Processing times · Subclass 858
How long does the subclass 858 visa take? (November 2026)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of National Innovation visa (Subclass 858) applications (Distinguished Talent / Global Talent (Independent) stream) were finalised within 19 months, and 90% within 24 months. These are official global processing times for applications decided in the previous month, not a promise for any individual case.
Subclass 858 processing times by stream
| Stream | 75% of applications | 90% of applications | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distinguished Talent / Global Talent (Independent) | 19 months | 24 months | 19 months |
What to expect when you apply for the subclass 858
How the application moves
- You submit an Expression of Interest with evidence of an internationally recognised record of exceptional achievement and a nominator of national reputation; invitations are issued selectively.
- If invited, you lodge the visa and Home Affairs assesses the achievement, the benefit to Australia and the nominator, then health and character.
What most often slows a 858 application
- The Expression of Interest stage, which has no published timeframe and is where most of the waiting happens.
- Evidence of achievement that is extensive but not independently verifiable, or a nominator whose standing is not documented.
What to have ready before lodging
- Independent evidence of your record: awards, publications, patents, media, revenue or funding, and a detailed nominator statement.
What the 75% and 90% figures mean
Home Affairs publishes the time within which it finalised 75% and 90% of the applications decided in the previous month. Three in four applicants got a decision faster than the 75% figure; one in ten waited longer than the 90% figure, almost always because the application was incomplete, needed health or character follow-up, or sat outside the current processing priorities. The figures move every month, which is why we keep a history on the processing-times tracker.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 858 visa take to process in November 2026?
Home Affairs reports that 75% of National Innovation visa (subclass 858) applications in the Distinguished Talent / Global Talent (Independent) stream were finalised within 19 months and 90% within 24 months, as at 2 November 2026.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of the applications it decided in the previous month. Three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure; one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, usually because the application was incomplete or needed extra checks.
Can a 858 visa be processed faster?
There is no paid priority service for the 858. The things that reliably shorten processing are lodging a complete, decision-ready application (identity, health, character and every eligibility document attached at lodgement), responding to any request for information quickly, and avoiding avoidable requests for further information.
Related visas: processing times and costs
- Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189): processing times · fees
- Resident Return visa (Subclasses 155 and 157): processing times · fees
Source: Department of Home Affairs — global visa processing times, as at 2 November 2026. Cost: subclass 858 visa fees. Eligibility and steps: 858 National Innovation Visa: Eligibility & Process. General information only, not migration advice.