What are the 858 priority sectors?
Ministerial Direction No. 120, sections 8(4) and 8(5), lists nine 858 priority sectors: three tier 1 sectors for Priority 3 and six tier 2 sectors for Priority 4, subject to the higher priorities.
| Tier | Sector | What Home Affairs lists in it | Invitations April–June 2026 (issued before Direction 120) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (Priority 3) | Critical technologies | “Potentially transformative enabling technology”, including AI, advanced robotics and cyber; advanced manufacturing is now listed here | 122 |
| Tier 1 (Priority 3) | Renewables and low emission technologies | Circular economy and clean energy now appear as specialisations | 33 |
| Tier 1 (Priority 3) | Health industries | Listed on the Home Affairs National Innovation visa priorities page | 45 |
| Tier 2 (Priority 4) | Agri-food and AgTech | Listed on the Home Affairs National Innovation visa priorities page | 9 |
| Tier 2 (Priority 4) | Defence capabilities and space | Listed on the Home Affairs National Innovation visa priorities page | 7 |
| Tier 2 (Priority 4) | Education | Senior university management; senior academics and researchers at Level D or E, or equivalent | 6 |
| Tier 2 (Priority 4) | Financial services and FinTech | Listed on the Home Affairs National Innovation visa priorities page | 14 |
| Tier 2 (Priority 4) | Infrastructure and transport | Listed on the Home Affairs National Innovation visa priorities page | <5 |
| Tier 2 (Priority 4) | Resources | Listed on the Home Affairs National Innovation visa priorities page | <5 |
| No sector | Sports and the arts (counted separately) | Not a priority sector | 6 |
Invitations in April–June 2026 were issued before Direction 120 took effect on 25 July 2026; Home Affairs reported them under these same nine sector names.
Home Affairs’ National Innovation visa priorities page says the priority order applies to invitations as well as applications.
Tier 1 858 sectors
Ministerial Direction No. 120 lists these three tier 1 858 sectors, with specialisations described on Home Affairs’ National Innovation visa priorities page:
- Critical technologies: “potentially transformative enabling technology”, including AI, advanced robotics and cyber; advanced manufacturing now sits here.
- Renewables and low emission technologies: circular economy and clean energy now appear as specialisations.
- Health industries.
The critical technologies list
Examples on the Home Affairs priorities page include:
- AI
- Advanced robotics
- Cyber
- Advanced manufacturing.
Home Affairs lists the full specialisations on its National Innovation visa priorities page (updated 30 September 2026).
On the Department’s Current invitation round figures, these three sectors accounted for 200 of 248 invitations in April–June 2026: 122 + 33 + 45. All predated Direction 120.
Tech professionals and the 858 critical technologies sector
For 858 tech talent, critical technologies is the starting point where achievements concern what Home Affairs’ National Innovation visa priorities page calls “potentially transformative enabling technology”, including AI, advanced robotics and cyber. The achievement, rather than the job title alone, determines the fit.
Home Affairs’ Current invitation round reporting shows critical technologies received the most invitations in every published quarter: 48, 106, 66 and 122, chronologically from July–September 2025 to April–June 2026.
Sector fit only ranks the application. Regulation 858.212 of the Migration Regulations 1994 still requires an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement. Direction 120 section 9(3) includes indicators such as international patents or earnings at or above the Fair Work high income threshold; the Fair Work Commission sets that threshold at $190,100 from 1 July 2026.
Engineers and the 858 priority sectors
There is no separate engineering sector in Direction 120. Because the Home Affairs EOI form asks occupation and sector separately, an engineer chooses where the achievements sit—for example, critical technologies, renewables, defence capabilities and space, infrastructure and transport, or resources.
Historically, the Home Affairs Global Talent program page captured on 4 November 2024 said Resources-sector site managers, engineers and mechanics would not usually meet that program’s parameters. That was historical guidance, not a current exclusion of engineers.
Today, Direction 120 section 9(3) includes recognised intellectual property such as international patents as an indicator for all applicants. On a side-by-side reading of the old sectors and current Home Affairs specialisations, advanced manufacturing now sits under critical technologies.
Tier 2 858 sectors
Ministerial Direction No. 120 section 8(5) lists six tier 2 858 sectors:
- Agri-food and AgTech
- Defence capabilities and space
- Education — Home Affairs’ National Innovation visa priorities page specifies senior university management, and senior academics and researchers at Level D or E, or equivalent.
- Financial services and FinTech
- Infrastructure and transport
- Resources
Home Affairs reported April–June 2026 invitations of 9, 7, 6, 14, <5 and <5 respectively. Separately, it reported 38 Priority 4 invitations. All were issued before Direction 120; the two “<5” cells do not support an exact sector total.
What if your field is not an 858 priority sector?
No, you are not excluded solely because your field is outside the nine sectors. Direction 120 places all other applications in Priority 5, the last group considered, unless Priority 1 or 2 applies.
A top-of-field award
Direction 120 gives Priority 1 to exceptional global experts with a Schedule A award, whatever their field. Schedule A includes the Olympic Gold Medal, Pulitzer Prize, International Booker Prize, International Tchaikovsky Competition Gold Medal and Laureus awards.
Agency nomination
Under Direction 120, an expert Australian Government or state or territory government agency’s Form 1000 nomination gives Priority 2 from any sector. Section 9(4) also recognises top-of-field sports and arts awards as indicators for agency-nominated candidates.
