How long does the 858 visa take in total?
Home Affairs publishes no end-to-end time for the 858 visa. Its EOI guidance allows 2 years before expiry, possibly without invitation; an invitation then allows up to 60 days to lodge. For decisions to 31 August 2026, its processing tool shows 6–7 months at the 50%–90% points on the National Innovation entry, and 16–24 months on the legacy entry. These parts do not establish a total waiting time.
858 visa processing time after you lodge: both series
Home Affairs’ Global visa processing times guide tool publishes two series for the 858 visa processing time after you lodge.
| Series label | Stream | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% | Updated | Data to | Tool's note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Innovation visa (subclass 858) | National Innovation | 3 months | 6 months | 7 months | 7 months | 1 October 2026 | 31 August 2026 | “Processing times reflect Global Talent visa (subclass 858) applications lodged before 6 December 2024.” |
| Global Talent visa (subclass 858) | Distinguished Talent / Global Talent (Independent) | 12 months | 16 months | 19 months | 24 months | 29 September 2026 | 31 August 2026 | None |
Tool figures in days, in the same percentile order: National Innovation 96 / 180 / 211 / 225; legacy Global Talent 377 / 482 / 572 / 726.
“50%” means half the applications decided in the period took that long or less; Home Affairs says these recently decided application figures are a guide, not a promise.
End-to-end timeline: EOI wait: no published time; an EOI stays active for up to 2 years → Invitation to lodgement: up to 60 days → Lodgement to decision: 6 to 7 months (50% to 90%) on the National Innovation entry, 16 to 24 months on the legacy entry, to 31 August 2026, according to Home Affairs’ EOI guidance and processing tool.
Need help checking your application? 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.
Monthly history
| Month read | Series | 50% | 90% | Updated stamp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | National Innovation visa | 6 months | 7 months | 1 October 2026 |
| October 2026 | Global Talent visa | 16 months | 24 months | 29 September 2026 |
Both Home Affairs series will be re-read monthly. Earlier readings are not recorded here.
Reader warning. > Unauthorised immigration assistance can leave you without cover. Section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 prohibits immigration assistance by someone who is neither registered nor exempt; Australian legal practitioners acting in legal practice and certain unpaid helpers are exempt. Practising Australian lawyers are subject to professional indemnity insurance requirements, including section 211 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law where it applies. An unauthorised helper does not acquire that cover through registration, so a mistake may leave you without an insurer to claim against; any actual claim depends on the policy and circumstances.
Which 858 processing time applies to you?
Which series describes applications lodged since 6 December 2024 remains unresolved. The Home Affairs tool’s National Innovation label carries the pre-6 December 2024 Global Talent note, whose link still points to the old Global Talent page; the legacy label carries no note. This page therefore shows both, dated.
Under Schedule 13 clause 14201(1) of the Migration Regulations 1994, earlier applications are decided under the Global Talent or Distinguished Talent law in force when made.
Reading recommendation: check any single figure you find elsewhere against both series, their notes and dates.
How long until an 858 EOI is invited?
Home Affairs publishes no EOI-to-invitation time and gives no progress updates. Its EOI guidance says an EOI expires after 2 years without invitation: that is not an invitation deadline. See what happens after you submit an 858 EOI.
Home Affairs’ current invitation-round page says rounds run monthly and records 2,166 EOIs and 248 invitations for April–June 2026. These are not the same cohort and do not establish a success rate.
Does the 858 priority order change the processing time?
Yes. The Home Affairs 858 listing says processing time varies with alignment to Ministerial Direction 120, which applied from 25 July 2026 and revoked Direction 112.
| Priority | Direction 120 group |
|---|---|
| 1 | Global experts receiving top-of-field international awards |
| 2 | Expert Australian government-agency nominees on Form 1000 |
| 3 | Exceptional achievements in tier 1 sectors |
| 4 | Exceptional achievements in tier 2 sectors |
| 5 | All other applications |
Home Affairs’ priorities page applies the same order to invitations. Direction 120 excludes remitted or substituted tribunal cases, applications that would fail the criteria and later-joining family. The tool publishes no times by priority group; read how the 858 priority order affects your wait.
