National Innovation Visa Invitation Round 2026 Explained

If you are a researcher, clinician, founder, or specialist weighing up the National Innovation visa (subclass 858), the question is usually the same: how many invitations does the Department actually issue, and who receives them? Home Affairs publishes invitation round data, and the latest release covers April to June 2026. This guide walks through what the figures show, what the four priority tiers mean, and how that information may shape an Expression of Interest (EOI). It is general information for Brisbane and Queensland readers, not advice on your own situation.

What the National Innovation visa invitation round 2026 data shows

The Department states that "Invitation rounds for the NIV happen monthly." Its published figures are reported over a three-month period, and the most recent release on its current invitation round page covers April to June 2026. In that period, the Department reports that it received 2,166 EOIs and issued 248 invitations.

It is tempting to divide one number by the other and call the result a success rate. We recommend against that. The page does not say that the 248 invitations relate to the same 2,166 EOIs, and Home Affairs does not publish approval odds. Treat the figures as a picture of where invitations were directed in that quarter, not a forecast of your own outcome.

How many National Innovation visa invitations went to each priority tier?

Invitations are issued according to the NIV priorities. For April to June 2026, the Department reports the following:

• Priority one: fewer than 5 invitations

• Priority two: fewer than 20 invitations

• Priority three: 192 invitations

• Priority four: 38 invitations

The Department describes the tiers in these terms. Priority one is for "exceptional candidates from any sector who are global experts and recipients of international 'top of field' level awards." Priority two covers candidates nominated on the approved Form 1000 by an expert Australian, State or Territory Government agency, from any sector. Priority three is for candidates "with exceptional and outstanding achievements in a Tier One sector," and priority four is the same standard in a Tier Two sector.

In practical terms, the published numbers show that most invitations in the quarter fell into priority three and priority four, which are sector-based tiers.

Which sectors received invitations? Critical technologies, health and renewables

The Department also reports invitations by sector. In the Tier One group, Critical technologies recorded 122 invitations, Health Industries 45, and Renewables and low emission technologies 33. In the Tier Two group, Financial Services and FinTech recorded 14, Agri-food and AgTech 9, Defence Capabilities and Space 7, and Education 6, while Infrastructure and Transport and Resources each recorded fewer than 5. Sports and the Arts, listed separately, recorded 6.

The Department reports priority and sector counts in separate tables, and we have not tried to reconcile them. What the sector table does show is that the three Tier One sectors account for the clear majority of invitations in the period. If your work sits in critical technologies, health or renewables, your field is one the Department currently treats as Tier One. If it does not, the evidence you present may need to be assessed against a different tier, and that is worth discussing with a registered agent before you lodge.

What an invitation is, and what it is not

The National Innovation visa is described by the Department as an invitation-only permanent visa for exceptionally talented migrants. You cannot lodge an application unless you are invited. The Department is also clear about the limits of an invitation:

"An invitation to apply for a NIV is not a pre-assessment of a candidate's eligibility for the grant of a visa." (Home Affairs, current invitation round)

That distinction matters. An invitation lets you apply; it does not mean the Department has decided you meet the criteria for the visa. You would still need to satisfy the requirements set out on the Department's subclass 858 pages.

How the EOI process works: two years, no updates, and 60 days

According to the Department, an EOI stays in its system for 2 years from the date you submit it, and if you are not invited in that time, the EOI expires, and you are notified by email. Its after submission page adds several points worth knowing before you submit:

• You cannot provide more documents or update the information on your EOI after submission.

• Submitting an EOI does not guarantee an invitation, and the Department cannot provide progress updates.

• An EOI does not entitle you to a bridging visa.

• If you are invited, you have 60 days from the date of the invitation to complete and submit your application.

Because the EOI cannot be edited, accuracy at the start matters. Many applicants find it useful to assemble their evidence and confirm which tier best fits their record before they submit, rather than after.

Positioning your EOI: Form 1000 nomination, evidence and realistic expectations

The Department states that a nominator must complete the Nomination for National Innovation visa (Form 1000), and that you submit it with your visa application. The priority two tier specifically refers to nomination on Form 1000 by an expert Australian, State or Territory Government agency.

For a researcher at a Queensland university, a clinician in a Brisbane hospital or a founder building in a Tier One sector, the sensible approach is to be realistic and methodical. Work out which tier your record points to, gather independent evidence of exceptional and outstanding achievement, and be honest about gaps. If your profile is closer to a points-tested route, it may be worth comparing options such as those in our guide to the subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas, and if your occupation needs assessment, our explainer on skills assessments for 189, 190 and 491 visas may help.

Before you submit, it can help to work through a short preparation list:

• Identify the tier your record most plausibly fits, using the Department's own descriptions above rather than a commercial summary.

• Collect independent, verifiable evidence of your achievements, such as awards, publications, funding, patents or leadership roles, in the form the Department asks for.

• Decide whether a government agency could credibly nominate you, because the nominator completes Form 1000 and the Department sets the standard.

• Keep your own records of what you submitted, since the EOI cannot be updated afterwards.

• Plan for a wait of up to two years, and consider whether a second pathway should run in parallel.

Please note that we have not used any success-rate or "odds" figure in this article. Home Affairs does not publish one, and we will not repeat numbers we cannot verify against the Department's own pages.

Where Migration Star Can Help

Migration Star is a Brisbane-based registered migration practice; our principal agent is Rohit Sharma, MARA No. 1797395. We can help you understand which pathways may suit your background and what evidence the Department asks for, subject to meeting the criteria and Department requirements, and we do not guarantee any visa outcome. You can read about our services, call us on 07 3519 5619, or visit us at Level 2, 8 Clunies Ross Court, Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113. A 30-minute Migration Consultation ($165) can be booked here: https://www.migrationstar.com.au/book-a-consultation

Information current as at 23/10/2026. Migration outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Visa criteria may change.

Information current as at 23/10/2026. Migration Star is a registered migration practice. Principal agent Rohit Sharma, MARA No. 1797395. Migration outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Visa criteria may change. This article is general information only and does not constitute migration advice. For advice on your specific situation, book a consultation at migrationstar.com.au.

Migration Star | MARA No. 1797395 | migrationstar.com.au | 07 3519 5619