National Innovation visa (858): processing order from 25 July 2026

What changed

• Ministerial Direction 120 took effect on 25 July 2026 and sets the order in which Subclass 858 applications are considered. It covers National Innovation applications and undecided former Global Talent and Distinguished Talent applications. It revoked Direction 112, which was dated 6 December 2024.
• The order, from highest to lowest: global experts with top-of-field international awards; people nominated by an expert Australian Government or State/Territory agency on Form 1000; achievers in the tier 1 priority sectors; achievers in the tier 2 priority sectors; then everyone else.
• Tier 1 sectors are critical technologies, renewables and low emission technologies, and health industries. Tier 2 sectors are agri-food and ag-tech, defence capabilities and space, education, financial services and FinTech, infrastructure and transport, and resources.
• The Talent and Innovation planning level for 2026-27 is 3,500 places, including 20 for the Business Innovation and Investment visas. It was 5,300 in both 2024-25 and 2025-26.

The direction tells decision makers not to treat its listed indicators as a checklist. They weigh the applicant’s circumstances as a whole against the exceptional and outstanding achievement criterion.

How the visa works

• The National Innovation visa (858) is a permanent, invitation-only visa for exceptionally talented migrants from anywhere in the world. It took this name on 6 December 2024, when the Global Talent visa was renamed.
• To be considered, a person submits an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Home Affairs online form. An EOI is not a visa application and does not guarantee an invitation. It stays in the system for 2 years.
• An invitation gives 60 days from the invitation date to submit the visa application, and Home Affairs states the period cannot be extended.
• There is no age limit to apply, but applicants under 18 or aged 55 and over must also meet the exceptional-benefit test.
• The first instalment is AUD 6,235 for the main applicant, AUD 3,120 for each additional adult and AUD 1,560 for each additional child. A second instalment of AUD 4,890 applies to each applicant aged 18 or over who is assessed as not having functional English.
• The NSW Government runs its own nomination for the visa, and a NSW nomination gives Priority 2 consideration with Home Affairs.

Who it affects

People with an EOI in the system, anyone who has been invited to apply, and people still waiting on a Global Talent or Distinguished Talent application.

What to check

• The date of your invitation and the 60-day deadline that follows.
• The full text of Direction 120 for the priority group your achievements fall in. For your own case, ask a registered migration agent (MARA) or an Australian legal practitioner.