What slows an 858 application?
- Missing documents or payment: the Home Affairs 858 listing says no Form 1000 or unpaid application charge means no processing.
- Information requests: section 56 of the Migration Act 1958 permits requests; regulation 2.15 generally allows 28 days for a written request on an application made in Australia. Third-party health, police and English material falls outside those fixed periods.
- Health: Home Affairs says wait for a request if examinations were not completed beforehand; results generally last 12 months and might need repeating after delay.
- Character: Home Affairs’ character guidance gives police certificates 12 months’ validity; its 858 listing says Form 80 or Form 1221 might be requested.
- Places and priority: Home Affairs’ planning levels page, updated 21 September 2026, allocates 3,500 Talent and Innovation places for 2026–27, including 20 Business Innovation and Investment places. It does not identify a separate National Innovation allocation. The 858 listing also identifies priority alignment as a timing factor.
For NIV visa status, Home Affairs’ ImmiAccount guidance lists Submitted, Received, Initial assessment, Further assessment and Finalised.
Global Talent and Distinguished Talent applications still in the 858 queue
Applications made before 6 December 2024 remain subject to the law when made under the Migration Regulations 1994; Direction 120 covers those not finally determined.
The 2024–25 Migration Program report records 3,229 Global Talent and 1,019 Distinguished Talent applications on hand at 30 June 2025. Home Affairs’ planning page says existing applicants are not adversely affected and count within Talent and Innovation. The legacy processing series carries their label; see Global Talent visa (Australia).
Staying in Australia while the 858 is processed
A bridging visa maintains lawful status after the current substantive visa ends. Home Affairs’ 858 listing says one may already have been granted with your application; check the grant and do not ask to cancel your current visa. An EOI gives no bridging visa.
Home Affairs allows travel during processing without notification, but its Bridging visa A page says departure ends that visa and it permits no return. A Bridging visa B is needed for return travel while relying on bridging status.
When Home Affairs asks for more information during 858 processing
Under section 56 of the Migration Act 1958, Home Affairs may invite more information in a specified way. Its ImmiAccount guidance places requests in messages and “Actions required”; respond by attaching documents. See section 56 request for more information.
For applications made in Australia, regulation 2.15 of the Migration Regulations 1994 generally allows 28 days for written requests, with one discretionary 7-day extension under section 58 and regulation 2.15. Regulation 858.212(3) still requires proof of the achievements in your invitation. Home Affairs publishes no processing time after a request.
Check your Bridging visa A grant and conditions to stay lawful while a request remains open, as Home Affairs’ bridging guidance explains.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to process an 858 visa application?
For decisions to 31 August 2026, Home Affairs’ tool shows 6/7 months at 50%/90% under National Innovation and 16/24 months under legacy Global Talent; the first carries the pre-6 December 2024 note.
How long does it take to get a National Innovation visa in Australia?
No end-to-end time is published: Home Affairs’ EOI guidance allows expiry without invitation after 2 years, then up to 60 days to lodge if invited, before the decision times above.
How do I check my 858 visa status?
Use ImmiAccount’s Submitted, Received, Initial assessment, Further assessment or Finalised status. The Home Affairs 858 listing says no other updates are given.
Can a lawyer speed up an 858 application?
No. Home Affairs’ legal-practitioner guidance says lawyers cannot fast-track processing. Its 858 listing identifies completeness and priority alignment as timing factors.
What is the Distinguished Talent visa processing time?
Home Affairs’ legacy stream shows 12/16/19/24 months at 25%/50%/75%/90%, updated 29 September 2026; it appears alongside the separate National Innovation series above.
An Australian migration lawyer can check Form 1000, payment, police-certificate dates and evidence against the invitation before lodgement, then help answer a section 56 request within its stated deadline. This is a document and deadline review, not faster processing.