Who can be an 858 nominator?
Four kinds of 858 nominator can sign Form 1000, each with a national reputation in the applicant’s area, under the note to regulation 858.212 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
- Australian citizen.
- Australian permanent resident: a non-citizen usually resident in Australia who holds a permanent visa, under regulation 1.03.
- Eligible New Zealand citizen: a New Zealand citizen who is a protected SCV holder, under regulation 1.03.
- Australian organisation: its contact officer signs with authority, as required by Form 1000.
The Regulations’ words “Australian organisation” encompass a peak or professional body if it has the required reputation; Form 1000 provides Part A for organisations. This does not establish that any particular body currently offers nominations.
You attest the record the 858 visa requires against the exceptional and outstanding achievement criterion, rather than simply recommending the applicant.
What does national reputation mean for an 858 nominator?
National reputation for an 858 nominator means reputation in the applicant’s area: regulation 858.212 says “in relation to the area”, and Home Affairs’ subclass 858 page says “in the same area”.
Individual: Form 1000 asks for your achievements and the applicant’s achievements in the shared area, plus how you are familiar with their achievements at Q22.
Organisation: Form 1000 records the organisation’s standing through Part A, with an authorised officer signing. Home Affairs requires proof of that authority; its EOI form applies the reputation requirement to agencies too.
The area is a profession, a sport, the arts, or academia and research under regulation 858.212(2)(a). No more specific official definition or examples of “national reputation” are available in the guidance described here.
Can a New Zealand citizen be an 858 nominator?
Yes, a New Zealand citizen can be an 858 nominator if they are a protected SCV holder, or qualify through Australian permanent residence or citizenship, under regulations 1.03 and 858.212.
Section 7 of the Social Security Act 1991 includes SCV holders present on 26 February 2001, or present for 12 months in the preceding two years who returned afterwards. For the limited section 7(2B)–(2D) cases, Form 1000 and Home Affairs’ New Zealand entitlements guidance require written Centrelink confirmation.
A non-protected SCV alone does not meet the individual categories. National reputation remains necessary whichever qualifying category you use.
What does an 858 nominator attest?
An 858 nominator attests four things on Home Affairs’ Form 1000:
- An internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement.
- Current prominence in the area.
- Value as an asset to the Australian community.
- Ability to obtain employment or become established in the area.
These mirror regulation 858.212(2)(a)–(d), including its requirement for no difficulty obtaining employment or becoming established independently in Australia.
Form 1000 also asks about familiarity at Q22, assistance and payment at Q48–50, and your no-fee declaration. Regulation 858.212(3) fixes the area and achievements to those in the invitation, so your statement should address them.
See the question-by-question guide to Form 1000 for the 858 visa.
Can an 858 nominator be paid?
No, an 858 nominator cannot be paid: Form 1000 requires you to declare that you received no fee from any party.
If you also provide immigration assistance as an exempt nominator, the Migration Act 1958 prohibits charging for that help. Form 956 warns of a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Treat paid-nominator offers cautiously. Home Affairs’ visa-scams guidance identifies upfront “fast-track” payments and promised outcomes as warning signs: nobody can guarantee a visa. It warns of lost money, refusal, cancellation and bans of up to 10 years. Reports go to Border Watch, anonymously if preferred.
Does the 858 nominator need to know the applicant?
No express rule says the 858 nominator must know the applicant personally, but Form 1000 Q22 asks how you are familiar with their achievements.
Form 1000 asks for your comprehensive personal statement about those achievements. Home Affairs’ subclass 858 page also requires application documents to demonstrate the achievements claimed in the EOI. Your familiarity must support what you actually attest.
Can an 858 nominator decline or withdraw?
Yes, an 858 nominator can decline before signing: regulation 1.13 defines the nominator through nomination on the approved form, and Form 1000 requires your signature.
If you decline before lodgement, the applicant needs another nominator. The Migration Regulations require the completed form with the application, and Home Affairs will not process it without one. Individual nominations are not required at EOI stage.
Home Affairs publishes nothing on what happens if a nominator withdraws support after the application is lodged.
Sign only what you can truthfully attest: Form 1000 warns of refusal or cancellation and harm to your reputation from false information.
Government agencies as 858 nominators (Priority 2)
Government agencies as 858 nominators are expert Australian Government agencies and state or territory government agencies signing Form 1000; Direction 120, section 8(2)(b), places their candidates in Priority 2 from 25 July 2026.
Home Affairs’ EOI guidance requires agency-completed Part A and a statement explaining the nomination and expected contribution. An authorised representative signs, usually at senior executive level; national reputation still applies. State and territory routes are covered in 858 visa state nomination.
In the 858 priority order, Direction 120 puts Priority 2 below top-of-field award recipients and above tier 1, tier 2 and other applications. Home Affairs applies the same order to invitations.
Home Affairs’ “Current invitation round” figures record 17 Priority 2 invitations for July–September 2025, fewer than 10 for October–December 2025, 15 for January–March 2026 and fewer than 20 for April–June 2026.
Which Commonwealth agencies nominate is not published.
Can an 858 nominator help with the application?
An 858 nominator can help with the application without registering under section 280(5B) of the Migration Act 1958, provided the help is unpaid.
Home Affairs’ “Exempt person” guidance says you complete Form 956, the applicant signs it, and it accompanies the visa application. The Department may then discuss the application with you and request information. You can also be appointed authorised recipient.
The applicant remains responsible for accuracy under Home Affairs’ legal-practitioner guidance. You have no refusal-review right of your own: section 338(5) concerns visas that cannot be granted in Australia, whereas the 858 can be.
Proving an 858 nominator's status
Proving an 858 nominator’s status depends on the category you tick on Form 1000:
- Australian citizen: Part B (Q37–47) records individual details; no specific citizenship-document list is established here.
- Australian permanent resident: regulation 1.03 requires a permanent visa and usual residence in Australia.
- Eligible New Zealand citizen: establish protected-SCV status, with Centrelink confirmation for section 7(2B)–(2D) cases. See can an SCV holder nominate an 858 applicant.
- Australian organisation: Form 1000 and Home Affairs require evidence that the signatory represents it with authority.
- Every category: Form 1000 asks for achievements in the area shared with the applicant.
Before signing, ask an Australian migration lawyer to check your status evidence, statement consistency and alignment with the invitation. Form 1000 warns that the wrong nominator status can lead to refusal, and regulation 858.212(3) limits the application to the invitation’s area and achievements.
Frequently asked questions
Who signs for a Global Talent visa applicant in Australia now?
The Australian step is nomination, not endorsement. Since 6 December 2024, the National Innovation visa has replaced that name; regulation 858.212 requires one of the four qualifying nominator types, with national reputation, to sign Form 1000.
How do I find a nominator for the 858 visa?
If an applicant asks you this, Home Affairs recommends looking while their EOI awaits invitation: individual Form 1000 nominations accompany the application, not the EOI. Government agency nomination is another route.
Can a relative nominate me for the 858?
No specific official rule about relatives is confirmed here. Do not treat that uncertainty as permission: any proposed relative must still satisfy regulation 858.212’s status and reputation requirements and attest truthfully on Form 1000.
Can a person or company overseas nominate me?
An overseas person or company outside all four categories does not qualify under regulation 858.212. Overseas location alone is not the test: the categories include Australian citizens and eligible New Zealand citizens, as well as qualifying permanent residents and Australian organisations.
Can my nominator challenge a refusal?
Not through a nominator’s own review right under section 338(5) of the Migration Act 1958: that provision concerns visas that cannot be granted in Australia, unlike the 858.