We appreciate that only a few entrepreneurs and high-net-worth clients fit into an emigration system designed for those under 45 years old, with specific skills in demand .
That’s why we have designed an approach that tailors to your individual circumstances. You may be over 45 years old or lack a skill in demand.
Whatever your circumstances, we aim to present opportunities that will enable you and your family to emigrate to Australia. Quickly and easily.
We work with leading investment firms, business brokers, and accredited Nominators across Australia. Our network enables us to build winning cases that ensure your emigration plans are a complete success.
The Benefits
Priority 1 is reserved for the very small number of applicants whose international achievements are already self-evident on the world stage.
If you fit this tier, you are recognised globally as among the best in your field. Your CV is your case.
The Department typically invites Priority 1 candidates within a few months of EOI submission — the fastest invitation pathway in the entire Australian migration system.
Priority 1 candidates hold international “top-of-field” recognition, demonstrated by major awards or equivalent achievement.
The Department’s published examples include:
Sector is not a constraint at this tier. Priority 1 candidates can come from any field — science, arts, sport, academia, business, technology, public service — provided the recognition is genuinely top-of-field at a global level.
Priority 1 EOIs are reviewed ahead of all other tiers. Home Affairs invitation-round data consistently shows Priority 1 candidates with verifiable top-of-field awards receiving invitations rapidly, often within the first review cycle.
The nomination requirement is lighter at this tier. You still need a nominator on Form 1000 — an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen, or Australian organisation with a national reputation in your field. For Priority 1 candidates, the nominator’s role is to confirm the achievements, not to elevate the case.
Strong Priority 1 applications are built around verifiable, world-recognised credentials:
The Department wants documentary proof that the recognition is genuinely international, genuinely top-of-field, and genuinely current. Earlier awards still count, but ongoing prominence in your field strengthens the case considerably.
If you’ve won a globally recognised top-of-field award, Priority 1 is your pathway and you should pursue it directly.
The volume of true Priority 1 candidates is small — by design — but for those who qualify, the NIV represents the most straightforward route to Australian permanent residence available today.
Sterling’s role for Priority 1 applicants is straightforward: confirm eligibility, assemble the evidence pack to the Department’s standard, secure the right nominator, and lodge the EOI cleanly so the invitation lands as quickly as possible.
Priority 2 is the most strategically important tier for many of our clients, it’s also the natural home for entrepreneurs, founders, and innovative investors.
If a Commonwealth, state, or territory government agency nominates you on Form 1000, your EOI receives Priority 2 treatment regardless of which sector you operate in.
That makes Priority 2 the most reliable acceleration mechanism in the NIV system — and the one most worth strategic effort for VC-backed founders, serial entrepreneurs, and active angel or venture investors.
Priority 2 is open to candidates from any sector who secure nomination from an expert Australian Government agency. Currently, four jurisdictions actively conduct NIV nominations: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia.
The Department’s published indicators for Priority 2 candidates include:
The bar for Priority 2 entrepreneur and investor cases is set by what each state nominator looks for. Common evidence across the four active jurisdictions:
Queensland’s innovative investor pathway sets a clear marker: AUD 5 million of active, innovation-led capital deployment for two or more years, backed by a track record of supporting successful ventures. Other states pitch their thresholds lower but apply the same active-involvement principle. Passive wealth alone does not qualify.
State nomination is a parallel process, separate from the federal EOI. You apply directly to the relevant state body, presenting your achievements, your alignment with the state’s strategic priorities, and your evidence of commitment to settle there.
If the state nominates you on Form 1000, the nomination attaches to your federal EOI and Home Affairs treats your application as Priority 2. The Form 1000 is the key — it’s the document that elevates your case above thousands of unaccompanied EOIs sitting in the Priority 3 and 4 pools.
Priority 2 is the right pathway for VC-backed founders, serial entrepreneurs, active angel investors, and senior innovators who don’t quite meet the Priority 1 “top-of-field award” bar but bring genuine entrepreneurial track record and a credible commitment to a specific Australian state.
Sterling’s role is to identify the right state for your profile, prepare the state nomination application to the standard each jurisdiction expects, and coordinate the federal EOI lodgement so the Form 1000 attaches cleanly. The strategy work is at least as important as the paperwork.
Priority 3 is where the largest share of NIV invitations is currently issued.
It covers candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievements in any of Australia’s three Tier One priority sectors — the fields the Commonwealth has identified as central to the country’s economic and technological sovereignty.
For most high-achieving UK applicants in technology, healthcare, or clean energy, Priority 3 is the realistic target.
Critical Technologies. Artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, quantum technology, autonomous systems, biotechnology, cyber security, photonics, advanced manufacturing and materials, advanced ICT, positioning, timing and sensing technology, and clean energy generation and storage.
Health Industries. Medical research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical innovation, medical device development, digital health platforms, and innovation in medical manufacturing.
