PROutcome
Permanent from day one
You become a permanent resident on grant, with a five-year travel facility and a pathway to citizenship if eligible.
- Live, work and study anywhere in Australia
- Medicare and family sponsorship rights
National Innovation visa / subclass 858
Permanent residence for exceptional talent.
The National Innovation visa (NIV) is Australia's exclusive permanent visa for people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement. It is aimed at global researchers, entrepreneurs, innovative investors, senior professionals, athletes and creatives who will contribute to Australia's future prosperity.
Direct permanent residence
No occupation list
Invitation only
Global talent to Australia858
Ministerial Direction 120EOI first
Tier 1 / Tier 2
Top-of-field awards, government agency nominations, then Tier One and Tier Two sectors. Your achievements and your sector decide where you sit.
Expression of InterestInvitationForm 1000 nominatorPriority sectorsPermanent residence
Why the NIV is different
No points test, no occupation list, no sponsor.
The NIV is assessed on the strength of your record, not on age points or a skills list. The question is whether your achievements place you among the best in your field internationally, and whether you will contribute to Australia.
0Job offer needed
No employer sponsorship
You do not need an Australian employer to sponsor you, and no job offer is required, although you must show you can establish yourself in your field.
- Unrestricted work rights
- Suits founders, researchers and executives
AnyAge
No age limit
Applicants of any age can apply. If you are under 18 or aged 55 or over, you must also show you would be of exceptional benefit to the Australian community.
- Benefit must be ongoing and sustained
- Evidence such as a senior role or business plan
ENEnglish
No English test score
Functional English is required for applicants aged 18 or over, or a second instalment charge can be paid instead of providing that evidence.
- No IELTS band or points target
- Second instalment payable only before grant
+1Family
Family included
Your partner and dependent children can be included in the application, subject to health and character requirements.
- Members can be added before a decision
- Additional charge per family member
In/OutLocation
Apply onshore or offshore
You can be in or outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted, but not in immigration clearance.
- Onshore applicants need an eligible visa status
- 491 and 494 holders need 3 years on that visa
Core requirements
Exceptional, international, recent and continuing.
The legal test is demanding. A strong CV is not enough on its own. Your record must be internationally recognised in a profession, a sport, the arts, or academia and research, and it must still be active.
See the achievement indicatorsYour achievements place you among the best in your area.
The record must show superior abilities and achievements compared with others in your field, acclaim as exceptional wherever that field is practised, and sustained achievement that is unlikely to diminish in the near future.
- An internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement
- Recent achievements that show you are still active and prominent
- A field that is recognised in Australia and has international standing
- A benefit to the Australian community, whether economic, social, cultural or in raising Australia's standing
- The ability to find work or become established in your field in Australia without difficulty
- A nominator with a national reputation in your field, using Form 1000
- Health, character and functional English (or the second instalment)
Indicators of exceptional achievement
Evidence that speaks for itself.
Ministerial Direction 120 lists the indicators the Department looks for. They are guidance, not a checklist, and each case is assessed on its overall merits. In practice, the strongest files combine several indicators with independent proof of impact.
01Top of field
International awards
Awards that place you at the very top of your discipline worldwide, such as a Nobel Prize, Fields Medal, Turing Award, Pulitzer Prize or Olympic gold medal.
- Highest priority for invitation
- Can apply in any sector
02Research funding
National research grants
Competitive national or international grants, such as the Australian Research Council, UKRI, the European Commission or the US National Science Foundation.
- Named investigator on the grant
- Internal university funding is not enough
03Academic influence
PhD with thought leadership
A PhD combined with influence in the field, such as recent papers in top-ranked journals, a high h-index for your career stage, or a research degree from a top-100 university.
- Early career benchmark: h-index of around 14
- Times Higher Education top 100 as a guide
04Recognition
Keynote appearances
Recent keynote or invited addresses at high-profile international conferences in your field.
- External industry or academic events
- Internal company events do not count
05Innovation
Patents and intellectual property
Recognised intellectual property attributed to you, such as relevant international patents for cutting-edge products or technology.
- Named inventor or clear key involvement
- Granted patents carry the most weight
06Earnings
High income
Current earnings, or a written Australian job offer, at or above the Fair Work high income threshold in your area of achievement. The threshold is AUD 190,100 from 1 July 2026.
- Base salary equivalent is the usual measure
- Income outside your field does not count
Other supporting evidence can include senior technical or leadership roles at reputed organisations, Academic Level D or E appointments, leading a company to IPO, advisory board appointments, statements from peak bodies, and international media coverage of your work.
How to build the evidencePriority sectors
Your sector shapes your priority.
Invitations are issued in priority order. After top-of-field award holders and government agency nominees, the Department prioritises candidates with exceptional achievements in Tier One sectors, followed by Tier Two sectors.
