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National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858)
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NATIONAL INNOVATION VISA · SUBCLASS 858

National Innovation Visa lawyers.
An exceptional future.

National Innovation Visa lawyers for accomplished founders, researchers, investors, athletes and creative leaders.
Your record deserves more than a generic visa checklist. We help you understand your position, identify the evidence that matters and develop a carefully prepared pathway towards Australian permanent residence.
Invitation strategy   /   Evidence preparation   /   Visa representation
Explore the Subclass 858 pathway

Discuss your NIV strategy

Tell us about your field and achievements. Request a confidential initial assessment of how we may assist.

    Submitting an enquiry does not establish a lawyer–client relationship. Please avoid sending sensitive documents until requested.

    National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858)

    A permanent visa for people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement. It is an invitation-led pathway, not a points-tested application or a route to permanent residence simply through wealth.

    Permanent residence

    A pathway for eligible exceptional talent to build a long-term future in Australia.

    Invitation first

    Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). A visa application requires a valid invitation.

    Evidence-led preparation

    The strength of your achievements, your nominator and your proposed contribution require careful attention.
    On this page: Who it suits · Eligibility · Priorities · Evidence · Process · FAQs

    For people whose work stands apart

    High income or commercial success can be relevant, but neither alone establishes eligibility. We assess the substance of your record in its professional context.

    Founders & entrepreneurs

    Translate business milestones into a coherent achievement narrative: innovation, adoption, independent recognition and your personal contribution.

    Researchers & academics

    Present the significance of your research, its influence and your contribution beyond a list of publications.

    Innovative investors

    Explain the innovation and measurable impact behind your investment activity, with evidence of your own role.

    Technology & industry leaders

    Connect technical or commercial achievements to independent recognition and demonstrable influence within your field.

    Athletes & sporting leaders

    Organise competitive achievement, standing and recognition into a clear account of sustained excellence.

    Artists & creative leaders

    Demonstrate the significance of your work through selective recognition, influential commissions and professional standing.

    Eligibility and invitation are different assessments

    An invitation allows you to apply. It does not mean the Department has already decided that you satisfy the visa criteria.
    • An internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in an eligible field.
    • Continuing prominence in that field and the ability to contribute to Australia.
    • A qualifying nominator with a national reputation in the same field.
    • Relevant age, English, health and character requirements.

    Applicants under 18 or aged 55 and over must demonstrate exceptional benefit to Australia. Your current location and immigration history also need individual consideration.

    Read the Department of Home Affairs visa criteria

    Understand where your case sits

    Eligibility, invitation selection and application processing priority are connected, but they are not interchangeable.

    Ministerial Direction 120 sets five processing priorities:

    1. Exceptional global experts with internationally recognised top-of-field awards.
    2. Candidates nominated by an expert Commonwealth, state or territory government agency.
    3. Exceptional achievement in Tier 1 sectors: critical technologies, renewables and low-emission technologies, and health industries.
    4. Exceptional achievement in Tier 2 sectors: agri-food and agtech, defence and space, education, financial services and FinTech, infrastructure and transport, and resources.
    5. All other applications.

    Priority is not a substitute for meeting the visa criteria. Indicators of achievement are assessed in context; they are not a points checklist.

    Read Ministerial Direction 120 · Read current invitation priorities

    Build a case that is easy to understand

    A long CV is a starting point. Our preparation focuses on making the significance of your work clear to a decision-maker.

    Recognition

    Which independent organisations recognise your work? Explain the standing and selectivity of each award, appointment or invitation.

    Impact

    What changed because of your contribution? Link measurable outcomes to reliable supporting material and distinguish your role from the wider team.

    Continuing prominence

    What demonstrates your current position? Build a chronology that connects past achievement with your present work.

    Australian contribution

    Explain your proposed activities in Australia with practical detail and credible professional connections.

    Nominator alignment

    Check the relationship between your field, your achievements and the nominator’s national reputation.

    Consistency

    Reconcile dates, titles, publications and claims across your CV, EOI, nomination and supporting documents.

