The National Innovation Visa (NIV} provides a direct PR pathway for individuals with outstanding achievements. Each quarterly invitation round provides valuable insight into the government’s evolving innovation priorities and the competitiveness of the applicant pool.
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has released the latest NIV invitation data for January— March 2026, offering updated insight into how the program is operating at the start of the year.
- Total EOIs received: 1,815
- Total invitations issued: 146
Priority Level Breakdown
| Priority Level | Description | Invitations Issued |
| Priority 1 | Global experts with “top of field” international awards | 0 |
| Priority 2 | Candidates nominated by an Australian Commonwealth, State, or Territory agency | 15 |
| Priority 3 | Exceptional achievements in Tier One sectors | 113 |
| Priority 4 | Exceptional achievements in Tier Two sectors | 18 |
Sector Breakdown
Invitations were distributed across both Tier One and Tier Two sectors, with Tier One continuing to dominate numerically.
Tier One (Critical focus areas)
- Critical technologies: 66
- Health industries: 34
- Renewables & low-emission technologies: 18
Tier Two (Emerging and complementary
areas)
- Agri-food & AgTech: 5
- Education: 6
- Financial services & FinTech: 7
- Sports and arts: 6
