The 188A Business Innovation Provisional Visa (Business Innovation Stream), also known as the 188A Investor Visa, is one of the three categories of the Australian Business Migration 188 visa. It aims to attract skilled professionals and managers with innovative abilities to undertake entrepreneurial and business activities in Australia, thereby promoting local economic development and creating more employment opportunities.

This visa is primarily aimed at four types of applicants: business owners, company shareholders, contractors, and senior executives. Before applying for the 188A visa, applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Skill Select system and obtain nomination from an Australian state or territory government, which qualifies them for formal application. Obtaining the 188A visa is the first step towards obtaining the Australian Permanent Residency Visa (888 visa) for innovation and investment.

The 188A visa is valid for 5 years from the date of approval (4 years and 3 months before July 1, 2021). Visa holders are required to operate a business in the sponsoring state or territory for at least 2 years after approval and actively participate in daily management. During this period, applicants must meet certain residency requirements in Australia: for applicants before July 1, 2021, they must have lived in Australia for at least 1 year within the 2 years before submitting the 888A permanent residency application; for applicants after July 1, 2021, they must have lived in Australia for at least 1 year within the 3 years before submitting the 888A application. Upon meeting the requirements, holders can apply for the 888A Business Innovation and Investment Permanent Residency Visa, thereby obtaining Australian permanent residency rights.