Is there an 858 visa occupation list?
No. Schedule 2 Part 858 of the Migration Regulations 1994 names no occupation. Its criteria concern invitation, achievement, current prominence, being an asset to Australia, establishment here, Form 1000, age, health, character and other public interest requirements—not a prescribed job title.
Home Affairs’ “Subclass 858 National Innovation visa” page says the area must be “recognised and accepted in Australia” with international standing. This is the Department’s policy explanation, not wording in Part 858.
What decides 858 invitations instead of an occupation list?
Ministerial Direction No. 120 sets the order:
- Firstly, top-of-field international awards on Schedule A: Priority 1.
- Secondly, expert government-agency nomination on Form 1000: Priority 2.
- Thirdly, exceptional achievements in tier 1 or tier 2 sectors: Priority 3 or 4.
- Fourthly, every other EOI: Priority 5.
Home Affairs’ priorities and invitation-round pages explain that it applies this order to invitations in monthly rounds. Its EOI submission page says an EOI is not a visa application and an invitation is not a pre-assessment.
For the awards and indicators behind each step, see the 858 visa priority order.
The 858 sectors are not an occupation list
The nine sectors in Ministerial Direction No. 120 are fields of achievement used to rank EOIs, not an eligibility list. Applicants outside them fall into Priority 5 unless Priority 1 or 2 applies.
Home Affairs’ EOI form asks occupation and sector separately. Its priorities page describes critical technologies as “potentially transformative enabling technology”; education includes senior university management and Level D or E academics and researchers. These are descriptions of fields, not lists of eligible jobs.
For the scope of each field, see the 858 priority sectors.
Why some pages show a Global Talent visa Australia occupation list
- Old target sectors. Direction 85 used seven sectors from November 2019; Direction 89 replaced them with ten from 17 December 2020. Those historical sectors are sometimes presented as eligible occupations.
- The old income test. Home Affairs’ archived GTI guidance sought target-sector candidates earning, or likely to earn, the Fair Work high income threshold. Under Direction 120, earnings are one indicator; the indicators are not a checklist.
- Historical grant tables. The Report on the Migration Program 2024–25, table 2.3, records DigiTech as 43.7% of Global Talent grants, excluding National Innovation grants. A historical count is not an eligibility rule.
- Other skilled visas. Home Affairs’ skilled-visa pages use occupation and skills-assessment requirements, which explains some search-result confusion.
For the legacy rules and naming history, see Global Talent visa Australia.
Occupation lists for other visas, compared with the 858
This comparison draws on Part 858 and Home Affairs’ Skills in Demand 482 Specialist Skills, Skilled Independent 189 and Skilled Nominated 190 pages.
| Visa | Occupation test | Who backs you | As at |
|---|---|---|---|
| 858 National Innovation visa | None: Part 858 names no occupation | A nominator with a national reputation in your area, on Form 1000 | Regulations compiled 1 July 2026 |
| 482 Skills in Demand, Specialist Skills stream | Any ANZSCO occupation except Major Groups 3, 7 and 8 | An approved sponsor nominates the position | Page updated 14 September 2026 |
| 189 Skilled Independent / 190 Skilled Nominated | Suitable skills assessment for the occupation; SkillSelect EOI and invitation; at least 65 points | None for 189; state or territory nomination for 190 | Pages updated 1 July / 2 October 2026 |
The skills-assessment entry above is sourced from Home Affairs’ 189 page; the corresponding requirement has not been separately verified against its 190 page.
Proving achievement when your field has no list
Without an occupation list, evidence must establish the internationally recognised exceptional record and continuing prominence required by Part 858. Home Affairs’ evidence examples are “not limited to” its list: awards, national research grants, top-journal publications, international keynotes, patents and earnings in the area are examples.
Home Affairs requires documents supporting the EOI claims; Part 858 also requires the area and achievements to match the invitation. For the legal tests, read the exceptional and outstanding achievement criterion.
Common questions
Which professions are eligible for the Global Talent visa in Australia, now the 858?
Part 858 excludes no profession by occupation list; exceptional achievement, not the profession’s name, is the test.
What qualifies you for the 858 visa if there is no list?
Part 858 requires an invitation, achievement, prominence, community benefit, establishment, Form 1000 and the applicable age, health, character and other requirements.
Do I need a skills assessment for the 858?
No skills-assessment requirement appears in Part 858.
Does the 858 EOI ask for my occupation?
Yes. Home Affairs’ EOI form asks it separately from your achievement area and sector.
If my field is outside every sector, can I still be invited?
Direction 120 places other applicants in Priority 5 unless Priority 1 or 2 applies. Home Affairs’ published quarters through April–June 2026 show no Priority 5 column, so they do not establish a Priority 5 invitation history.
For the remaining steps from EOI to application, start with the 858 visa guide.
Ask an Australian migration lawyer to present the achievements that support the 858 criterion and Direction 120 indicators, then check that the application proves the area and achievements in the invitation.
Considering an evidence review? The site enquiry form accepts questions addressed to Australian Migration Lawyers. A reference appears only after the email send is accepted and its status recorded.