National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858)

You apply for the National Innovation Visa through a two-stage process: first an Expression of Interest (EOI), then a formal visa application if invited. The entire journey typically takes 4–22 months depending on your sector and application complexity.

Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)

What it is: A free, non-binding submission that tells the Department about your exceptional achievements and why you'd benefit Australia. The EOI is not a visa application—it's a screening step.

Where to submit: Complete the online EOI form through the Department of Home Affairs website.

What to include in your EOI:

• A brief description of how your work will benefit Australia
• Details of your proposed nominator (the person or organisation who will formally endorse you)
• Evidence that you currently earn—or could earn—above the Fair Work High Income Threshold (approximately AUD 183,100 per year for 2025–26)
• A summary of your career, achievements, and how you align with Australia's priority sectors
• A detailed CV highlighting your international achievements and recognition

Important: You cannot edit or withdraw your EOI once submitted. If circumstances change, you must lodge a new EOI.

EOI validity: Your EOI remains valid for two years, giving you extended time to receive an invitation without reapplying.

How the Department assesses your EOI: The Department reviews EOIs according to four priority tiers:

• Priority 1 – Global Award Winners and Top Experts: Recipients of top international awards (Nobel Prize, Olympic gold medals) or globally recognised experts in any sector. You are invited immediately once identified.
• Priority 2 – Government-Nominated Candidates: Candidates nominated by Australian Commonwealth, State, or Territory Government agencies. You are invited immediately once identified.
• Priority 3 – Tier 1 Sector Achievers: Exceptional achievers in critical priority sectors: Renewables and Low Emission Technologies, Health Industries, or Critical Technologies. You are reviewed and invited monthly.
• Priority 4 – Tier 2 Sector Achievers: Outstanding talent in secondary sectors: Resources, Infrastructure and Transport, Financial Services and FinTech, Education, Defence Capabilities and Space, or Agri-food and AgTech. You are reviewed and invited monthly.

There is no fixed waiting period for an EOI decision. Some applicants receive invitations within weeks; others wait months. The Department does not provide updates on unsuccessful EOIs.

Stage 2: Visa Application (after invitation)

When you can apply: Only after the Department invites you. The invitation contains a unique reference number and identifier.

Deadline: You must lodge your visa application within 60 days of receiving your invitation. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.

Where to apply: Submit your application online through ImmiAccount.

What you must provide:

Identity and Personal Documents

• Current passport (biographical page)
• National identity card (if you have one)
• Proof of any name changes
• Recent passport-sized photographs

Evidence of Exceptional Achievement

This is the core of your application. You must provide substantial documentation proving you are internationally recognised as exceptional in your field. Examples include:

• Prestigious international awards (Nobel Prize, Breakthrough Prizes, L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science, Turing Award, ACM Prize in Computing)
• Top-tier sports or arts awards (Olympic Gold medal, Pulitzer Prize, Booker Prize, Laureus World Sportsman/Sportswoman of the Year)
• National-level research grants from Australia or equivalent from other countries
• A research-based PhD from a top global university
• Recent publications in top-ranked journals
• A high h-index (citation impact) relative to your career stage
• Keynote appearance invitations at high-profile international conferences
• International patents for cutting-edge products or technological advancements
• Demonstrated track record of supporting successful innovative ventures
• Evidence of leading internationally reputed companies to Initial Public Offering
• Professional designations such as Academic Level D or E professors or lead research fellows
• International media coverage of your achievements
• Online business, personal, or academic webpages showing your standing

Income Evidence

• Current employment contract showing salary at or above the threshold
• Recent payslips (last three to six months)
• Annual tax returns
• Job offers from Australian employers
• Evidence of earning capacity if not currently employed at the threshold

Nominator Documents

A nominator is a person or organisation with a national reputation in your field who formally endorses you. Your nominator must be:

• An Australian citizen
• An Australian permanent resident
• An eligible New Zealand citizen
• An Australian organisation

Your nominator provides:

• Completed Form 1000 (Nomination for National Innovation visa)
• Proof of Australian citizenship, PR, or eligible NZ citizen status (if an individual)
• ABN/ASIC extract (if an organisation)
• Their CV showing credentials and standing in your sector
• Evidence of their national reputation
• A detailed statement describing your achievements, international standing, and benefit to Australia

Ability to Establish in Australia

• A statement detailing your knowledge of opportunities in Australia in your field
• Letters from Australian organisations showing future employment or business opportunities
• Qualifications or experience gained during previous residence in Australia

Character Documents

• Australian police certificate (if you spent 12+ months in Australia in the last 10 years since age 16)
• Overseas police certificates from every country where you spent 12+ months in the last 10 years since age 16
• Military service records or discharge papers (if applicable)
• Form 80 (Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment) — may be required
• Form 1221 (Additional personal particulars information) — may be required

English Language Evidence

You must prove functional English (defined as IELTS overall 4.5, OET Pass, or equivalent in TOEFL, PTE Academic, or Cambridge). If you don't meet this threshold, you can still apply but must pay a second instalment of the visa application charge (approximately AUD 4,890).

