858 National Innovation visa (subclass 858)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa	National Innovation visa (subclass 858)
Visa type	Permanent visa
Stay	Permanently
Cost	From AUD6,235
Invitation	Required before applying
Application deadline	Within 60 days of invitation
Eligible fields	Profession, sport, arts, academia, research
Age	Any age
Work rights	Work in Australia
Study	Study in Australia
Medicare	May enrol
Travel facility	Five years from grant
Citizenship	May apply if eligible
Family sponsorship	May sponsor relatives
Family inclusion	Include before decision
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Processing	Case-by-case; guide tool available

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Purpose

The National Innovation visa (NIV) is a permanent visa for exceptionally talented migrants with an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement. It covers:

• A profession
• Sport
• Arts
• Academia and research

Applicants must be established or emerging leaders whose contribution is expected to benefit Australia.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be invited by the Department before applying.
• Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to be considered for invitation.
• Apply within 60 days of receiving the invitation.
• Be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when applying and when the visa is decided.
• Have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement.
• Be currently prominent and active in your field.
• Be an asset to the Australian community.
• Be able to establish yourself in Australia in your field.
• Have a suitable nominator and submit a completed Form 1000.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Have repaid Australian Government debts, or have an arrangement to repay them.
• Sign the Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or over.

Australian visa status when applying

If applying outside Australia, you do not need to hold a specific visa.

If applying in Australia, you must hold:

• A substantive visa; or
• Bridging visa A, B or C.

If you hold, or last held, a Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) or Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa, you must have held it for at least 3 years when applying.

Achievement requirement

Your achievements must show that you:

• Have abilities and achievements superior to others in your field.
• Are acclaimed as exceptional in countries where your field is practised.
• Have sustained achievements unlikely to diminish soon.
• Work in an area recognised in Australia with international standing.

Age requirement

There is no age limit.

If you are under 18, or aged 55 or over when applying, you must show you would be of exceptional benefit to the Australian community. The benefit should be ongoing, sustained and realised shortly after migration.

English

Applicants aged 18 or over must provide evidence of at least functional English.

If you do not have functional English, you must pay the second instalment charge. You must state through ImmiAccount that you intend to pay it.

Nominator

Your nominator must attest to your achievement on Nomination for National Innovation visa (Form 1000).

The nominator must have a national reputation in your field and be:

• An Australian citizen;
• An Australian permanent resident;
• An eligible New Zealand citizen; or
• An Australian organisation.

The nominator must sign Form 1000. If the nominator is an organisation, provide evidence that the form signatory is authorised to represent it.

Important: The Department will not process your application without a completed Form 1000.

Stay and Rights

This is a permanent visa. You become a permanent resident when the visa is granted.

With this visa, you can:

• Stay in Australia indefinitely.
• Work and study in Australia.
• Enrol in Medicare.
• Sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia.
• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years from grant.
• Apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.
• Attend eligible Adult Migrant English Program classes.

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before accessing certain Government payments and benefits.

Family Members

You may include members of your family unit when applying, or add them before a decision is made.

If you are under 18, you may only include:

• Your parent; and
• Members of that parent's family unit.

Family members applying must meet health and character requirements, including some non-migrating family members. If you do not include your partner or dependent children, explain why.

Dependent children

A child aged 18 to under 23 must be dependent on you or your partner.

A child aged 23 or over must be unable to support themselves because of physical or cognitive limitations and be dependent on you or your partner.

Evidence of dependency may include:

• Birth or adoption records.
• Form 47a.
• Evidence of financial dependency for at least 12 months.
• Evidence of study, residence or financial support.
• A medical report for a child aged 23 or over.

For a child under 18 who is not travelling with everyone holding parental responsibility, provide consent using Form 1229, a statutory declaration, relevant court orders, or evidence that home-country law permits migration.

Cost

The visa costs from AUD6,235 for the main applicant. There is an additional charge for each family member included.

