Subclass 858 visa document checklist (National Innovation)

The National Innovation visa (subclass 858) is a permanent, invitation-only visa for people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in a profession, a sport, the arts, or academia and research. It replaced the Global Talent visa in December 2024. This checklist is a starting point as at November 2026; confirm each item on the Home Affairs subclass 858 page before lodging.

How the process works

The applicant first submits an Expression of Interest. If Home Affairs invites them, the invitation carries a unique reference to use in the visa application, which must be lodged within 60 days. Applications without an invitation, or outside that time, are not accepted. The documents must show the achievements claimed in the Expression of Interest, and the application must include Form 1000 completed and signed by the nominator.

Key numbers (as at November 2026)

• Invitation period: 60 days from the invitation to lodge.
• English: applicants aged 18 and over show at least Functional English, or pay the second instalment of the visa application charge.
• Regional visa holders: an applicant who holds, or last held, a subclass 491 or 494 visa must have held it for at least 3 years.

Documents from the nominator

• Form 1000: Nomination for National Innovation visa, completed and signed by an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or Australian organisation with a national reputation in the applicant's area
• Nominator evidence: proof of the nominator's national reputation in the same area, and their citizenship or residency status; for an organisation, proof that the person who signed Form 1000 can represent it

Documents from the applicant

• Invitation: the unique reference from the invitation to apply
• Identity: passport bio page and national identity card, if any; evidence of any change of name
• Relationship history: divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents or statutory declarations, if the applicant is or has been married, widowed, divorced or separated
• Record of achievement: evidence that places the applicant among the best in their area and shows recent prominence. Home Affairs gives examples such as major international awards, national research grants, publications in top-ranked journals, a high h-index, keynote appearances, international patents, success in major competitions, earnings at or above the Fair Work High Income Threshold, senior academic designations, statements from peak bodies, advisory board roles and international media coverage.
• Exceptional benefit: if the applicant is under 18 or 55 or older, evidence of exceptional benefit to Australia, such as professional plans, a senior job offer, contracts with prominent Australian organisations, a business plan or planned research grants
• Establishment in Australia: a statement on opportunities in Australia in the area, information from the nominator, letters from Australian organisations showing work or business opportunities, previous Australian qualifications or experience, and employment or business history
• English: evidence of Functional English for each applicant aged 18 and over, or a statement of intention to pay the second instalment
• Character: Police certificates from each country where the applicant has spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16, including an Australian Federal Police check where it applies
• Health: Health examinations, when Home Affairs asks for them
• Partner: identity and character documents, a marriage certificate or evidence of a de facto relationship of at least 12 months, and evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing
• Children: birth certificates or adoption papers; Form 1229 or a statutory declaration from anyone with parental responsibility who is not coming; for children 18 and over, identity and character documents and proof of dependence

Collect it with Immiluma

Achievement evidence comes in many forms, so create this checklist once as a visa template in Immiluma, or ask the assistant to draft it from this page. Each matter sends it to the client's portal, the client uploads against each item, and you review each document beside it, with the nominator's Form 1000 on the same matter. See all visa checklists.