National Innovation visa

What this visa is for#

The Australian National Innovation visa, subclass 858, is a permanent visa for internationally recognised exceptional talent. It sits in the business category and the Talent stream.

This visa is designed for people with a high level of achievement and recognition in their field. The focus is usually on strong evidence of international standing, rather than on meeting a points test.

A permanent visa can include the right to live in Australia indefinitely, work and study in Australia, and enrol in Medicare if the visa is granted. Travel rights and other conditions depend on the grant details in the visa record.

Who it is generally for#

This visa is for people who have internationally recognised exceptional talent in an area such as a profession, sport, the arts, academia or research. It is generally used where a person can show a record of outstanding achievement that is recognised beyond their local area or employer.

This visa is for people who can provide substantial evidence of their reputation, achievements and standing. That can include awards, publications, media coverage, leadership roles, patents, major performances, research impact, judging roles, or other material that shows recognised distinction.

This visa is for people whose application is nomination and evidence heavy. In practice, the application often turns on the quality, consistency and depth of the supporting documents.

This visa can also involve family members being included in the application, if the visa framework allows for that at time of lodgement. The Department assesses each included person against its own health, character and identity requirements.

What it costs#

The government visa application charge is:

• Main applicant: $6,235
• Additional applicant 18 or over: $3,115
• Additional applicant under 18: $1,555

These are government charges. They are paid to the Department, and the government charge is the same no matter who lodges the application, whether that is the applicant, a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner.

Professional fees are separate. A registered migration agent or lawyer may charge for preparing the application, reviewing evidence, drafting submissions, corresponding with the Department, and managing follow-up requests. Those fees are set by the professional, not by the government, so they can vary a lot between providers.

Charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. The current amount payable is the amount that applies on the date the application is lodged.

There can also be other out-of-pocket costs during the process. Common examples are police certificates, health examinations, translations, notarisation or certified copies, and fees for replacing expired documents.

How long it takes#

Published processing guidance: Nomination and evidence heavy; commonly 3-12 months.

That is guidance, not a fixed service standard. Some applications move faster if the documents are complete, easy to verify and well organised. Others take longer if the Department needs more information, if checks take time, or if there are issues with identity, health, character or family composition.

Processing time can also be affected by how quickly a person responds to requests for further information. Delays often happen when evidence is missing, inconsistent or difficult to match to the claims made in the application.

What the process involves#

The process usually starts with checking the current Department requirements, forms and document lists for the subclass 858 visa. Because this is a Talent stream visa in the business category, the evidence is often central to the application from the start.

The application is usually prepared with detailed supporting material about achievements, recognition and standing in the relevant field. Documents often need to show not only what was achieved, but also why it matters and how it has been recognised internationally.

Identity documents are normally part of the file for the main applicant and any family members included. That can include passports, birth certificates, marriage or relationship documents, and documents that explain any name changes.

Character documents may be required, such as police clearances from relevant countries. Health examinations may also be required, either at the start or later in the process if the Department asks for them.

After lodgement, the Department may send requests for more information. These requests often have deadlines, so the timing matters. If the request is not answered properly or on time, the decision may be made on the material already provided.

The Department may also need to confirm that documents are genuine and current. If translations are required, they generally need to meet the Department's standards. Poor translations, missing pages or unclear scans can slow the file down.

If the application is lodged while the applicant is in Australia, a bridging visa may come into effect depending on the lodgement circumstances and the person's current visa status. A bridging visa is a separate visa with its own conditions, dates and travel rules.

The final stage is the decision. If the visa is granted, the grant notice sets out the grant date and the travel facility period. If it is not granted, the notice usually explains the result and the recorded reasons.

What commonly goes wrong#

A common problem is incomplete evidence. This visa is nomination and evidence heavy, so a thin file can cause delays or refusal. Missing attachments, unexplained gaps in a CV, and unsupported claims about awards, leadership or recognition are frequent issues.

Another common issue is evidence that does not match the claims being made. For example, a statement may refer to an international award, but the attached document only shows participation. Dates, job titles, publication lists and organisational roles need to line up across the whole file.

Documents can expire during processing. Passports, police certificates and some identity documents may need to stay current long enough for the Department to use them. If a document expires mid-process and is not replaced promptly, the application can stall.

Poor document quality causes practical problems. Illegible scans, missing passport pages, untranslated documents, and files uploaded under the wrong category can lead to requests for more information. That adds time and can create confusion about what has already been provided.

People also forget to tell the Department about changes after lodgement. A change of address, new passport, marriage, separation, birth of a child, or change in contact details can matter to the file. If the Department sends a request to an old email or postal address, an important deadline can be missed.

Another problem is assuming a bridging visa carries the same rights as the substantive visa held before lodgement. It may not. Work rights, study rights and travel rights depend on the actual conditions on the bridging visa, not on the visa that came before it.

Health and character steps can also cause delays. A person may wait too long to arrange a police check, or attend a health examination after the requested deadline. Sometimes certificates are obtained from the wrong country or for the wrong period, so they have to be redone.

Family member details can be inconsistent across documents. Different spellings of names, different dates of birth, or unclear relationship evidence can trigger extra questions. These problems are often small at the start but expensive in time later.

Another practical issue is overloading the application with unstructured material. A very large set of documents without clear labels, dates or explanations can be as hard to assess as a file with too little evidence. The Department still needs to see what each document is and why it matters.

Frequently asked questions#

Is the National Innovation visa 858 a permanent visa?#

Yes. The subclass 858 is a permanent visa for internationally recognised exceptional talent. It is in the business category and the Talent stream.

How much is the government fee for the 858 visa?#

The government charge is $6,235 for the main applicant, $3,115 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over, and $1,555 for each additional applicant under 18. These are government charges and the amount is the same no matter who lodges the application.

How long does the 858 visa take to process?#

Published processing guidance: Nomination and evidence heavy; commonly 3-12 months. Actual time can be shorter or longer depending on the quality of the documents, Department requests, and how quickly further information is provided.

Can family members be included in a subclass 858 application?#

Family members can sometimes be included if the visa framework allows it at the time of lodgement. Each included person is usually assessed for identity, health and character requirements in their own right.

Do I need a migration agent or lawyer to lodge a National Innovation visa?#

An application can be lodged without using a professional, or it can be prepared by a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner. Professional fees are separate from the government charge, and different providers set their own prices for their work.

About this page. This is general information about how the National Innovation visa (subclass 858) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the реестр OMARA (Управление по регистрации миграционных агентов).