Retirement Visas

The Retiree Visa is a two–tiered approach which will require the applicant to nominate at time of sponsorship whether they intend to settle in a regional or non-regional area.

The place of intended settlement will determine the level of funds required to satisfy the financial criteria. Higher thresholds will apply for the required Designated Investment, establishment costs and income stream for those intending to live in main capitals and surrounding areas then those intending to live in regional areas or low growth areas.


Visa Requirements:

• In the initial application, main applicant would be 55 years or older (spouse could be under 55 years of age);
  
• For initial and all subsequent visa applications , payment of a second visa application charge of AUD8000 per person per visa application to offset possible cost of some applicants accessing aged care/nursing home services at a future time (non refundable, regardless of whether care is utilized during the life of the visa);
  
• For the initial and all subsequent visa applications main applicant to be sponsored by a State /Territory Government with sponsorship being maintained for the entire period of the applicant’s stay in Australia;
  
• For the initial and all subsequent visa applications the main applicant is required to make a minimum designated investment, depending on whether they nominate a regional growth area or a non-regional area in a State or Territory, for a bond of:
  1. AUD750,000 for the initial visa, if the main applicant has indicated to the State/Territory Government sponsor that they are going to live in a non – regional area; OR
     
  2. AUD500,000 for the initial visa, if the main applicant has indicated to the State/Territory Government sponsor that they are going to live in a regional area;
     
  3. AUD500,000 for a second or further visa if the main applicant has indicated to the State/Territory Government sponsor that they are going to live in a non regional area; OR
     
  4. AUD250,000 for a second or further visa if the main applicant has indicated to the State/Territory Government sponsor that they are going to live in a regional area;
     

In addition to the Designated Investment, and for the grant of the initial visa only, main applicant to provide evidence of assets that can be used to establish a lifestyle in Australia with those assets allowed to be combined with those of the spouse, of a minimum of:

• AUD750,000 if the main applicant has indicated to the State or Territory Government sponsor that they are going to live in a non - regional area; OR
  
• AUD500,000 if the main applicant has indicated to the State or Territory Government that they are going to live in a regional area;

• For the initial and all subsequent visa applications main applicant to provide evidence of an annual income stream, which can be combined with the income stream of their spouse, to a minimum of:
  1. AUD65,000 if the main applicant has indicated to the State or Territory Government sponsor that they will live in a non regional area; OR
  2. AUD50,000 if the main applicant has indicated to the State or Territory Government sponsor that they will live in a regional area.
     
• For the initial and all subsequent visa applications, each applicant to provide evidence that they hold a private health insurance package that meets the Department of Health and Ageing guidelines throughout their period of stay in Australia;
  
• Each applicant to have limited work rights of 20 hours per week, to allow visa holders to pursue activities such as volunteer work or investment management without breaching visa conditions;
  
• Each applicant to meet health and character criteria for the initial visa only and to satisfy streamlined health and character for further visa applications;
  
• Each applicant must have no further dependants other then a spouse;
  
• Initial maximum period of stay would be 4 years, renewable if applicant continues to meet criteria for an additional 4 years.