National Innovation Visa (NIV) – Subclass 858

Eligible Areas for the NIV Visa

If you have an internationally recognized record of achievement in the following areas, you may be eligible for the NIV:

• Global Researchers: Individuals with significant research contributions and a strong international reputation. Applicants must demonstrate excellence and innovation in advancing knowledge in their field.
• Entrepreneurs: Visionary individuals who have established successful and innovative ventures, showcasing entrepreneurship and leadership. Their contributions should have a measurable impact on their industry or promote economic growth.
• Innovative Investors: Individuals who have made substantial investments in technological advancements or innovation, demonstrating a commitment to driving business growth and economic development.
• Athletes and Creatives: Recognized for exceptional talent and achievements in sports or the arts, this category is for individuals with a proven track record of international acclaim and excellence.

General Requirements for the NIV Visa

To qualify for the NIV Visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Internationally Recognized Achievement: Demonstrate a record of exceptional and outstanding accomplishments.
• Field Expertise: Maintain a leading position in your area of expertise.
• Employment or Establishment: Show the ability to secure work or independently establish yourself in your field in Australia.
• Age: While there is no strict age limit, individuals under 18 or over 55 must provide evidence of exceptional benefit to the Australian community.
• English Language Proficiency: The main applicant must have at least functional English (equivalent to IELTS 4.5 in all components).
• Health Requirements: Satisfy all health criteria.
• Character Requirements: Meet the necessary character standards.

Steps to Apply for the NIV Visa 

1: Find a nominator: an individual or organization to endorse your achievements, they must complete Form 1000.

2: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

3: Lodge an EOI: valid for two years. If selected, applicants have 60 days to submit their application.

4: Prepare Relevant Documents:

• Personal ID Documents: Passport, birth certificate, or other national ID.
• Evidence of Outstanding Achievements: Prestigious awards, research-based PhDs from top global universities, or similar credentials.
• Nominator Documents: A completed Nomination Form 1000 from an Australian individual or organization with a national reputation in your field.
• Proof of Establishment in Australia: Statements detailing your knowledge of opportunities in your field within Australia.
• Character Documents: Applicants aged 16 and over must provide a character clearance certificate.
• English Proficiency: Main applicants must demonstrate functional English. Secondary applicants without functional English must pay an additional visa charge.
• Partner Documents: Include proof of relationship such as marriage certificates or evidence of a genuine, stable, and ongoing relationship.
• Children’s Documents: For children under 18: Provide a birth certificate and, if applicable, consent documents from the non-migrating parent.For children aged 18-23: Submit ID and character documents.

5: After Applying: All applicants must undergo a health examination. Notify the Department promptly about any status changes during processing.

Priority Processing Order and the indicator of each candidate category

The Department evaluates EOIs based on areas of exceptional and outstanding achievement, with applications prioritized as follows:

Priority 1  – Global experts with prestigious international awards,

Priority 2 – Candidates nominated by Australian Commonwealth, State or Territory Government agencies,

Priority 3 –  Individuals with significant achievements in Tier 1

Priority 4 – Individuals with significant achievements in Tier 2

Category Details

Priority 1:  Candidates who have exceptional and outstanding achievements. Examples include recipients of ‘top-of-field’ level awards, recipients of national research grants, Holders of PhDs with high levels of academic influence or thought leadership and other measures of high-calibre
talent, such as earning at or above the high-income threshold.

Top of Field Level Awards Include:

• Nobel Prizes
• Breakthrough Prizes
• Rousseeuw Prize
• Eni Award
• Institution of Electrical Engineers Medal of Honor
• Fields Medal
• Chern Medal
• Abel Prize
• L’Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science
• Turing Award
• ACM Prize in Computing
• Pulitzer Prize
• International Booker Prize
• International Tchaikovsky Competition Gold Medal
• Olympic Gold Medal
• Laureus World Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year.

Recipients of National research grants includes but are not limited to

• Australian Research Council grants
• Department of Education Accelerator grants
• Equivalent level grants from other countries.

Holders of PhDs with high levels of academic influence or thought leadership

• recent publications in top-ranked journals, for example, Nature, Lancet or Acta Numerica
• a high h-index for their stage of career, for example, an early career researcher with a h-index of 14
• a research-based degree from a top global university, for example, ranked in the top 100 World University Rankings by Times Higher Education.

