The National Innovation Visa in Australia offers a streamlined pathway for highly skilled global talent to obtain permanent residency. The Subclass 858 visa aims to attract exceptionally talented professionals in fields such as tech, sports, research, investment, and the arts who can contribute to the country’s economy and culture. The visa is aimed at international individuals with an excellent global reputation and outstanding achievements in a specific field.
Individuals with international accomplishments and a high income who plan to live and work in Australia permanently can apply for the Subclass 858 visa. Whether you are an entrepreneur, athlete, scientist, or artist, the National Innovation Visa offers a direct pathway to reside and settle in Australia with PR.
The National Innovation Visa (NIV) is an Invitation-only pathway that has replaced the earlier Global Talent Visa. The Subclass 858 visa is ideal for specialists, researchers, and entrepreneurs with proven international achievements in their field of expertise. Interested applicants can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to submit their application.

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| Factors | Description |
|---|---|
| Visa Type | Permanent Residency (Subclass 858) |
| Eligibility | Individuals with exceptional and globally recognized achievements in their field. |
| Is a nomination required? | Yes, from an Australian citizen, PR holder, a qualifying NZ citizen, or a registered organisation in Australian with a national reputation |
| Priority Sectors | Mostly Tier 1 & Tier 2 in innovation-driven fields |
| EOI Validity | Up to 2 years |
| Invitation Validity | Must submit your application within 60 days of receiving an ITA |
| Fee | From AUD 4,985 |
| Age Limit | No age limit; applicants under 18 or over 55 must submit proof of exceptional talent that contributes to the country. |
| Is a Job Offer Required? | No |
| Family Inclusion | Yes, you can bring your spouse/partner along with your dependent children. |
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The benefits of applying for the National Innovation Visa (NIV) include a direct PR pathway, access to Australia’s Medicare system, study and working rights with no major restrictions, and a path to Citizenship in Australia.
The benefits of the Subclass 858 visa are as follows:

The National Innovation Visa Australia is for highly specialized and recognized individuals with exceptional global achievements.
Here is the list of eligible professionals who can apply for the National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858):
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To be eligible for the Subclass 858 visa, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) along with subsequent proof of your achievements to the Department of Home Affairs in Australia and receive an Invitation to Apply.
You would be eligible to apply for the National Innovation Visa if you:
The form of a visa application should not have been canceled or rejected while living in Australia.
The National Innovation Visa is designed for exceptionally talented and highly recognized individuals in specific key sectors. The sectors eligible for the Subclass 858 visa are categorized into four priority levels. The invitations for the Subclass 858 visa are issued in the following priority order, with Priority 1 receiving first preference.
| Priority Level | Sectors |
|---|---|
| Priority one | Exceptional individuals from any sector, provided they are global leaders/experts and own global ‘top of field’ level awards. |
| Priority two | Individuals from any sector who are nominated on the Form 1000 by an expert and approved Commonwealth, State or Territory Government agency in Australia. |
| Priority three | Individuals with extraordinary and exceptional achievements in any of the below Tier One sectors: Critical Technologies Health Industries Renewables and low emission technologies |
| Priority four | Individuals with extraordinary and exceptional achievements in any of the below Tier One sectors: Agri-food and AgTech Defence Capabilities and Space Education Financial Services and FinTech Infrastructure and Transport Resources |
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Step 1: Check your eligibility for the Subclass 858 visa
Step 2: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
Step 3: Receive an ITA (Invitation to Apply)
Step 4: Arrange the documents required for the visa
Step 5: Apply for the Subclass 858 visa
Step 6: Fly to Australia after receiving approval

The processing time for the National Innovation Visa is generally 6-12 months, and may vary depending on the completeness or complexity of your application and the stage of the application process.
The EOI (Expression of Interest) Stage: It may take 2-3 months from the date of your EOI submission to receive an ITA (Invitation to Apply).
Visa processing time: Once you submit your Subclass 858 visa application, the processing time depends on the complexity of your Australian visa application. The general processing time for the Subclass 858 visa is 6-12 months, and in some cases may even exceed 12 months.
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