QLD

Investor Migration

2022

The Queensland Government has just made a major announcement for investors!

With the financial year only halfway through, the 2022–23 financial yearQueensland Business Investor Immigration stream has closed. Migration Queensland’s Business Innovation and Investment Programme (BIIP) has concluded, as it had previouslyexhausted all transitional allocations, and in December, investor migration streams across all statesreceived no supplementary quota。

Looking at the state nomination quota statistics for this financial year, with investor migration alone,Queensland and NSW have the largest allocations, with impressive invitation rates!Queensland’s investor migration quota was 235, with a utilisation rate that did reach 100%. This tells us two things:

1. Queensland still welcomes investor migrants

2. The Sunshine State remains an attractive destination for investor applicants

The state government issued every last quota without hesitation — investor migration is simply not a current government priority, so when quotas ran out, no supplement was provided.For those considering the Queensland Subclass 188 pathway who do not want to wait until July–August next year, now is a great time to explore alternative migration options while skilled migration conditions are favourable.

Today, we break down some of the most recommended migration pathways for next year — including the pros and cons of each.

1. Hot Picks: Subclass 189 and NSW Subclass 190 Skilled Migration

The first pathway is the much-talked-about Subclass 189 and NSW Subclass 190 skilled migration that has been making headlines in recent weeks.

For Subclass 189 skilled migration,the first two rounds of this financial year issued24,000invitations, and the 8 December mega-round alone issued35,000, giving many applicants renewed hope and granting long-waiting applicants a surprise invitation at lower scores — Subclass 189 had previously been dormant.

Following the federal government’s move to attract skilled migrants,NSW also lowered the bar,removing prior work experience and EOI score requirements.The minimum is now just 65 points, IELTS 6 in all bands, and six months of residing in NSW — essentially no-barrier entry!

For more detail, check out our earlier article:NSW 190 officially removes score and work experience requirements for all occupations! Victoria 10,000+ Subclass 190 quota! States and federal government compete for skilled migrants!

Pros

If you choose this pathway next year, the main advantage is that once you have your skills assessment and language test results, you can essentially lodge your application,the cost is low — minimal outlay required, and with a bit of luck, you could land an Australian PR. It’s a direct pathway to permanent residency, with no further requirements to satisfy.

NSW Subclass 190 also has 9,000+ allocations,with a very low utilisation rate as at the end of November — this is because the previous thresholds were set too high, discouraging applicants. With requirements now eased,conditions are in place to issue more invitations and reduce cut-off scores in the first half of 2023.

Cons

The downside of Subclass 189 is the uncertainty aboutwhen the next invitation round will be issued, as the system has shifted to demand-driven issuance. Subclass 189 has already issued three rounds — 35,000 + 11,000 + 12,000 — and the backlog has grown by 14,000,so the burning questions are: when is the next round, and will there even be one?

The drawbacks of NSW Subclass 190 fall into three categories — be prepared before you apply:

1. If you are already in Australia, you must relocate to NSW and reside there for at least six months — this is non-negotiable.

2. NSW policy can be opaque — data is rarely published, and requirements can change without notice.

3. As the largest state, NSW may attract a surge of new applicants once the favourable conditions become widely known, which could make competition for NSW Subclass 190 quite intense going forward.

2. QLD Subclass 491 Small Business Stream

This was one of the hottest Queensland migration pathways earlier this year.Many applicants in Queensland who did not want to compete on points for skilled migration chose this stream instead.Spend around $100,000 to purchase an eligible small business, run it in Queensland, and work towards permanent residency at the same time — not a bad deal!

Pros

The small business stream has remained a reliable invitation pathway. Once you lodge an EOI, results tend to follow. Requirements are low: skills assessment, 65 EOI points, and purchase of an eligible small business for around $100,000. Plus, once you have your PR, a successful business could mean you never have to look for employment — your small business becomes your income!

Cons

The downside of this stream is that business experience is essential — not because the Department of Home Affairs requires it, but becausemeeting the annual turnover requirements demands genuine understanding of how to run a business. In addition, new conditions have been added to the Subclass 491 small business stream:after the Subclass 491 is granted, you may also need to operatethe small business for three years

If you have absolutely no business experience, honestly, sustaining a loss-making business for three years is quite a challenge. The process of acquiring a business is also time-consuming — you’ll need to invest significant effort into selecting a location, reviewing financial statements, analysing profitability, and managing staff.