Other measures of high–calibre talent

• recent keynote appearance at a high-profile international conference. For example:
  • Web Summit; International Congress of Mathematicians
  • American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting or
  • International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium.
• earning at or above the Fair Work high-income threshold, where:
  • there is written communication from an Australian employer offering employment in Australia with an annual salary equivalent to, or higher than, the high-income threshold or
  • the primary applicant’s current earnings are an amount equal to, or greater than, the high-income threshold.

Priority 2 – Candidates from any sector can be nominated using the approved Form 1000 by an expert Australian Commonwealth, State, or Territory Government agency. To view the full list of eligible candidates, please refer to the following list.

Indicators of exceptional and outstanding achievements that may be considered alongside a nomination by a relevant Australian Commonwealth, State, or Territory government agency include:

• Athletes and creatives who can enhance Australia’s global reputation in their respective fields.
• Demonstrated history of innovative investment activities with a proven record of supporting successful ventures.
• Evidence of promising entrepreneurial efforts that contribute to the commercialisation of products or services in Australia, particularly when connected to Commonwealth, State, or Territory innovation hubs.
• Ownership of recognized intellectual property, such as holding relevant international patents.

 Priority 3 – Candidates with exceptional and significant achievements in Tier 1 sectors, which focus on Critical Technologies, Health Industries, and the Renewable and Low-Emission Technologies industry.

Tier 1 Sectors includes the following industries

• Critical Technologies includes any potentially transformative enabling technology. Such as artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and cyber security technology. The sectors specifically focusing on Advanced information and communication technology, advanced manufacturing and materials technology, artificial intelligence technology, autonomous systems, biotechnology, clean energy generation and storage technology, cyber security technology, quantum technology, photonics, robotics and positioning, timing and sensing technology.
• Renewable and low emission technology are focusing on bio0methane production, circular economy innovations, clean energy technology, emission reduction and carbon storage, green metals, low – carbon liquid fuels, processing and refining of critical minerals, renewable energy generation, transmission, distribution or storage, renewable hydrogen, Waste to 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 – Candidates with remarkable and distinguished accomplishments in Tier 2 sectors, which include Agri-food and AgTech, Defence Capabilities and Space, Education, Financial Services and Fintech, Infrastructure and Transport, as well as Resources.

• Agri-food and AgTech includes Biotechnology, Biosecurity and Disease management, Farm management technology, food technology, processing primary industry outputs into higher value goods, innovation and sustainability in agriculture, forestry and fisheries and Manufacturing of products for use in or connection with primary industries.
• Education are focusing on academia, research or management in universities and higher learning institutions, such as the senior management of universities and higher learning institutions or senior academics and researchers at Australian academic level D or E.(Reader, associate professor, professor or professorial Fellow.etc.)
• Defence capabilities and Space include development, manufacturing and sustainment of products that are inputs to defence capability, electromagnetic technologies, propulsion systems, space objects, space systems engineering and space sector enabling skills.
• Financial Service and FinTech includes innovations in application programming, blockchain engineering, cloud technologies, FinTech cyber and data security, financial data science and analysis and software engineering.
• Instructure and Transport: This sector is mainly focus on advancing innovation in the transport sector and infrastructure projects, includes, innovative manufacturing and technologies to support the development of the transport sector and large and complex transport infrastructure projects for roads, bridges, tunnelling, rail and airports.
• Resource: this sector is focusing on innovation product development or value adding in resource sectors or critical minerals supply chains. Includes but not limited to automation and industry 4.0 skills, beneficiation technology, critical and battery minerals, exploration services, geology and metallurgy, oil and gas decommissioning, resource waste management and value-add in resource sectors including manufacturing products and technologies to advance mineral processing.

The National Innovation Visa is an exciting opportunity for talented individuals to make Australia their home while contributing to the nation’s innovation, economy, and global reputation. Whether you are a trailblazing researcher, a visionary entrepreneur, or a world-class athlete or creative, this visa offers a streamlined pathway to permanent residency and the chance to thrive in your field within Australia’s supportive environment.

Contact our team of experienced registered migration experts for immediate advice and assistance with your NIV Visa application. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.