Critical Technologies, Health Industries, Renewables and Low Emission Technologies
Includes AI, robotics, autonomous systems, cyber security, quantum, photonics, advanced ICT and manufacturing, biotechnology, genomics, precision medicine, AI in health, wearable devices, renewable energy, green hydrogen, green metals, carbon storage and critical minerals processing.
Our assessment benchmark: at least one strong indicator, supported by evidence of achievement in the sector.
Agri-food and AgTech, Defence and Space, Education, FinTech, Infrastructure and Transport, Resources
Includes food technology and biosecurity, propulsion and space systems engineering, senior university leadership and Level D or E academics, blockchain, cloud and financial data science, large transport infrastructure projects, and automation and value-adding in resources.
Our assessment benchmark: ideally at least two indicators relevant to the sector, supported by evidence of achievement.
Priority 1 is reserved for recipients of international top-of-field awards. Priority 2 covers candidates nominated on Form 1000 by an expert Australian Government, State or Territory Government agency, where investment, entrepreneurial and community achievements may also be considered.
Read the FAQBuilding the file
Prove the achievement, not just the job title.
Decision makers look for independent proof that your work is recognised beyond your employer. Titles and salaries help, but third-party evidence of impact is what separates an exceptional record from a successful career.
See the application sequenceShow who recognised your work, and where.
Every indicator claimed in the EOI must be supported by documents in the visa application. Keep the claims consistent from EOI to lodgement.
- Media articles, interviews and industry mentions of your work
- Case studies showing products, projects or research you led
- Award certificates, grant letters and patent registrations
- Publication records, citation metrics and Google Scholar profile
- Conference programmes confirming keynote or invited speaker roles
- Employment contracts and payslips showing role and salary
- Reference letters from recognised experts in your field
- A statement of your plans and opportunities in Australia
How the process works
The NIV is invitation only.
You cannot lodge a visa application until the Department invites you. Invitation rounds are held monthly. From April to June 2026, the Department received 2,166 EOIs and issued 248 invitations, most of them to Tier One candidates. An invitation is not a pre-assessment, so the application must still prove every claim.
- 1. Expression of InterestSet out your achievements and sector
- 2. InvitationReceive a unique reference and identifier
- 3. NominatorForm 1000 signed by a nationally reputed nominator
- 4. Lodge within 60 daysApply in ImmiAccount with full evidence
- 5. DecisionAssessed on merit, then permanent residence
What an NIV assessment reviews
Clear questions before an EOI.
Before submitting an EOI, organise your record around these three areas. Gaps are easier to address before you are invited than within the 60-day lodgement window.
Sector fit
- Which priority sector your work belongs to
- Tier One or Tier Two
- Specialisation within the sector
- How your work benefits Australia
Indicators
- Awards, grants and patents
- PhD, publications and h-index
- Keynotes and senior roles
- Salary against the high income threshold
Supporting proof
- Media coverage and case studies
- Expert references
- A suitable nominator in Australia
- Family, health and character details
Frequently asked questions
Common NIV questions.
Short answers to the questions applicants ask most often. Settings can change, so always confirm current requirements before lodging.
Do I need a job offer or employer sponsor?
No. The NIV does not require sponsorship or a job offer. You do need to show you can find work or become established in your field in Australia, and a written job offer at or above the high income threshold can count as an indicator.
Who can be my nominator?
An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or Australian organisation with a national reputation in your field. They sign Form 1000 to attest to your record, and it must be attached when you lodge. Nomination by an expert government agency places you in Priority 2.
How many indicators do I need?
There is no fixed number, because the indicators are guidance and not a checklist. As a working benchmark, a Tier One candidate may succeed with one strong indicator, while a Tier Two candidate should ideally show at least two, each backed by evidence of recognised achievement in the sector.
What if my field is not a priority sector?
You can still submit an EOI, but candidates outside the priority sectors are considered after Priorities 1 to 4. Exceptions include top-of-field award holders, athletes and creatives, and experienced entrepreneurs or investors, particularly with government agency nomination.
How much does the visa cost?
The main applicant charge is from AUD 6,235, with additional charges for family members. A second instalment of AUD 4,890 applies to each applicant aged 18 or over with less than functional English. Health checks, police certificates and biometrics are extra.
How long does it take?
Timing depends on your priority level, the completeness of your application and the time taken for health, character and security checks. Higher priority candidates are invited and processed first.
Find out whether your record meets the NIV standard.
An early assessment of your sector, indicators and evidence shows whether an EOI is realistic and what needs to be strengthened first.
More visa information
If you're interested in other Australia or New Zealand Visa
Visit ANZ Migrate for information about other Australian visa options and New Zealand pathways.