Please note that due to the end-of-year holiday period,the Queensland Skilled Migration Programme (including the small business stream) will temporarily close from 26 December 2022 until 2 January 2023.

In summary, for those with relevant business experience, this is a solid migration option. If you are interested in the Queensland Subclass 491 Small Business stream, please get in touch!

Fast & Reliable

Northern Territory MINT Programme

Finally, another pathway that has been generating enormous interest is the Northern Territory MINT Programme. MINT is a state-nominated skilled migration programmein which applicants invest AUD 515,000 as part of their application. Once basic skilled migration requirements are met, applicants can typically obtain a Subclass 190 permanent residency visa directly, or transition from Subclass 491 to PR.

Pros

The key advantage of the NT MINT programme is that invitations are fast and reliable. No points competition — 65 points is sufficient for an invitation. Currently, the typical timeline isinvitation within 5 months, with additional documents requested within 3 months of lodgement— making MINT arguably the fastest migration pathway available!

MINT is also divided into three streams — Overseas Applicants, Overseas Entrepreneur Applicants, and Onshore Entrepreneur Applicants — making it suitable for applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. Here is a detailed breakdown of each stream’s requirements:

1. Overseas Applicants — Overseas Applicants are those who have never previously been to Australia.

2. Overseas Entrepreneur Applicants — Overseas Entrepreneur Applicants are Australian graduates who have not been in Australia for 2 or more years. We previously had the world’s first MINT success case for an overseas Australian graduate — a highly valuable reference! Take a look:

65-point accountant — away from Australia for over two years — secured a Subclass 190 invitation in just 3 months! The world’s first MINT success case for an overseas Australian graduate, right here!

3. Onshore Entrepreneur Applicants — To qualify as an Onshore Entrepreneur Applicant, you must hold a Subclass 485 visa with more than 13 months remaining.

Cons

The main drawback of MINT at this stage is the upfront investment ofAUD 515,000. Compared to the Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment pathway, however, this is very cost-effective. 80% of the funds are invested in stable, low-risk Northern Territory Government bonds, with principal and interest returned after five years. Current interest rates are shown below:

The remaining 20% is invested in a state government-backed VC fund, with returns paid out after five years based on performance. While MINT does tie up a portion of your capital, looking at the long term, the funds are returned with interest — making it an early investment in your future life in Australia!

In summary, MINT is strongly recommended for those considering the Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment pathway —it is cost-effective, fast, and reliable!

Traditional skilled migration involves too much uncertainty, and the Subclass 491 small business stream requires business experience. If you have available capital, MINT is genuinely worth considering. The programme does not accept individual applications —applications must be lodged through an officially designated Northern Territory Panel Agent.

Simon WU (MARN: 1175577), Head of Newstars’s Brisbane and Beijing offices and a MARA-registered migration agent, has been a Panel Agent for the MINT programme since its early days.

Interested in MINT? Get in touch with us today!

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Think Tank: Only 25% of visas go to genuine skilled migrants — the points system needs a major overhaul!

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Lower scores + large quota — over 11,000 invitations already issued

Subclass 189 invitation score 65! Accounting, engineering and IT at 70 points may get Subclass 190!

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Year-end backlog down 400,000! Is temporary-to-permanent pathway the key reform focus?Clickthe “original link” — Migration Weekly Bulletin (video edition)

QLD Investor Migration Effectively Closed This Financial Year — Which Alternative Pathway Should You Consider? A Detailed Analysis of the Pros and Cons of Popular Migration Options

Think Tank: Only 25% of visas go to genuine skilled migrants — the points system needs a major overhaul!

Lower scores + large quota — over 11,000 invitations already issued

Subclass 189 invitation score 65! Accounting, engineering and IT at 70 points may get Subclass 190!

Subclass 189 invitation score 65! Accounting, engineering and IT at 70 points may get Subclass 190!

Subclass 189 invitation score 65! Accounting, engineering and IT at 70 points may get Subclass 190!

Subclass 189 invitation score 65! Accounting, engineering and IT at 70 points may get Subclass 190!

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