Sport and the arts
The Home Affairs EOI form lists Sport and The arts beside the nine sectors. Home Affairs counted 8, 5, 6 and 6 “Sports and the arts” invitations across the four published quarters.
Invitations by 858 priority sector
Every published sector count was issued before Direction 120 took effect on 25 July 2026, so these figures show the sector split under the previous order, Direction 112.
Home Affairs’ Current invitation round and archived copies provide these counts. Tier labels below are Direction 120’s current labels.
| Sector | July–September 2025 | October–December 2025 | January–March 2026 | April–June 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical technologies (tier 1) | 48 | 106 | 66 | 122 |
| Renewables and low emission technologies (tier 1) | 15 | 25 | 18 | 33 |
| Health industries (tier 1) | 30 | 36 | 34 | 45 |
| Agri-food and AgTech (tier 2) | <5 | 8 | 5 | 9 |
| Defence capabilities and space (tier 2) | 9 | 5 | <5 | 7 |
| Education (tier 2) | <5 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Financial services and FinTech (tier 2) | <5 | 20 | 7 | 14 |
| Infrastructure and transport (tier 2) | <5 | 5 | <5 | <5 |
| Resources (tier 2) | <5 | 8 | <5 | <5 |
| Sports and the arts | 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
“<5” means fewer than five, not zero. The page update dates were 7 October 2025, 16 January 2026, 15 April 2026 and 24 September 2026; archived captures for the first three were 7 December 2025, 17 January 2026 and 11 July 2026.
For context, The Administration of the Immigration Program, 16th edition, table 15, reports primary lodgements, not invitations, for 2024–25 and 2025–26 to 31 December 2025: critical technologies 31 and 107; health industries 27 and 62; renewables 10 and 40; financial services and FinTech 6 and 16.
EOIs received against invitations for these quarters are set out in 858 EOIs and invitations by quarter.
What happened to the ten Global Talent (Australia) target sectors?
From 17 December 2020, Direction No. 89 set ten Global Talent target sectors, replacing Direction No. 85’s seven from November 2019, as recorded in the Report on the Migration Program 2020–21. Direction 120 now ranks nine sectors in two tiers below two sector-neutral priorities.
The shares below come from Home Affairs’ Report on the Migration Program 2024–25, table 2.3, and cover Global Talent grants only—not National Innovation grants. The comparison is a side-by-side reading, not a formal conversion rule.
| Global Talent sector (Direction 89) | Share of Global Talent grants 2024–25 | Under Direction 120 (side-by-side reading) |
|---|---|---|
| DigiTech | 43.7% | DigiTech, Energy and Circular Economy were replaced by critical technologies and renewables and low emission technologies (tier 1) |
| Energy | 6.2% | As above |
| Circular Economy | 3.1% | As above; circular economy now appears as a specialisation |
| Health industries | 10.8% | Health industries (tier 1) |
| Financial Services and FinTech | 19.6% | Financial services and FinTech (tier 2) |
| Infrastructure and Tourism | 4.9% | Infrastructure and transport (tier 2) |
| Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space | 4.5% | Defence capabilities and space (tier 2); advanced manufacturing now under critical technologies |
| Agri-food and AgTech | 3.0% | Agri-food and AgTech (tier 2) |
| Resources | 2.0% | Resources (tier 2) |
| Education | 2.0% | Education (tier 2) |
The archived 2019 Home Affairs list contained AgTech; Space and Advanced Manufacturing; FinTech; Energy and Mining Technology; MedTech; Cyber Security; and Quantum Information, Advanced Digital, Data Science and ICT.
Other changes are compared in Global Talent visa vs National Innovation visa.
Sectors inside the 858 priority order
Under Direction 120, sector fit is the third test in the order, after a Schedule A award and agency nomination. See how these fit the full 858 priority order, from Priority 1 to Priority 5.
Part 858 of the Migration Regulations 1994 names no occupation, which is why the 858 sectors are not an occupation list.
Frequently asked questions
What are the categories for the 858 visa, formerly the Global Talent visa?
The Migration Regulations name four achievement areas: a profession, a sport, the arts, and academia and research. Direction 120 separately names nine ranking sectors in two tiers.
What are the priority sectors for the National Innovation visa?
Direction 120 lists critical technologies, renewables and low emission technologies, and health industries in tier 1; agri-food and AgTech, defence capabilities and space, education, financial services and FinTech, infrastructure and transport, and resources in tier 2.
Is software or AI a tier 1 858 sector?
AI is a Home Affairs example within critical technologies, a tier 1 sector. Software work needs matching to the achievements and specialisations; an occupation alone does not establish sector fit.
Do sport and the arts count as an 858 priority sector?
No. Home Affairs counts them separately. Under Direction 120, candidates with the qualifying award rank in Priority 1, those with agency nomination in Priority 2, and otherwise in Priority 5.
Are the ten Global Talent target sectors still used?
No. Direction 120 uses nine sectors in two tiers; the ten remain relevant to historical Global Talent reporting.
For the broader eligibility and application requirements of the 858 visa, start with the main guide.
Ask an Australian migration lawyer to match your achievements to the appropriate sector and Direction 120 priority group before the EOI’s uneditable summary is submitted.
Considering a review of your sector choice? 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.