National Innovation Visa EOI Priorities: Four Levels, Two Tiers and the July–September 2026 Figures
How the National Innovation visa ranks EOIs, what agency nomination changes, which sectors are Tier 1 or Tier 2, and how to read the July–September 2026 figures.
The National Innovation visa (subclass 858) is invitation-only. The Department of Home Affairs considers every expression of interest (EOI) against the achievements claimed and the program priorities, then issues invitations in a set priority order. The National Innovation visa page explains the invitation-only structure.
For July–September 2026, the Department reports 1,969 EOIs received and 292 invitations issued. Those are invitation counts, not visa grants.
The four priority levels, in order
The Department issues invitations in this order. The figures below are for July–September 2026.
| Priority | Who it covers | Invitations, July–September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| One | Global experts and recipients of international 'top of field' level awards, any sector | Fewer than 5 |
| Two | Candidates nominated on approved Form 1000 by an expert Australian, State or Territory Government agency, any sector | Fewer than 35 |
| Three | Exceptional and outstanding achievements in a Tier One sector | 216 |
| Four | Exceptional and outstanding achievements in a Tier Two sector | 45 |
Invitations at Priority One and Two can be issued across any sector, including Tier One, Tier Two, sports, the arts and other sectors. Priority Three and Four depend on the sector tier.
What a government-agency nomination changes
Priority Two is specific: the nominator must be an expert Australian, State or Territory Government agency. The main visa page also says a nominator must complete Form 1000 when the visa application is lodged. That application requirement is broader than Priority Two. If the nominator is not an expert Australian, State or Territory Government agency, the EOI does not fit the Priority Two description, even though Form 1000 still supports the application. The EOI is then considered against the other priority descriptions—for example, Priority One for top awards or Priority Three or Four for a Tier One or Tier Two sector.
Tier 1 and Tier 2 sectors
Tier One sectors are critical technologies, renewables and low emission technologies, and health industries. Tier Two sectors are agri-food and AgTech; defence capabilities and space; education; financial services and FinTech; infrastructure and transport; resources. Sports, the Arts and others sit outside those two tiers in the table, but Priority One and Two invitations can still include them.
For July–September 2026, the sector table shows 128 invitations in critical technologies, 41 in renewables and low emission technologies, and 60 in health industries. Tier Two shows 10 in agri-food and AgTech, fewer than 5 each in defence capabilities and space and in education, 18 in financial services and FinTech, 12 in infrastructure and transport, and 7 in resources. Sports, the Arts and others received 10.
Why invitation figures are not grant rates or odds
An invitation is not a pre-assessment of eligibility. The Department assesses each application on its merits and supporting documentation. EOIs remain active for two years, and monthly invitation rounds can consider them during that period. A three-month count therefore does not give a grant rate or an individual probability. It does not show how many EOIs were eligible, how many remained active, or why a particular EOI was invited. Read the figures as a snapshot of priority order and sector spread, not as a forecast for one candidate.
The current invitation round page sets out the priority table and the July–September 2026 counts.