Australia’s most prestigious permanent visa for established entrepreneurs, investors, and globally recognised leaders. If your achievements are internationally recognised and your work can drive innovation and create jobs in Australia, this is your pathway.
Overview
The National Innovation Visa offers a direct pathway to Australian Permanent Residency without requiring a points test. Unlike other skilled migration streams, successful applicants receive permanent residency immediately upon grant — making this one of the most significant visa options for exceptional talent in science, research, technology, business, and the arts.
Unlike points-tested or employer-sponsored visa pathways, the NIV is not about meeting a threshold. It is about demonstrating that you are among the best in the world at what you do, and that Australia stands to benefit significantly from your presence. The program targets established entrepreneurs, active investors, top researchers, and high-impact leaders across key industries.
The visa process begins not with an application, but with a Registration of Interest (ROI) submitted to a state or territory government. If shortlisted, you will be invited to apply for nomination and only then can a formal visa application be lodged with the Department of Home Affairs.
The Process
The National Innovation Visa is an invitation-only pathway with a structured sequence that differs significantly from other Australian visas. Understanding the stages — and timing each correctly — is essential.
First Step
The process begins with a Registration of Interest submitted to a state or territory government. This is not a visa application — it is an expression of your intent and qualifications, assessed by the state to determine whether you should be shortlisted for nomination. Aran Legal helps you prepare a compelling ROI that clearly articulates your achievements, business plans, and intended contribution to Australia.
Shortlisting
If your ROI is shortlisted by the state or territory, you will be invited to submit a formal nomination application. This is the stage where detailed evidence of your achievements, business plans, investment activities, or research record is assessed. Competition at this stage is significant.
Nomination
Your nomination must be granted by either: a Commonwealth, State or Territory government agency; or an Australian individual or organisation with a national reputation in your specific field. The nominator endorses your exceptional standing and confirms that your presence in Australia will be of significant benefit. Without this formal nomination, no visa application can proceed.
Ministerial Invitation
Following nomination, the Department of Home Affairs reviews your profile and, if satisfied, issues a written invitation to apply for the Subclass 858 visa. This invitation is mandatory — the visa cannot be lodged without it. The invitation is personal and non-transferable.
Visa Application
With your invitation in hand, you lodge a complete visa application with the Department of Home Affairs. This includes your full evidence package — achievements, endorsements, health assessments, police clearances, and identity documents. Aran Legal prepares and reviews every component to ensure the application is complete, accurate, and persuasive.
Visa Pathways
The NIV is structured around two distinct profiles. Each requires a different type of evidence and is assessed against its own criteria.
For Founders & Venture Leaders
For founders or leaders of innovative, scalable businesses with a proven track record of commercial success. This pathway is designed for individuals who have already demonstrated the ability to commercialise products or services, attract investment, and create jobs — and who will actively contribute to Australia’s innovation ecosystem.
You may apply under the Entrepreneur Pathway if you have:
For Active Early-Stage Investors
For active investors with a history of funding and advising early-stage, innovative, high-growth ventures. This pathway is designed for individuals who have provided substantial angel investment and strategic expertise to support the success of innovative businesses — and who intend to continue that activity in Australia.
You may apply under the Entrepreneur Pathway if you have:
Core Eligibility
To be eligible to submit a Registration of Interest for the Subclass 858, you must have an internationally recognised record of exceptional achievement in your field. The program is designed for established leaders — not early-career professionals or recent graduates.
The key questions every applicant must be able to answer affirmatively are: Can you demonstrate internationally recognised exceptional achievement? Can you secure a nomination from an eligible Australian government agency or nationally reputed entity? And can you show a clear and credible plan to contribute to Australia’s future?
Important Notice
General — All Applicants
Entrepreneur Pathway
Innovative Investor Pathway