Applicants aged 18 or over without functional English may need to pay a AUD4,890 second instalment charge. Pay this only when requested and only if the visa is to be granted.

Additional costs may include health examinations, police certificates and biometrics.

Pacific Island and Timor-Leste concession

From 1 July 2026, eligible citizens of specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste receive a lower visa application charge.

The primary applicant must hold a valid passport from:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Eligible family members receive the lower cost based on the primary applicant's passport.

Processing

Applications are assessed case by case and processed under Ministerial Direction No. 120.

Processing time depends on factors including:

• Whether the application is complete.
• How quickly you respond to requests.
• Health, character and national security checks.
• Information from external agencies.
• Available migration program places.
• Priority order under Ministerial Direction No. 120.

Use the visa processing time guide for recently decided applications. It is a guide only.

Required Evidence

Provide documents supporting the claims in your EOI and application.

Identity and relationship evidence

Provide:

• Passport identity and validity pages.
• National identity card, if available.
• Name-change evidence, if applicable.
• Marriage, divorce, separation or death records, if relevant.
• Digital photographs of every applicant.

Achievement evidence

Provide evidence showing you are among the best in your field and remain recently prominent. Examples include:

• International awards, prizes or honours.
• National-level research grants.
• Research PhDs from top global universities.
• Top-ranked journal publications or a high h-index.
• High-profile international keynote appearances.
• International patents or successful innovative ventures.
• Senior professional appointments.
• Major sporting or arts achievements.
• High income or employment offer in your field.
• Industry-board memberships or key appointments.
• International media coverage.
• Supporting statements from relevant peak bodies.

Applicants under 18 or aged 55 or over should provide evidence of exceptional benefit to Australia, such as Australian employment offers, research grants, business plans, contracts or leadership appointments.

Establishment in Australia

Show that you can work or support yourself in your field in Australia. Evidence may include:

• A statement about Australian opportunities.
• Information from your nominator.
• Employment or business opportunity letters.
• Relevant Australian qualifications or experience.
• Employment or business background.

Do not rely on income outside your field.

Character evidence

Applicants and accompanying family members aged 16 or over may need:

• An Australian Federal Police complete disclosure certificate, if they spent 12 months or more in Australia during the past 10 years since turning 16.
• Overseas police certificates for each country where they spent 12 months or more during that period.
• Military service records or discharge papers, if applicable.
• Form 80 and Form 1221, if requested.

Application Steps

1. Find a nominator and obtain a completed, signed Form 1000.
2. Submit an EOI for consideration for an invitation.
3. Receive an invitation and apply within 60 days using its unique reference and identifier.
4. Gather evidence supporting identity, achievement, nomination, English, health, character and family claims.
5. Create or sign in to ImmiAccount.
6. Complete the online application, pay the application charge and attach documents.
7. Submit the application and keep the transaction reference number.

All non-English documents must be translated into English. Include both original and translated documents. Documents do not need certification.

After Applying

• Wait for the Department to request health examinations, if required.
• Provide biometrics if requested.
• Check ImmiAccount for requests for more information.
• Notify the Department of changes to contact details, passport, relationship status, a child's birth, or withdrawal intentions.
• Use Form 1023 to correct mistakes.
• Use Form 1436 to add eligible family members before a decision.
• Stay lawful in Australia while your application is processed.

The Department may decide the application without asking for further documents.

If refused, the application charge will not be refunded.

Obligations

You and your family members must obey Australian laws.

The Department expects you to contribute to Australia in your area of expertise.

Travel and Visa Record

You can travel in and out of Australia for 5 years from visa grant.

After the travel facility ends, you need a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

Your visa is digitally linked to your passport. You will not receive a visa label. Use VEVO to check visa details, conditions and travel validity.

New Zealand passport holders

Tell the border officer that you hold a National Innovation visa and do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444). A subclass 444 visa is not permanent and may reduce citizenship eligibility.