The National Innovation Visa is now the most strategically important tier in the Australian programme and the natural choice for entrepreneurs, founders and innovative investors.
When a Commonwealth, State, or Territory government nominates you under this stream, your case receives priority treatment. That makes it the most reliable acceleration mechanism in the emigration system, and the most worthwhile pathway for founders, serial entrepreneurs, and active angel or venture investors with a credible commitment to Australia.
The National Innovation Visa is the route for entrepreneurs, founders, and investors to Australia, replacing the former Business Innovation and Investment Programme. It is tighter, more selective, and more transparent.
Passive wealth alone does not qualify.
What qualifies is active contribution to enterprise, to invention, to the Australian economy.
The strongest cases combine multiple elements of a distinguished career:
Complete our assessment form, and one of our friendly experts will reach out. We would be delighted to discuss your plans and to determine if this route is right for you and your family.
This is the most strategically important tier for many of our clients; it’s the natural choice for entrepreneurs, founders, and innovative investors.
When a Commonwealth, state, or territory government nominates you under this stream, your case receives priority treatment.
That makes it the most reliable acceleration mechanism in the emigration system — and the one most worthwhile pathways for founders, serial entrepreneurs, and active angel or venture investors.
Entrepreneurs and investors from any sector who secure nomination from an expert Australian Government agency may qualify. Currently, four jurisdictions actively conduct NIV nominations:
The Emigration Department published a few indicators for eligible candidates, including:
The bar for 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 a Priority. The Form 1000 is the key — it’s the document that elevates your case.
We can provide the commercial opportunities, which hold the necessary intellectual property, along with a committed minimum investment of AUD 1m from an Australian venture capital firm.
Our clients bring a genuine entrepreneurial track record and a credible commitment to Australia.
Sterling’s role is to identify the right state for your profile, prepare the state nomination application to the standard the jurisdiction expects, and coordinate the federal EOI lodgement.
Securing the right business opportunity is as important as the paperwork.
This 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.
Famous candidates who 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. Candidates can come from any field:
Home Affairs selects candidates with verifiable top-of-field awards and issues invitations, within the first review cycle.
The nomination requirement is lighter. You still need a nominator on Form 1000 by an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen, or Australian organisation with a national reputation in your field. The nominator’s role is to confirm the achievements, not to elevate the case.
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, you should pursue it directly.
The volume of true candidates is small by design, but for those who qualify, this represents a straightforward route to Australian permanent residence.
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.
This 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 priority sectors. These are the fields the Commonwealth has identified as central to the country’s economic and technological sovereignty.
For most high-achieving applicants in technology, healthcare, or clean energy, this is the realistic target.
Candidates are not Nobel Laureates. They are recognised experts whose achievements are demonstrably above the standard for their field.
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 invitations are issued in this area, Critical Technologies leading the count, followed by Health Industries, then Renewables and Low Emission Technologies.
For 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, the invitation may take materially longer, or may not arrive at all.
This is a realistic target for senior professionals in AI, quantum, robotics, biotech, clean energy, and medical innovation who can credibly evidence international recognition in their field.
Sterling’s role 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.
Candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievements in any of Australia’s seven Tier Two priority sectors.
Biotechnology, biosecurity, farm management technology, food technology, primary-industry value-add manufacturing, and innovation in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.
Defence technology, space industries, dual-use innovation, and the supply chains supporting both.
Research excellence, educational technology, and innovation in teaching and learning at tertiary and vocational levels.
Banking innovation, payments technology, RegTech, InsurTech, blockchain applications, and capital markets technology.
Innovation in transport systems, large-scale infrastructure projects, and the manufacturing and technology supporting both.
Innovation in mining, critical minerals supply chains, exploration services, geology and metallurgy, mineral processing, and resource waste management.
Through the broader achievement indicators recognised in Priority 4, exceptional performers, creators, athletes, and coaches can also qualify under this tier.
This pathway applies the same “exceptional and outstanding achievement” standard as the Tier 1 stream; the difference is sector, not calibre.
Strong cases typically combine:
Home Affairs invitation data shows 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 provides indicative timeframes.
Strong cases 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.
This 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 applicants with a credible track record in any of the seven sectors can offer 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 Department’s “exceptional and outstanding” threshold.
A private family of four first approached Sterling — two principals in their early fifties, two children in their late teens. They held a long-established business, a small property portfolio in London, and considered ambitions for the children’s higher education in Australia.
The National Innovation Visa was the correct route for them. The principal’s profile included two decades of active board-level operation and credible third-party recognition. All of which mapped cleanly onto the NIV programme. Queensland was their preferred state. Its priorities aligned with the family’s intended commercial footprint. We assembled the evidentiary file across the five State pillars and introduced a vetted Queensland commercial vehicle, an enterprise carrying granted IP and a commitment of AUD 1m investment from an Australian venture capital partner.
State nomination issued in 2025. Form 1000 attached; the federal EOI moved to the priority lane.
The family received their permanent NIV grant eleven months after the first instruction. Both children commenced their education in Australia in the same calendar year.
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.