The New National Innovation Visa (NIV): A Guide For Visa Applicants

A new invitation-only permanent visa program is now open for exceptionally talented migrants! The National Innovation visa (NIV) aims to attract global experts with a recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement. The Australian government hopes that such individuals can drive growth in sectors of national importance. In this blog, we unpack the new National Innovation visa, the key changes that have been introduced, and the application process.

Overview of the National Innovation Visa

On December 7, 2024, the Australian government introduced the new National Innovation visa. This visa replaced the Global Talent visa, but remains a subclass 858 visa.

The National Innovation visa is an exclusive program for global experts with world-leading skills, extensive achievements, and international recognition in key areas. The new visa is designed to attract highly-skilled individuals from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that Australia continues to foster innovation, growth, and development across various sectors. It also offers a direct pathway to permanent residency.

The National Innovation visa is not limited to specific occupations, but does target four main categories of exceptional talent:

The National Innovation Visa is based on 4 Tiers structure where an applicant will be eligible if they can meet the criteria of any of tiers:

Priority Processing Order and the indicator of each candidate category

All applications are based on an Expression of  application which if successful will result in the applicant receiving an invitation to lodge an 858 visa, These are also separated in order of priority as follows:

Priority 1  – Global experts with prestigious international awards,

Priority 2 – Candidates nominated by Australian Commonwealth, State or Territory Government agencies, Applicants can include:  

Athletes and creatives who can enhance Australia’s global reputation

History of innovative investment activities with a proven record of supporting successful ventures.

Entrepreneurial efforts that contribute to the commercialisation of products or services in Australia

Ownership of recognized intellectual property, such as holding relevant international patents.

Priority 3 –  Individuals with significant achievements in Tier 1 sectors. These include:

• Critical Technologies includes any potentially transformative enabling technology. This includes artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and cyber security technology., advanced information and communication technology, advanced manufacturing and materials technology, artificial intelligence technology, autonomous systems, biotechnology, clean energy generation and storage technology, 
• Renewable and low emission technology  – are focusing on bio0methane production, circular economy innovations, clean energy technology
• Health Industries include these specialisations: antimicrobial resistance, artificial intelligence in health, biochemistry and cell biology, biotechnology, genomics, emerging health threats and emergencies, health economics, implantable and wearable devices, infectious disease prevention, pharmaceuticals and precision medicine, medical science manufacturing for therapeutic products.

Priority 4 – Individuals with distinguished accomplishments in Tier 2 sectors.  These include:

Agri-food and AgTech, Defence Capabilities and Space, Education, Financial Services and Fintech, Infrastructure and Transport, as well as Resources

With a National Innovation visa, you can:

• Stay in Australia indefinitely.
• Work and study in Australia.
• Enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme; Medicare.
• Sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia.
• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years.
• Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.

How To Apply

Visa applicants cannot directly apply for a National Innovation visa. Applications may be accepted through an invitation-only process after an Expression of Interest (EOI) has been submitted. 

There are no age or occupation restrictions to apply for the National Innovation visa. However, if you are under 18 years old or 55 years or older when you apply, you must prove you are an exceptional benefit to the Australian community. The exceptional benefit should be ongoing, sustained, and realised shortly after migration. This may include:

• Making exceptional contributions to the Australian economy.
• Creating employment opportunities for a large number of Australian residents.
• Driving research, development, and innovation in sectors of national importance.
• Enhancing Australia’s global standard in a key area.

Here are the steps to obtaining a National Innovation visa:

1. Have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement. The National Innovation visa requires applicants to have an internationally recognised and established track record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in one of the following areas:
   1. A profession.
   2. A sport.
   3. The arts.
   4. Academia and research.
2. Find a nominator. Your EOI must be endorsed by a nominator with a national reputation in your area of talent. They must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, an eligible New Zealand citizen, or an Australian organisation. The nomination should confirm your achievements and your potential to contribute to Australia’s innovation landscape.
3. Complete an English language test. English language requirements for the National Innovation visa are flexible. Applicants are required to demonstrate functional English, which is an average of 4.5 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent. However, if you cannot obtain this score, you can still apply for a National Innovation visa by paying a secondary Visa Application Charge (VAC).
4. Submit an EOI to the Department of Home Affairs. In your EOI, you must outline your internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievements. You must also demonstrate that you are still prominent in your field, would be an asset to the Australian community, and would have no difficulty obtaining employment or becoming established independently.

Once an EOI has been submitted, the Department of Home Affairs will consider applications according to the following priority order:

1. Recipients of international prestigious awards, including Nobel Prize laureates, Fields Medal recipients, Booker Prize winners, and Olympic gold medallists.
2. Exceptionally talented people in their field who are endorsed by a relevant Australian state, territory, or federal government agency.
3. People with exceptional skills in critical technologies, renewables, and low emission technologies and health industries.
4. Exceptionally talented people in agriculture, resources, defence capabilities, education, financial services, and infrastructure and transport.

1. Receive an invitation to apply. If your EOI is successful, you will receive an invitation to apply for the National Innovation visa. You must lodge your visa application within 60 days of receiving the invitation.
2. Pay the application fee. Currently, the cost of a National Innovation visa is $4,840 AUD. If you cannot demonstrate functional English proficiency, you will be required to pay a secondary VAC.

The introduction of the National Innovation visa is part of a broader migration strategy to attract exceptionally talented individuals and foster innovation, enhance global competitiveness, and raise Australia’s international standing. If you would like to learn more about the National Innovation visa, we are here to help. Contact us at AustraliaMigrate today for expert immigration advice and assistance with your visa application.