Provide:

• IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, Cambridge, or OET test results
• Statement of intention to pay the second instalment (if less than functional English)

Family Member Documents

If you have a partner:

• Identity documents and photos
• Character documents
• Marriage certificate (if married)
• Evidence of de facto relationship (if applicable)

If you have dependent children:

• Birth certificates or family book showing both parents' names
• Adoption papers (if applicable)
• Form 1229 (Consent form for child under 18) or statutory declaration from the non-accompanying parent
• Form 47a (Details of dependent family member aged 18+) if applicable

Document Preparation Requirements

• All non-English documents must be translated into English. Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). Translators outside Australia do not need accreditation but must include their full name, address, telephone number, and qualifications in English.
• Documents do not need to be certified.
• Scan or photograph all documents in colour and ensure they are clear.
• Save multi-page documents as one file.

Item	Cost
Primary applicant visa application charge	AUD 4,985
Additional applicant aged 18 and above	AUD 2,495
Additional applicant aged under 18	AUD 1,250
Second instalment (for applicants aged 18+ without functional English)	AUD 4,890
Health examinations (per person, in Australia)	approximately AUD 350
Police clearance certificates (per certificate, depending on issuing country)	AUD 56–AUD 113
Document translation (per document, in Australia)	approximately AUD 69
Migration agent or lawyer fees (per stage)	typically AUD 1,500–AUD 3,000

Total estimate: For a primary applicant with a partner and one child, with functional English, health checks, and police certificates from two countries, expect approximately AUD 12,000–AUD 15,000 in government and professional fees, plus translation and document preparation costs.

Does not include: Migration agent or lawyer fees (optional but recommended), biometrics collection fees, costs of obtaining original documents or certificates, or travel to health examination centres.

Important: The visa application charge is non-refundable if your application is refused.

Official Timeframes

The Department of Home Affairs provides these processing time estimates as of February 2026:

• 50% of applications are processed within 4 months
• 90% of applications are processed within 7 months

However, actual processing times vary significantly based on your application's complexity, your sector priority, and the Department's workload.

Factors That Affect Your Processing Time

Your application may take longer if:

• You do not submit a complete application with all required supporting documents
• You are slow to respond to requests for additional information
• The Department needs extra time to perform checks on your supporting information
• Health or character clearances take longer (particularly police certificates from certain countries)
• External agencies (health, character, national security) need extended time to respond
• Your sector is lower priority under Ministerial Direction 112
• The migration program has reached its annual place limit

Timeline by Priority Sector

• Priority 1 and 2 (Global Award Winners, Government-Nominated): Often processed within 4–6 months once invited
• Priority 3 (Tier 1 Sectors: Critical Technologies, Health Industries, Renewables): Typically 6–12 months
• Priority 4 (Tier 2 Sectors: Resources, Infrastructure, Finance, Education, Defence, Agri-food): Often 13–22 months

Complete Timeline: EOI to Visa Grant

From the moment you submit your EOI to receiving your visa grant:

• Optimal cases (Priority 1–2): 4–7 months
• Most applicants (Priority 3): 6–12 months
• Complex cases or non-priority sectors (Priority 4): Up to 22 months

Common Causes of Delays

• Incomplete documentation: Missing Form 1000 nominations or weak nominator statements
• Slow responses to information requests: The Department may ask for clarification (Section 56 requests); delays in responding extend processing significantly
• Extended health and character clearances: Police certificates from certain countries can take weeks or months
• High application volumes: After invitation rounds, processing backlogs can occur
• Priority shifts: The Department may pause processing of lower-priority sectors to focus on critical sectors

Document Validity Periods

Be aware that some documents expire:

• Passports: Must be valid for the duration of processing and beyond
• Police certificates: Typically valid for 12 months from issue date; obtain these close to your visa application submission
• Health examinations: Valid for 12 months from completion
• English language test results: Valid for 3 years from test date