Business Visa Australia: The 188 Is Closed — Here's What's Actually Available Now

Migratio Editorial · Last updated 25 September 2026

TL;DR: The subclass 188 Business Innovation & Investment visa closed to new applications on 31 July 2024. There is currently no general "buy a business" or small-business-owner visa open in Australia. Existing 188 holders can still apply for the permanent subclass 888. The main alternative for high-achievers is the National Innovation Visa (subclass 858) — invitation only, not a capital-investment route. Business people without an exceptional-talent profile generally need to look at employer sponsorship (482/186), skilled points-tested pathways (189/190/491), or regional options.

If you have been searching for a business visa for Australia, the landscape has changed significantly since mid-2024. The visa most people associate with this category — the Business Innovation & Investment visa, subclass 188 — closed to new applicants on 31 July 2024. The program ran for over a decade, offering provisional visas for business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs. That chapter is now closed.

This article explains what the closure means in practical terms, what existing 188 holders can still do, and what pathways are genuinely available today for business people who want to move to Australia. The short answer is that the options have narrowed, but they have not disappeared — they have just shifted.

Business Visa Australia: The 188 Is Closed — Here's What's Actually Available Now

What Was the Subclass 188 and Why Did It Close?

What Happens to Existing Subclass 188 Holders?

The National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858): Not a Replacement, But an Option for the Exceptional

There Is No Open 'Small Business Owner' Visa

Employer Sponsorship: The 482 and 186 Visas

Skilled Points-Tested Visas: 189, 190, and 491

Regional and DAMA Pathways

Choosing the Right Pathway

Frequently asked questions