Current invitation round
Overview
The Department considers all submitted NIV EOIs with regard to the indicators of exceptional and outstanding achievements claimed and the NIV program priorities.
We extend invitations to exceptional candidates according to the NIV
priority order.
An invitation to apply for a NIV is not a pre-assessment of a candidate’s eligibility for the grant of a visa. The Department will assess each application on its merits and supporting documentation.
Invitation timing
Invitation rounds for the NIV happen monthly. The information below shows invitations that the Department made over a three-month period.
NIV EOIs and invitations for July – September 2026
Total EOIs received
| Invitations issued
|
|---|
1969
| 292
|
Invitations issued by priority level
Priority level
|
| Number of invitations issued
|
|---|
Priority one
| Exceptional candidates from any sector who are global experts and recipients of international ‘top of field’ level awards.
| <5
|
Priority two
| Candidates from any sector nominated on the approved Form 1000 by an expert Australian, State or Territory Government agency.
| <35
|
Priority three
| Candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievements in a Tier One sector.
| 216
|
Priority four
| Candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievements in a Tier Two sector.
| 45
|
Note: Priority one and Priority two invitations may be issued across any sector, including Tier 1 or Tier 2 sectors, or Sports, the Arts and other sectors.
Invitations issued by sector
| Sector
| Number of invitations issued
|
|---|
Tier 1
| Critical technologies
| 128
|
Renewables and low emission technologies
| 41
|
Health Industries
| 60
|
Tier 2
| Agri-food and AgTech
| 10
|
Defence Capabilities and Space
| <5
|
Education
| <5
|
| Financial Services and FinTech | 18
|
| Infrastructure and Transport | 12
|
| Resources | 7
|
Other
| Sports, the Arts, and others
| 10
|
Note: This table shows the sector breakdown of all invitations issued in the reporting period across the four National Innovation Visa priority levels.
