Effective December 7, 2024, the Australian government introduced the National Innovation (subclass 858) visa (NIV) to replace the Global Talent visa. The NIV is an exclusive program for migrants with world-leading skills in areas such as advanced robotics, quantum computing, and clean energy.
How to Works
Exceptionally talented individuals need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). DHA will then invite a select number of people who have made an EOI to apply for a NIV.
DHA will process invitations to apply and NIV applications according to the following priority order:
- Recipients of internationally prestigious awards. This includes Nobel Prize laureates, Fields Medal recipients, Booker Prize winners or Olympic gold medallists.
- Exceptionally talented people in their field who are endorsed by a relevant Australian state, territory, or federal government agency.
- People with exceptional skills in critical technologies, renewables, and low emission technologies and health industries.
- Exceptionally talented people in agri-food and ag-tech, resources, defence capabilities and space, education, financial services and fin-tech, and infrastructure and transport.
There is no age limit for the NIV and English language requirements are flexible. DHA accept EOIs made from overseas or from people already in Australia on a temporary visa.
Australia NIV Benefits
EOIs for the NIV are valid for two years and DHA may invite interested parties to apply for a visa during this time.
NIV holders can
- stay in Australia permanently,
- work and study in Australia,
- enroll in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare,
- sponsor relatives to come to Australia,
- travel to and from Australia for five years,
- if eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.
Erickson Insights and Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.