Australia's 188E Visa Is Closed: What Existing Applicants Should Check Now
The subclass 188 Entrepreneur stream stopped accepting new applications on 31 July 2024. The Department of Home Affairs says it will continue processing applications made before that date. An old Expression of Interest, nomination or business plan should not be treated as proof that a visa application was lodged. Start by checking the actual application record or visa grant notice in ImmiAccount.
First confirm which situation applies
There are three different situations, and they lead to different next steps:
**A subclass 188E application was lodged before the closure date and is still pending.** Keep the application number, acknowledgement, uploaded documents and all Department correspondence together. Read each request in ImmiAccount and respond by the date and method stated in that notice. The Department says it continues to process pre-closure applications, but it does not publish a standard processing time for the Entrepreneur stream.
**The person already holds a subclass 188E visa.** Check the grant letter and current conditions in Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO). The visa is provisional, and the holder must continue to meet the conditions that apply to their grant.
**The person has an Expression of Interest, nomination or business proposal but no lodged visa application.** Home Affairs states that the stream is closed to new applications. An Expression of Interest is not itself a visa application, so confirm the actual lodgement status before relying on older plans or correspondence.
The Department’s 188 Entrepreneur stream page and BIIP closure notice should be checked against the individual record.
If the application is still being processed
Keep a dated copy of the lodged form, payment receipt, nomination and endorsement documents, business plan, and every message from Home Affairs. If the Department requests more information, follow that request rather than relying on a general checklist from an older article. Keep evidence that shows when material was submitted and whether ImmiAccount accepted it.
If circumstances change, read the Department’s instructions for that particular application before sending updates. Do not assume a new document, revised business plan or contact with a state agency will reopen the closed stream or change the order in which the Department considers the case. The public closure notice says pending applications are processed in line with migration planning levels and skilled visa processing priorities; it does not promise a decision date.
If the visa has been granted
Check the conditions attached to the grant and the expiry date shown in the visa record. Home Affairs identifies entrepreneurial activity, employment of Australian citizens and permanent residents, ongoing funding or investment, business turnover, and endorsement by a recognised start-up body as factors relevant to the success of the activity. Keep the underlying records as they are created: contracts, invoices, accounts, funding records, payroll evidence and correspondence with any recognised body may help explain what the business actually did.
Those records do not guarantee a permanent visa. Home Affairs says an eligible subclass 188 holder may apply for the subclass 888 Entrepreneur stream if the requirements are met. Check the current subclass 888 Entrepreneur stream criteria for the person’s exact grant history and circumstances. Do not assume that holding a 188E visa converts automatically to permanent residence.
If considering withdrawal and a visa charge refund
Home Affairs says an applicant may be able to receive a refund of the subclass 188 Visa Application Charge if the application is withdrawn on or after 31 July 2024. The Entrepreneur stream is listed among the streams for which refunds are available, but the Department assesses requests individually and gives no standard refund timeframe.
The Department’s current instructions say to withdraw through ImmiAccount, wait for the formal withdrawal notification, then check **My Payments → Manage Payments**. A refund request can be made when the payment status is **Credit** or **Paid**. Before withdrawing, read the Department’s warning: if the applicant is in Australia, withdrawal may affect their visa status. Get advice on the person’s current lawful status and next visa before taking that step.
A short case check
Before making a decision, confirm:
the date and evidence of the actual visa application lodgement, if any;
whether the person is waiting for a decision or already holds a visa;
the grant letter, expiry date and conditions shown in VEVO;
any request or deadline in ImmiAccount;
the current subclass 888 Entrepreneur rules, if permanent residence is being considered; and
the possible visa-status consequences and refund steps before withdrawing.
The closure of new 188E applications does not erase the Department’s instructions for older pending cases or current visa holders. The correct next step depends on the actual application and grant record. For the related service scope, see Australia subclass 188E information.
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