Exceptional talent
Invitations and Priorities (858)
The 858 is decided long before the application: the Expression of Interest, the nominator and the priority bands determine who is invited at all.
The model
How invitations are decided.
An EOI is not a visa application and gives no right to remain in Australia while you wait. Staying lawful in the meantime is its own piece of planning.
One shot, submitted once
The Expression of Interest sets out your record, your field and, on the nomination route, your nominator, with the nominator's completed form and evidence attached from the start. It cannot be amended once submitted and is held for two years, so it must be complete and competitive on day one.
Awards and government cases
Priority one is reserved for global experts and recipients of top international awards, from any sector, with any nominator. Priority two takes candidates nominated by an expert Australian government agency with a business case for exceptional talent.
Tier 1 and Tier 2 sectors
Priority three covers exceptional achievement in a Tier 1 sector: critical technologies, health industries, and renewable and low-emission technologies. Priority four covers the Tier 2 sectors: agriculture and ag-tech, defence capabilities and space, education, financial services and fintech, resources, and transport and infrastructure.
An invitation is a door, not a grant
Invited candidates lodge within 60 days, with the evidence behind every EOI claim ready to stand up. An invitation does not guarantee a grant; the application is assessed against the visa criteria in the same priority order. The two routes in remain nomination by a nationally recognised Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen, or an Australian organisation or business in your field, or endorsement in national security cases.
The pathway
How we run an 858 candidacy.
Candidacy assessment
An honest read of your record against the bands: where you sit, and whether the EOI is worth making.
The nominator
The right nominator identified, briefed, and their form and evidence completed before anything is submitted.
The EOI
Built once, built complete: achievements, standing and sector evidence assembled to compete in its band.
Invitation and lodgement
If invited, the application is lodged within 60 days with the full evidence set behind it.
General information only, not immigration advice. Your circumstances matter. Visa requirements, fees and processing times change regularly. Facts on this page last reviewed 15 July 2026. Check current details with the Department of Home Affairs , or speak with us for advice on your situation. Website terms.
Begin with a conversation.
Speak with a MARA-registered migration agent in Melbourne about your pathway. Book a time that suits you.