Australia: Updates to National Innovation Visa Programs in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria

As an update on the progress of the development of the National Innovation Visa (NIV) program throughout Australia, there are several new developments:      

• Allocation and nomination. the allocation for the NIV in 2025 is expected to remain at 4,000 places (this has not been officially published), with invitations likely issued progressively throughout the year. Unlike the subclass 491 and 190 visas, which also require State or Territory Government nomination, the NIV does not have state-specific quotas, and such nominations do not guarantee an invitation. However, the Department’s processing directives now indicate that nomination is a factor of significant influence. Freedom of Information data published on the Department’s website shows that NIV invitations to date have been distributed across priority sectors, with the largest share going to candidates in Critical Technologies and Health Industries.  
• Victoria nomination criteria. Following the announcements from New South Wales and South Australia, Victoria has also published its nomination criteria for NIV. To be considered for nomination, a candidate must first be identified as suitable and referred to the relevant government department or agency (such as Invest Victoria for high-net-worth individuals) by an authorized body in their field of expertise. The nominating department will then assess the candidate’s profile against the NIV objectives, with particular attention to their planned activities in Victoria and the anticipated benefits to the state. Applicants must also demonstrate a genuine intention to live in and contribute to Victoria. Successful candidates will receive a nomination document from the relevant department or agency, which must be included in their expression of interest for the NIV. While candidates from all sectors are eligible, the Victorian government has noted that sectors of importance may include research, innovation, entrepreneurship, the arts, and sport. Further information regarding the criteria can be found here.  
• New South Wales developments. New South Wales announced the opening of Registrations of Interest (ROIs) for the NIV as of July 30, 2025. ROIs must provide detailed information showing how candidates meet the required criteria, and those who are shortlisted have 21 days from the date of invitation to submit a full nomination application. Candidates who are not shortlisted may submit a new ROI after a six-month interval. Further details on the ROI process are available here.      

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].