you must: 

• + have operated a business in Tasmania for at least 12 months; 
• + solely own or co-own your business with your spouse, where this business is eligible; 
• + have a personal taxable income from the business of at least 85% of the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (currently $62,178); and 
• +  satisfy priority attributes.