National Innovation visa 858
permanent residence for Australia's standout talent
The 858 is a permanent visa for people with an internationally recognised record of achievement, or rare skill in a priority sector. It's invitation-based and evidence-heavy. We read your record honestly before you invest months in it.
Let's be straight about the odds. Most requests for the 858 don't succeed because most applicants don't meet the bar. That doesn't make it pointless - the right case with genuinely exceptional circumstances can and does get up. But we won't take your money to build a submission that has no realistic chance.
Is the 858 For You?
The 858 is a high bar. "Very good at your job" isn't the standard. The test is whether you have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement, or rare and critical skill in an area the government has designated as a priority sector.
If you've won significant awards in your field, hold patents with genuine commercial impact, have a publication record cited internationally, have led organisations of national standing, or have competed and succeeded at the highest level in a priority sector - it's worth having a serious conversation. If none of that fits, the 858 probably isn't the right path, and we'll tell you that clearly rather than build a case that won't hold up.
You May Have a Case If Two or More of These Fit
An internationally recognised record
Awards, patents, publications, senior appointments or leadership roles that are known beyond your home country - not just within your workplace or industry.
Work in a government priority sector
The government sets and updates the priority sectors. We confirm whether your field is currently on the list before you rely on it as a pathway.
An eligible nominator willing to act
An eligible person or organisation with national standing in your field is prepared to formally nominate your case. This is non-negotiable - the nomination is a core requirement.
A record that survives documentation
The 858 is won on evidence. If your achievements are documented - citations, media, correspondence, performance data - we can help you build the file that holds up under scrutiny.
What a Strong 858 Needs
Character cases are decided by weighing specific elements against each other. The more of these you can speak to with real evidence, the stronger your position.
- A standout record - internationally recognised exceptional and outstanding achievement, or rare skill in an eligible priority sector
- An eligible nomination from an Australian with a national reputation in your field, or an organisation that qualifies to nominate
- Evidence that holds up - awards, patents, senior roles, publications, salary indicators or media, depending on your field and sector
- A continuing reputation - that you are still prominent in your area and would represent a genuine gain for Australia
- Health and character requirements, as with all skilled visas
Eligibility, Cost and Processing at a Glance
The Subclass 858 National Innovation Visa does not work like the points-tested skilled visas, and it does not carry a fixed money test. The table below sets out how the key questions usually land. Each figure is indicative and depends on your case - none of it is a guarantee.
| What people ask | How it works for the 858 |
|---|---|
| Points test | None. The 858 is assessed on your record, not on a points score. Points only matter for the skilled visas - the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa (a state nomination adds +5 points in WA) and the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa (a regional nomination adds +15 points, and Perth currently counts as regional). |
| Minimum investment or net worth | None set. There is no fixed minimum investment or net worth threshold for the 858. Your standing is assessed individually on the strength of your record, not a financial bar. |
| Priority sectors | The sector-based route depends on the government's current priority sectors list, which is published and updated over time. We confirm whether your field is on the current list before you rely on it. |
| Indicative processing | Generally around 18 to 36 months from invitation to a decision, depending on the complexity of your case and the quality of the evidence. This is a typical range, not a promise, and it can move with departmental settings. |
| Nomination | Required. An eligible person with a national reputation in your field, or an eligible organisation, must formally nominate your case. There is no 858 without one. |
| Visa type | Permanent residence on grant, with full work rights and the ability to include eligible family members. It can be applied for onshore or offshore. |
| Our fees | Fees depend on your circumstances and the complexity of the case, so we quote in writing before any work begins. See how we quote. |
No fixed money test. The 858 is not an investor visa. Unlike the business and investor streams, it has no minimum investment or net worth figure - your eligibility turns on whether your achievement or skill clears the bar, assessed individually. We will tell you honestly where your record sits before you commit.
From Your Record to Permanent Residence
- 01
We assess your standing honestly
A realistic read of your record and sector against the current 858 settings - before you invest months building a case. If you don't meet the bar, we tell you at this stage.
- 02
We build the nomination
We help identify an eligible nominator and structure the evidence that supports your case in the strongest, most coherent way.
- 03
Expression of Interest
We lodge a well-built EOI and manage the wait for an invitation to apply. The quality of the EOI matters - a weak one wastes the opportunity.
- 04
Full application for permanent residence
With an invitation in hand, we lodge the complete 858 application and see it through to your decision.
Common Questions
Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)
Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.
The right case deserves the strongest possible shot.
If yours has the rare ingredients, we'll help you present it as powerfully as possible. If it doesn't, we'll tell you - and look at what other path is open.