The National Innovation Visa (Updated: 30 October 2025) 858Global Talent IndependentInnovation

The National Innovation Visa (Updated: 30 October 2025)

On 14 May 2024, the Australian Government released the Federal Budget for the 2024/25 year, which included a raft of Immigration-related measures. Notably, it announced that a new National Innovation Visa (NIV) would be released in late-2024, to replace the Global Talent (Subclass 858) visa and the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP). On 6 December 2024, relevant legislation formally introduced…
Jordan Tew
30 October, 2025
National Innovation (Subclass 858) Visa Document Checklist 858InnovationNational Innovation

National Innovation (Subclass 858) Visa Document Checklist

The National Innovation (Subclass 858) visa is a niche pathway to attract highly skilled migrants to work and live permanently in Australia. The visa targets individuals who have an “internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement” in either a profession, a sport, the arts, or academia and research. You can read more detailed information about this program in an…
Jordan Tew
4 September, 2025
What are the National Innovation Visa Priority Sectors? (Updated on: 4 September 2025) global talent858InnovationNational Innovation

What are the National Innovation Visa Priority Sectors? (Updated on: 4 September 2025)

On 6 December 2024, the National Innovation (Subclass 858) visa was released – for more information see our article here. While the legislative criteria remains very similar to the former Global Talent (Subclass 858) visa, the visa introduced a mandatory expression of interest (EOI) and invitation process. Individuals familiar with the former Global Talent Independent (GTI) program (see here), would…
Jordan Tew
4 September, 2025
Victorian State Nomination for the National Innovation Visa (NIV) (Subclass 858) global talent858InnovationNational Innovation

Victorian State Nomination for the National Innovation Visa (NIV) (Subclass 858)

The National Innovation (Subclass 858) Visa (NIV) requires that each visa applicant has an Australian Nominator. The Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the NIV sets out four priority groups that the Department will consider in issuing invitations to apply for the visa. "Priority Group 2" captures candidates who have been nominated "by an expert Australian Commonwealth, State or Territory Government". Ahead of…
Mihan Hannan
18 July, 2025
SA State Nomination for the National Innovation Visa (NIV) (Subclass 858) 858InnovationNational Innovation

SA State Nomination for the National Innovation Visa (NIV) (Subclass 858)

The National Innovation (Subclass 858) Visa (NIV) requires that each visa applicant has an Australian Nominator. The Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the NIV sets out four priority groups that the Department will consider in issuing invitations to apply for the visa. "Priority Group 2" captures candidates who have been nominated "by an expert Australian Commonwealth, State or Territory Government". Ahead of the…
Jordan Tew
13 June, 2025
What is the Form 1000 and who can be a nominator for the National Innovation visa? (Updated on: 10 December 2024) australian immigration858InnovationNational Innovation

What is the Form 1000 and who can be a nominator for the National Innovation visa? (Updated on: 10 December 2024)

To satisfy the visa requirements for a National Innovation (Subclass 858) visa, the applicant is required to produce a completed approved Form 1000 (Nomination for National Innovation visa). This form requires the applicant’s record of achievement to be attested to by a nominator who has a national reputation in relation to the claimed area of achievement. A nominator must be: an…
Mihan Hannan
10 December, 2024
Global Talent Independent (GTI) program document checklist global talent858Global Talent Independent

Global Talent Independent (GTI) program document checklist

On 29 November 2024, the Department closed the GTI program and are no longer accepting new Expressions of Interest (EOI). Interest applicants should review the criteria for the new National Innovation visa. The Global Talent Independent (GTI) program is a streamlined immigration pathway to attract highly skilled migrants to work and live permanently in Australia. The program targets specific, high…
Mihan Hannan
8 June, 2022
What is the impact of Direction No. 89 and the target sectors? global talent858Global Talent IndependentGlobal Talent SchemeInnovation

What is the impact of Direction No. 89 and the target sectors?

On 4 November 2019, the Global Talent Independent (GTI) program was officially launched to provide a streamlined, priority pathway for highly skilled and talent individuals to obtain Australian permanent residency. You can read more about this visa here. It was initially launched with 7 target sectors (largely related to technology) listed in Direction No. 85. However, on 17 December 2020,…
Jordan Tew
29 July, 2021
What is a Global Talent visa (formerly Distinguished Talent visa)? (updated: 7 August 2023) global talent858Global Talent IndependentImmigration

What is a Global Talent visa (formerly Distinguished Talent visa)? (updated: 7 August 2023)

The Global Talent visa is one of the more interesting and unique visas to Australia, offering permanent residency to individuals who have an “internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement” in an eligible area. The purpose of this visa is to attract highly skilled/talented individuals in their field to come to Australia, where they would elevate Australia’s standards internationally,…
Jordan Tew
28 May, 2021
What were the 14 November 2020 changes to the Distinguished Talent visa? global talent858Global Talent Independent

What were the 14 November 2020 changes to the Distinguished Talent visa?

The Distinguished Talent visa aims to attract individuals who have an “internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement” in either a profession, sport, the arts, or academia and research. The Distinguished Talent visa previously held two visa subclasses - the offshore Subclass 124 visa, and the onshore Subclass 858 visa application.  You can read more about this visa here.…
Jordan Tew
20 January, 2021
Common Mistakes made by Global Talent Independent (GTI) applicants global talent858Global Talent Independent

Common Mistakes made by Global Talent Independent (GTI) applicants

The Global Talent Independent (GTI) program is one of the most in demand at the moment, due to the simplified visa process and priority processing that it receives. You can read more about this program here. Having spoken to hundreds of prospective applicants and assisted numerous individuals through both the Expression of Interest (EOI) and the visa application itself, the…
Jordan Tew
20 January, 2021
Global Talent Independent Program: Interview with a Global Talent Officer (Nedra Kelaart) global talent858Global Talent Independent

Global Talent Independent Program: Interview with a Global Talent Officer (Nedra Kelaart)

Under the Global Talent Independent (GTI) program, the Department of Home Affairs (Department) has appointed Global Talent Officers (GTOs) in London, Shanghai, Singapore, and Washington DC to promote the program. They now perform this role from within Australia due to COVID-19. We are very fortunate to have one of the GTOs, Nedra Kelaart, answer some of our questions regarding the…
Jordan Tew
14 October, 2020
Visas for Innovation – Our recommendations for the 2020/21 Migration Program Year 858Global Talent IndependentImmigration

Visas for Innovation – Our recommendations for the 2020/21 Migration Program Year

On 6 October 2020, the Australian Government is expected to announce its 2020/21 budget, which amongst other things, will include the planning levels for the migration programme year. Hannan Tew Lawyers (Hannan Tew) anticipates that along with a greater push for regional migration, innovation will feature heavily under the “skilled” stream of the migration programme year as part of a…
Jordan Tew
1 October, 2020