Renewables and Low Emission Technologies. Renewable energy generation, transmission, distribution and storage, renewable hydrogen, green metals, low-carbon liquid fuels, processing and refining of critical minerals, bio-methane production, emission reduction and carbon storage, circular economy innovations, and waste-to-energy technology.
Priority 3 candidates are not Nobel laureates. They are recognised experts whose achievements are demonstrably above the standard for their field.
Strong indicators include:
The Department looks for a combination of indicators rather than a single qualifying achievement. Three or more strong indicators, well-documented, materially improve invitation prospects.
Home Affairs invitation-round data confirms that the majority of NIV invitations are issued in Priority 3, with Critical Technologies leading the count, followed by Health Industries, then Renewables and Low Emission Technologies.
For Priority 3 candidates with three or more strong achievement indicators, the typical timeline from EOI to invitation is a matter of months. For candidates with fewer indicators, invitation may take materially longer, or may not arrive at all.
The Visa Application Charge for the NIV is approximately AUD 4,985 for the primary applicant, with additional charges for family members included in the application.
Priority 3 is the realistic target for senior UK professionals in AI, quantum, robotics, biotech, clean energy, and medical innovation who can credibly evidence international recognition in their field.
Sterling’s role on Priority 3 cases is forensic: identifying which of the three Tier One sectors best fits your profile, mapping your achievements to the Department’s indicator framework, sourcing the right nominator, and assembling the evidence pack that converts achievement into an invitation.
Priority 4 covers candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievements in any of Australia’s seven Tier Two priority sectors.
It carries lower processing priority than Tiers 1, 2, and 3 — but for the right applicant with the right achievements, Priority 4 still delivers the same outcome: permanent residence in Australia on grant, with no points test and no age cap.
Agri-food and AgTech. Biotechnology, biosecurity, farm management technology, food technology, primary-industry value-add manufacturing, and innovation in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.
Defence Capabilities and Space. Defence technology, space industries, dual-use innovation, and the supply chains supporting both.
Education. Research excellence, educational technology, and innovation in teaching and learning at tertiary and vocational levels.
Financial Services and FinTech. Banking innovation, payments technology, RegTech, InsurTech, blockchain applications, and capital markets technology.
Infrastructure and Transport. Innovation in transport systems, large-scale infrastructure projects, and the manufacturing and technology supporting both.
Resources. Innovation in mining, critical minerals supply chains, exploration services, geology and metallurgy, mineral processing, and resource waste management.
The arts and sport. Through the broader achievement indicators recognised in Priority 4, exceptional performers, creators, athletes, and coaches can also qualify under this tier.
Priority 4 applies the same “exceptional and outstanding achievement” standard as Priority 3 — the difference is sector, not calibre.
Strong Priority 4 cases typically combine:
Home Affairs invitation data shows Priority 4 invitations being issued across all seven Tier Two sectors, with Agri-food and AgTech, Financial Services and FinTech, Defence Capabilities and Space, and Resources all receiving meaningful attention in recent rounds.
The Department publishes no fixed processing standard for the NIV, but indicative timeframes for Priority 4 candidates are longer than Tiers 1 to 3.
Strong Priority 4 EOIs are typically invited within several months to a year of submission. Weaker cases may not receive an invitation at all — the Department does not provide updates on unsuccessful EOIs.
The Visa Application Charge mirrors Priority 3 at approximately AUD 4,985 for the primary applicant, with additional charges for partner and dependent children.
Priority 4 is the right pathway for senior professionals, founders, and innovators in agriculture technology, defence, space, education, fintech, infrastructure, resources, sport, and the arts who can evidence international recognition and exceptional contribution to their field.
The bar is genuinely high — but for UK applicants with a credible track record in any of the seven sectors, Priority 4 offers a direct route to Australian permanent residence that doesn’t depend on points, employer sponsorship, or regional commitment.
Sterling’s role is to position your achievements against the right Tier Two sector, secure a credible Australian nominator, and prepare the evidence pack so the case meets the “exceptional and outstanding” threshold the Department applies at this tier.
Complete our free assessment to discover more and to discuss your possible options with our friendly experts.
Yes, dependent children up to the age of 23 may be included in your application.
Yes, however, this cannot be included as part of your investment.
No, individuals holding a passport from Ireland, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, or the United States automatically qualify as proficient in English.
Specific skills or qualifications are not required. However, demonstrating a prior track record of success is important.
The application process can be completed in as little as 6 months. Most clients emigrate within 12-24 months.
Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until the quotas are reached.
We always work with our clients to accommodate their plans.
Yes, however, the business must align with previous experience and be compliant with the Australian emigration policy.
Our team of business advisors, brokers, and investment fund managers can provide access to local knowledge.
They also assist in preparing business plans specifically designed to demonstrate compliance with immigration policies.