    A deliberate process, from assessment to application

    Preparation before submission matters. An EOI cannot simply be supplemented later with additional documents.

    01 · Assess

    Review achievements, potential criteria issues, priority positioning and whether more evidence is needed before proceeding.

    02 · Prepare the EOI

    Develop a focused submission supported by a coherent CV and the documents required by Home Affairs.

    03 · Prepare for invitation

    Plan nomination and visa evidence early. An invitation triggers a limited application window.

    Key timing rules: An EOI remains valid for two years. If invited, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application; this period cannot be extended. An EOI is not a visa application and does not provide a bridging visa. Invitation is not guaranteed.

    If your circumstances materially change, obtain advice before submitting another EOI. Separate visa planning may be necessary to remain lawfully in Australia.

    Check the official EOI and invitation rules

    Nomination deserves its own strategy

    A Form 1000 nominator and a government nomination pathway are not the same thing.

    Form 1000

    A qualifying individual or Australian organisation supports the nomination. The nominator’s reputation, knowledge of your record and supporting statement require attention.

    Government nomination

    Nomination by an expert government agency may provide Priority 2 positioning. It involves its own selection considerations and is not available automatically.

    State pathways

    A state registration of interest is separate from the federal EOI. Requirements and availability differ; check the current pathway before submitting.
    Form 1000 guide · Victorian nomination · NSW registration of interest

    Strategic advice. Meticulous preparation.

    For high-achieving clients, the question is not simply which documents to upload. It is how to present a credible, consistent case that withstands scrutiny.

    Emigrate Lawyers can assist with an initial merits assessment, EOI positioning, evidence planning, nomination preparation and visa application representation. The agreed engagement defines the work we undertake.

    Expect a clear discussion of strengths, gaps and risks, together with a written scope and fees before you decide to proceed. We do not promise invitations, priority treatment or visa grants.

    Request a confidential assessment
    Meet Madhab Kharel, Principal Lawyer

    Costs and timing, without false certainty

    Government charges and professional fees are separate.

    Government charges depend on the application and accompanying family members. Check the current Home Affairs information before lodgement. Professional fees depend on the scope and complexity of the work and are set out in your engagement.

    There is no guaranteed invitation date. Published processing information should not be treated as a promise for an individual case. We help you plan around uncertainty, including any separate temporary visa requirements.

    Check current government charges and visa information

    National Innovation Visa FAQs

    Answers to common questions about Subclass 858.

    Is the National Innovation Visa the same as the former Global Talent visa?

    The National Innovation Visa replaced the Global Talent visa in December 2024 and uses Subclass 858. New candidates should assess the current NIV framework rather than rely on historic Global Talent guidance.

    Can I qualify simply by investing in Australia?

    Investment alone does not establish eligibility. Innovative investors must demonstrate the relevant exceptional achievements and satisfy the visa criteria.

    Do I need an employer to sponsor me?

    This is not an employer-sponsored visa. A qualifying nomination is required, but it is a different role from employer sponsorship.

    Does a high salary guarantee eligibility?

    No. Earnings may help explain professional standing, but the assessment concerns your achievement and the applicable requirements as a whole.

    Can I apply if I am aged 55 or over?

    Potentially. Applicants aged 55 and over must demonstrate exceptional benefit to Australia, in addition to satisfying the other relevant requirements.

    Can my family be included?

    Eligible family members may be included, subject to the applicable requirements. Discuss family composition and supporting evidence at the assessment stage.

    Does submitting an EOI let me stay in Australia?

    No. An EOI does not provide a bridging visa. You must maintain a lawful basis to remain in Australia independently.

    What happens after I receive an invitation?

    You must lodge a valid visa application within 60 days. The invitation does not guarantee a grant; the application and supporting evidence are assessed against the visa criteria.

    Your next chapter begins with a clear assessment.

    Tell us what you have achieved and what you want to build in Australia. We will explain how we may assist.
    Discuss your National Innovation Visa strategy