NIV Subclass 858: A Deep Dive into Australia's Mandatory Priority Sectors

The National Innovation Visa (NIV, Subclass 858) is Australia's elite pathway to Permanent Residency. While the visa requires an internationally recognised record of achievement, the true complexity and the key to receiving an Invitation, lie in how the Department of Home Affairs prioritises applications.

The NIV targets both established and emerging leaders with exceptional talent and skills who can make substantial contributions to Australia’s future prosperity. This includes:

• Global Researchers

• Entrepreneurs

• Innovative Investors

• Athletes and Creatives

  
  

This guide translates the official criteria, revealing the specific priority tiers that determine who receives the fastest invitation.

1. NIV Overview and Invitation Priorities

The Department will consider your Expression of Interest (EOI) based on the claimed indicators of achievement and the NIV program priorities. It is crucial to note that an invitation does not guarantee a visa grant; eligibility is assessed fully only after the visa application is lodged.

The Department extends invitations in the following strict priority order:

Priority	Criteria	Sector Requirement
Priority one (Highest)	Exceptional candidates who are global experts and recipients of international ‘top of field’ level awards.	Any
Priority two	Candidates nominated on the approved Form 1000 by an expert Australian Commonwealth, State or Territory Government agency.	Any
Priority three	Candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievements in a Tier One sector.	Tier One
Priority four	Candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievements in a Tier Two sector.	Tier Two

2. The NIV Priority Sector Guide

Your field of expertise directly impacts your invitation priority.

Sector Tier	Example Sectors	Implication
Tier One Sector (Priority Three)	Critical Technologies, Health Industries, Renewables and low emission technologies	Highest priority for non-nominated candidates.
Tier Two Sector (Priority Four)	Agri-food and AgTech, Defence Capabilities and Space, Education, Financial Services and FinTech, Infrastructure and Transport, Resources	Eligible, but subject to slower processing times compared to Tier One applications.

3. Indicators of Exceptional and Outstanding Achievements

The NIV is an exclusive permanent visa for high-calibre migrants who have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievements in their field.

The Department accepts the following as evidence of exceptional and outstanding achievements suitable for the NIV.

Indicator	Examples
International 'top-of-field' awards	Nobel Prize, Breakthrough Prize, Fields Medal, for exceptional achievements in all fields.
Recipients of national research grants	Australian Research Council grants, Department of Education Accelerator grants, or equivalent level grants from other countries.
PhD holder with high-levels of academic influence or thought leadership	Recent publications in top-ranked journals; a high h-index for their stage of career; a research-based degree from a top global university.
Other measures of high-calibre talent	Recent keynote appearance at a high-profile international conference; earning at or above the Fair Work high income threshold; recognised intellectual property (IP) attributed to them.

4. Next Steps: Developing Your Winning Strategy

Understanding the matrix is the first step toward a successful NIV application. Simply meeting the threshold is often insufficient; you must strategically position your EOI to fall into the highest possible priority tier.

AOYE Group specialises in translating exceptional global careers into successful NIV applications. We help you strategically position your EOI to meet the highest priority standards set by the Department of Home Affairs.

Ready to determine your ideal NIV Priority Level?

Contact us today for a strategic assessment of your NIV eligibility.