The Department of Home Affairs has released the January to March 2026 National Innovation Visa (NIV) invitation round data, offering updated insight into how the program is operating and how competitive each priority level has become.
While the NIV continues to offer a streamlined permanent residence pathway for individuals with exceptional and outstanding achievements, the latest figures suggest a program that remains selective and highly responsive to the quality of EOIs received.
Snapshot of the January to March 2026 round
| Total EOIs received | Invitations issued |
|---|---|
| 1815 | 146 |
This equates to an invitation rate of around 8 percent, lower than the previous quarter (226 invitations from 2368 EOIs), but still higher than early 2025 rounds.
Priority level comparison
| Priority level | Oct–Dec 2025 | Jan–Mar 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority one | Exceptional candidates from any sector who are global experts and recipients of international ‘top of field’ level awards. | <5 | 0 |
| Priority two | Candidates from any sector nominated on the approved Form 1000 by an expert Australian, State or Territory Government agency. | <10 | 15 |
| Priority three | Candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievements in a Tier One sector. | 166 | 113 |
| Priority four | Candidates with exceptional and outstanding achievements in a Tier Two sector. | 52 | 18 |
A few observations
- Priority 1 fell from fewer than 5 to 0, reinforcing how rare “top of field” global award recipients are.
- Priority 2 increased from fewer than 10 to 15, which may indicate stronger engagement from government agencies or simply more suitable candidates this quarter.
- Priority 3 decreased from 166 to 113, though it remains the largest category. This may reflect the sequencing of assessments rather than a shift in focus.
- Priority 4 dropped sharply from 52 to 18, likely due to fewer invitations remaining once higher priorities were assessed.
Sector breakdown: understanding why Tier One continues to dominate numerically
Tier One sectors
| Sector | Oct–Dec 2025 | Jan–Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Critical technologies | 106 | 66 |
| Renewables and low emission technologies | 25 | 18 |
| Health industries | 36 | 34 |
Tier One sectors again received the majority of invitations. This does not necessarily indicate a deliberate policy emphasis. Instead, it may reflect:
- the priority structure, where Tier One (Priority 3) is assessed before Tier Two (Priority 4)
- the relative difficulty of meeting Priority 1 and 2 thresholds
- a consistently strong pool of high‑quality EOIs in Tier One fields
Critical technologies saw a notable decrease (106 to 66), but still remains the largest sector. Health industries remained relatively stable (36 to 34), while renewables decreased from 25 to 18.
Tier Two sectors
| Sector | Oct–Dec 2025 | Jan–Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Agri-food and AgTech | 8 | 5 |
| Education | 8 | 6 |
| Defence capabilities and space | 5 | |
| Financial services and FinTech | 20 | 7 |
| Infrastructure and transport | 5 | |
| Resources | 8 |
Tier Two sectors contracted across almost all categories compared to the previous quarter.
A few nuanced points:
- FinTech dropped significantly from 20 to 7, which may suggest closer scrutiny of claimed achievements or simply fewer exceptional EOIs submitted.
- Defence, space, resources and infrastructure all fell to fewer than 5 invitations, which may reflect a smaller pool of globally distinguished candidates in these areas this quarter.
- Education remained relatively stable (8 to 6), while Agri‑food decreased slightly (8 to 5).
- Sports and the Arts increased slightly from 5 to 6 invitations.
How this round compares to earlier periods
Total invitations over the past five rounds
| Quarter | Invitations issued |
|---|---|
| Jan–Mar 2025 | 70 |
| Apr–Jun 2025 | 112 |
| Jul–Sep 2025 | 122 |
| Oct–Dec 2025 | 226 |
| Jan–Mar 2026 | 146 |
Compared to the previous quarter, invitations decreased from 226 to 146. However, this round remains higher than the first three quarters of 2025, suggesting that invitation volumes may be stabilising after the unusually high October–December 2025 round.
Priority level trends in context
- Priority 1 remains consistently rare across all periods.
- Priority 2 fluctuates, but the increase this quarter (from <10 to 15) may indicate more suitable candidates or more active government nominators.
- Priority 3 consistently forms the bulk of invitations, though the number varies depending on how many Priority 1 and 2 candidates are available.
- Priority 4 invitations have decreased steadily since October–December 2025, which may reflect fewer remaining invitations once higher priorities are assessed.
Broader patterns across the year
Looking at the past 12 months:
- EOI volumes are trending downward, but the quality of EOIs may be rising, particularly in Tier One sectors.
- The Department appears to be maintaining a cautious, evidence‑driven approach, issuing invitations only where global recognition is clear and recent.
- The distribution of invitations may indicate a maturing applicant pool, with stronger EOIs in some sectors and fewer in others.
What this means for prospective NIV applicants
1. The threshold for exceptional achievement remains high
Applicants must demonstrate recent, internationally recognised achievements. The Department appears to be applying a strict interpretation of “exceptional and outstanding”.
2. Government‑backed nominations may be increasingly influential
The increase in Priority 2 invitations compared to the previous quarter suggests that Form 1000 nominations from expert government agencies can strengthen an applicant’s prospects.
3. Tier One applicants remain well placed due to the priority structure
Because Priority 3 is assessed before Priority 4, strong Tier One EOIs may naturally receive more invitations.
4. Tier Two applicants face a more competitive environment
With Priority 4 invitations decreasing from 52 to 18, Tier Two candidates may need to demonstrate exceptionally compelling evidence of global prominence and national benefit.
5. Recent achievements matter
The Department continues to emphasise achievements within the last three years. Applicants with older accomplishments may need to demonstrate ongoing relevance and impact.
Final thoughts
The January to March 2026 invitation round suggests that the NIV program remains highly competitive, with outcomes shaped heavily by the priority structure and the quality of EOIs received.
While Tier One continues to dominate numerically, this may reflect the sequencing of assessments rather than a shift in policy focus. Strong, recent, globally recognised achievements remain the key determinant of success across all sectors.
If you would like to discuss the National Innovation Visa further, feel free to reach out to speak to our dedicated NIV team.
