858 Visa Eligibility — Internationally Recognised Record of Achievement

The national innovation visa requires an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in one of the following four fields:

• A profession — a vocation requiring knowledge of a department of learning or science
• Sport — an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against others 
• The arts — the theoretical or physical expression of creativity found in human cultures and societies, including visual arts, literature and performance arts 
• Academia and research — scholarly and systematic inquiry into a subject to discover facts or principles

In addition to the record of achievement, every 858 visa applicant must demonstrate that they:

• Remain a prominent participant in their field at the time of application 
• Would be an asset to the Australian community through their continued work 
• Would face no difficulty obtaining employment or establishing themselves independently in their field in Australia 
• Have secured a completed Form 1000 nomination from an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or Australian organisation with a national reputation in a related field 
• If under 18 or over 54 — would also be of exceptional benefit to the Australian community as defined above

If the Department has doubts about your international recognition or the level of your achievements, it may request additional supporting evidence from you or your nominator before making a decision.

What Does “International Recognition” Mean?

According to Department of Home Affairs policy, an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement means a person’s achievements have been, or would be, acclaimed as exceptional and outstanding in any country — not only in Australia.

An achievement that attracts national acclaim qualifies as internationally recognised if the field is practised in other countries and the achievement would attract similar acclaim internationally.

How the Department Assesses International Recognition

The Department assesses your international standing by comparing your achievements against the overall international standard in your field — not just the Australian standard

An applicant ranked at or near the top of their field in their home country meets the international recognition threshold when: the field is actively pursued and recognised in multiple countries, and their achievements would attract similar recognition against Australian or broader international standards.

Examples of Applicants Who Likely Meet the International Recognition Threshold:

• An individual who currently holds a senior position in a highly competitive international organisation — senior positions at internationally renowned organisations (CEO, Vice President level) generally satisfy this test 
• An individual with an established track record of holding senior positions across multiple countries
• A pharmaceutical executive who led projects that accelerated a clinical trial process to achieve a medical outcome with significant public health impact
• A senior software engineer who successfully led the innovation and implementation of a novel product with market-disrupting qualities and industry-wide productivity impact
• An academic whose research has global applications — for example, a scientist involved in genomic sequencing with benefits for international pandemic control
• A computer scientist whose pioneering research has received an international award for enduring computing industry impact
• A professional athlete whose performance is internationally recognised through success at major national or international events
• An internationally acclaimed creative artist with a sustained record of well-recognised work

When assessing degree qualifications and research, the Department considers the standing of the qualification against Australian tertiary education standards, and the standing of research activities against the international standard — including collaborations with world-ranking research centres, scientists, government bodies and industry leaders. For overseas qualifications, the Department references Australia’s Department of Education, Skills and Employment, including the Country Education Profiles and the Australian Qualifications Framework.

What Does “Exceptional and Outstanding Achievement” Mean?

The Migration Regulations do not define “exceptional” or “outstanding” — the Department applies ordinary dictionary meanings. Exceptional and outstanding achievement means accomplishing something extraordinary that places the individual clearly above the average in their field. Individuals who meet the threshold are typically leaders in their particular field at an international level.

The Department generally expects a sustained and multiple record of achievement — not a single accomplishment. However, a single cutting-edge or highly innovative achievement may satisfy the requirement if its nature and impact are exceptional enough to stand alone.

How the Department Assesses Your Record of Achievement

When assessing your 858 visa requirements for exceptional and outstanding achievement, the Department considers:

• A nomination statement from your approved nominator — a full account of why your nominator believes you hold an exceptional and outstanding record of achievement in your field
• Supporting statements and material from you — your qualifications, awards, professional or academic positions held, and achievements both in Australia and overseas
• Supporting statements from internationally recognised individuals or organisations in your field who are themselves sufficiently qualified to comment on your achievements and reputation
• Prestigious and internationally recognised awards received from highly-regarded institutions or organisations

Evidence for Academia and Research Applicants

For applicants whose achievement is in academia and research, evidence of exceptional and outstanding achievement may include:

• Reports commissioned and books published
• Articles in refereed journals with strong reputation, high Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and rigorous peer-review standards
• Prestigious nationally and internationally recognised awards
• Recognition by peers — exceptional citation records or journal contributions
• Statements of achievement from government, professional, scientific or other relevant bodies
• Honours and accolades — Nobel Prize, UNESCO award, APEC recognition
• Professional designations — Professor, PhD, M.D. or other high-level credentials
• Fellowships or honorary appointments such as Professor or Associate Professor at highly regarded institutions in your field
• Academic qualifications equivalent to Australian standards under the Australian Qualifications Framework
• Large-scale or wide-audience research undertakings or completions
• Supervisor statements confirming a student’s thesis or research has strong prospects of being published
• Patents with strong prospects of application and commercialisation
• Links to reputable websites that independently reference your work and achievements

Evidence for Profession Applicants

For applicants whose achievement is in a profession, evidence of exceptional and outstanding achievement may include:

• Prestigious national and international industry awards and accolades
• References from current and past employers 
• Statements from prominent business and industry peers
• Academic degrees or professional designations associated with your profession
• Senior personal or professional titles (CEO, Director, Department Head, Professor) indicating an earned rank in an internationally recognised organisation
• Newspaper and magazine articles attesting to your achievements or awards
• Links to reputable websites that independently reference your achievements

Evidence for Sport Applicants

For applicants whose achievement is in sport, evidence of exceptional and outstanding achievement may include:

• National and international rankings 
• Membership of national sporting teams 
• Results in international competitions or tournaments 
• Statements from international sporting bodies 
• Sporting scholarships received 
• Newspaper and magazine articles attesting to your achievements 
• Links to reputable websites that reference your sporting achievements

Evidence for Arts Applicants

For applicants whose achievement is in the arts, evidence of exceptional and outstanding achievement may include:

• Books published 
• National and international artistic sales achieved 
• Awards and commissions received 
• Galleries in which works are displayed 
• Scale and audience of displays or exhibitions held 
• Formal recognition by peers 
• Honours and accolades — Screen Actors Guild Awards, BAFTA Awards, Academy Awards, Nobel Prize in Literature 
• Statements from national and international artistic bodies 
• Newspaper and magazine articles attesting to your achievements 
• Links to reputable websites that reference your artistic achievements

Important: While the Department may accept a single exceptional achievement as sufficient evidence in rare cases — such as a Nobel Prize or Olympic Medal — applicants generally need to demonstrate a sustained track record of achievement across multiple examples from the lists above. A single achievement rarely satisfies the requirement unless it is truly world-class and singular in nature.

The Department may research you online to verify or supplement the claims in your application. It considers only relevant, credible and significant information consistent with its obligations under the Privacy Act 1988. If the Department finds adverse or conflicting information about you online, it must put that information to you in writing for comment before relying on it in its decision — this is a natural justice requirement under section 57 of the Act. Ensure all claims in your application are accurate and can withstand independent online verification.