Australia’s National Innovation Visa (NIV) – Subclass 858 is designed to attract talented entrepreneurs, researchers, and business people from around the world to contribute to the country’s innovation-driven economy.
The NIV is an Australian permanent residency visa for internationally recognised individuals with exceptional talent. If the applicant receives nomination for the NIV from a state or territory, their chances of getting invited for the National Innovation Visa increase.
South Australia and New South Wales have now published their criteria for the National Innovation Visa (NIV) – Subclass 858, previously known as the Global Talent Visa.
Why State Nomination Can Help You Secure a National Innovation Visa Invitation Faster
If a state or territory nominates you, you will have a better chance of being invited for the National Innovation Visa.
Under Ministerial Direction 112, those nominated by a state receive the second-highest priority. The highest priority is for those considered as global experts and international prize winners, such as Nobel Prize recipients.
The South Australian criteria include being able to demonstrate benefit to the South Australian economy and the ability to create jobs.
National Innovation Visa – South Australia State Nomination Criteria
South Australia is open, meaning you can apply for state nomination.
The South Australian criteria include the opportunity to provide evidence of current employment in South Australia, or a job offer with a salary at or above the Fair Work High Income Threshold (AUD).
The document checklist also includes the option of a support letter from a South Australian State Government agency referring you to submit a National Innovation Visa Registration of Interest (ROI) application.
So, having connections to South Australia is an advantage.
South Australia also rules out some types of investment activities, including cafés and restaurants, consulting firms, franchises, and buying existing businesses as these are not considered as ‘innovative’
South Australia has a Registration of Interest system (ROI). If your application progresses, you will be contacted by South Australia.
Their assessment process will include a panel interview of candidates.
National Innovation Visa – New South Wales State Nomination Criteria
The New South Wales criteria focus strongly on demonstrating benefits to New South Wales.
- For the Entrepreneur Pathway – New South Wales wants "innovative and scalable business ventures with high growth potential for NSW".
- For the Investor Pathway – New South Wales wants "innovative ventures, contributing to their success and the growth of the innovative ecosystem in NSW".
New South Wales will have their own seven-stage Expression of Interest (EOI) process.
This will include, in stage 4, New South Wales seeking independent expert endorsement.
The New South Wales Government recently gave a presentation where they explained what the NIV is not for:
- Not for passive investment
- Not part of the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP)
- Not for vague or unsubstantiated ideas
Practical Considerations
For those seeking state nomination, the NIV will now be a 3-stage process:
- State Nomination
- Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Expression of Interest (EOI) – then, if invited
- Visa application
Which State is Best for NIV Nomination?
The short answer: if you have a proven business track record or a collaboration lined up in a state, then that is the best state for you.
If you don’t have an existing relationship or collaboration with a state, it’s the perfect time to begin making that connection.
Complete our FREE National Innovation Visa assessment, where we can check your eligibility or contact us for more information.
We will share more updates on the NIV soon, including the nomination allocations for the new financial year once they are released.
Share this blog if you know someone who is highly talented and who will be a good fit for the National Innovation Visa
Sources:
https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/news-events/national-innovation-visa-nominations-open-high-performing-individuals
https://www.workvisalawyers.com.au/images/PDF/National_Innovation_Visa_Criteria_NSW.pdf
