Check your Australia eligibility instantly
Global Talent (Subclass 858 / National Innovation Visa) Eligibility Calculator — 2026
Check Your Visa Eligibility Score in 60 Seconds
Free • Australia
1. Are you currently a global leader in one of the target sectors?
2. Do you meet the high-income threshold or equivalent prominence?
3. Do you have a qualified Australian nominator lined up?
4. Evidence of impact?
Global Talent Independent Visa Overview
Global Talent (Subclass 858 / National Innovation Visa) Eligibility Calculator — 2026 is one of the most searched immigration pathways for people moving to Australia
This page gives you a fast, no-signup way to check where you stand before you spend money on application fees or agents. Our calculator mirrors the official rule set and then translates the answers into a clear, percentage-based eligibility score. You will see exactly which requirements you already meet, which ones need work, and what the realistic next step looks like.
If you want a deeper, AI-personalised plan covering documents, timeline, costs and alternative pathways, run the full assessment — it compares your profile against every visa we track for your destination and ranks the routes most likely to succeed for someone with your background.
GTI Visa Eligibility Requirements
Internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement
Must be a current global leader in your field (not emerging).
Target sectors
Critical technologies, health industries, financial services, energy, agri-food and AgTech, education, infrastructure & transport, resources, defence/space/advanced manufacturing, circular economy, creative industries.
Nominator
Required: an Australian citizen, PR, eligible NZ citizen, or Australian organisation with a national reputation in your field.
High-income / impact
Either earn at/above the Fair Work High Income Threshold (~AUD $175,000 in 2025/26) OR demonstrate equivalent prominence (PhD + sustained recognition, founder of high-impact venture, etc.).
Asset to Australia
Show how your move benefits Australia’s economy, research, or strategic capability.
GTI Visa Official Government Source
Global Talent Independent Visa FAQs
Common mistakes to avoid
Applying under the old GTI framing (emerging leader) — NIV requires established global leadership.
Using a nominator without a recognised national reputation in your specific field.
Treating salary alone as qualifying — DHA assesses impact, not income.
Submitting a thin evidence pack — caseworkers expect 30–60 pages of attributable third-party evidence.
Listing achievements without quantifying outcomes (revenue, citations, patents, audience reach).
Improve your chances
- 1
Secure a nominator from a Group-of-Eight university, ASX 200 company, or peak industry body in your sector.
- 2
Build a “career narrative” document showing sustained recognition over 5–10 years.
- 3
Quantify everything: revenue generated, citations, patents granted, fundraising led, audiences reached.
- 4
Highlight planned Australian contribution (job creation, research partnership, IP transfer).
- 5
If borderline, pursue 858 via an Australian PhD or by joining an Australian organisation first to build local nomination credibility.
National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858) — replaces GTI
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Outcome | Permanent residence on grant |
| Indicative annual places (2025/26) | ~4,000 (Migration Program planning level) |
| Visa application charge (main) | AUD $4,840 |
| Additional applicant 18+ | AUD $2,420 |
| Additional applicant <18 | AUD $1,215 |
| Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT) | AUD $175,000 (from 1 Jul 2025) |
Target sectors (2025/26)
| Sector | Examples |
|---|---|
| Critical technologies | AI, quantum, advanced robotics, cyber |
| Health industries | Biotech, medtech, genomics |
| Energy & resources | Renewables, critical minerals, hydrogen |
| Agri-food & AgTech | Food security, precision agriculture |
| Defence, space, advanced manufacturing | Sovereign capability uplift |
| Financial services & FinTech | Payments, RegTech, capital markets |
Step-by-step application process
- Self-assess eligibility. Use this calculator and review the official Global Talent Independent (GTI) Visa Eligibility Calculator criteria before paying any fees. Confirm you meet every hard gate (age, language, health, character, qualifying offer or investment) — failing one gate cannot be offset by scoring well elsewhere.
- Gather and translate documents. Collect passport, civil documents, qualifications, language test, police clearances from every country lived in 12+ months since age 17, and proof of funds. Obtain certified translations and apostilles/attestations where the destination authority requires them.
- Submit the formal application. Lodge online through the official government portal listed on this page. Pay the correct government fee, complete biometrics at the designated centre, and upload supporting evidence in the exact format the authority specifies.
- Respond to requests for evidence. Caseworkers commonly request additional payslips, employer letters, or medicals. Respond inside the deadline given — most refusals come from missed deadlines, not weak profiles.
- Travel and activate status. On approval, collect your visa vignette or eVisa, enter the country before it expires, register your address where required, and collect any biometric residence permit/card. Keep digital and paper copies of every document.
Sources & references
Every figure on this page is sourced from official government or regulator publications. Cross-check before applying — rules change.
This calculator is editorial guidance, not legal advice. Immigration thresholds, points, salary floors and occupation lists change frequently — always verify your route against the official government source linked on this page before applying. For complex cases, consult a licensed immigration adviser regulated in the destination country.
Helpful resources
Continue your Australia research with these trusted next steps.
Popular guides
Tailored visa & PR guides by occupation and nationality.
Ready for your full assessment?
Get matched against 110+ visa programs across 24 countries with AI-powered personalized recommendations.