National Innovation Visa (858): Field Notes

It has now been 47 days since I lodged my ROI for the NIV pathway on 18 August. Still no update – which, from what I have seen, remains within normal expectations. Some applicants who lodged earlier in the cycle have (apparently) begun receiving invitations, but timing seems to vary by sector and by when their ROI was first submitted.

While waiting, a few developments have prompted me to reflect on what I might have emphasised more clearly in my application – and what, if invited, I would be sure to bring forward.

One of the ventures I supported at the pre-seed stage has now closed an institutional seed round at roughly double the valuation of my original entry point. It is a sustainability technology for laboratory plastics, now moving from pilot validation to commercial scale. That kind of outcome – turning protected intellectual property into a market-ready product – is exactly the type of innovation the NIV is designed to back.

Separately, a life-sciences venture within my portfolio has secured additional patents, strengthening its development platform. In hindsight, I significantly underplayed the weight of that intellectual property in the broader story; patents matter, but it is their commercialisation that creates public value. On that note, this week I signed an agreement to license a United States product into the United Kingdom – another step in translating intellectual property into practical, regulated access.

All of these strands point to the same theme: innovation only matters when it moves from concept to capability. If I am invited to the next stage, that is the story I will tell – taking ideas through to real-world application, governance and scale.

It is easy to overlook these things, particularly with the diversity of my work and the pace at which projects evolve; sometimes it takes distance to recognise the significance of a story, a project, or an outcome. In this case, it took time.

For now, still waiting. When there is progress, I will note it here!

Practical, not promotional — definitely not immigration advice

It has been just under a month since I lodged my ROI for the NIV pathway on 18 August. No news yet – which, from everything I’ve seen, is not unusual. Anecdotally, some applicants in certain priority sectors have heard back in 6–8 weeks, though most of those appear to have lodged very soon after NSW first opened its ROI process. That suggests I may still be only halfway through the realistic waiting period.

One thought that has struck me during this pause is how difficult it is to know, at the time, which parts of your record to emphasise. Looking back, there are whole dimensions I might have developed further (or at all!) – systemic resilience, patient outcomes, and public service – all of which are easy to understate when you are focused on technical and financial detail. With hindsight, those are exactly the things that carry weight in an innovative investor’s contribution.

Another point that perhaps deserved more emphasis is external validation. International strategic investors have approached, and I have been directly involved in handling those discussions. Ensuring that negotiations protect and reflect the value created is critical – and that kind of recognition underlines that what is being built is not only innovative, but globally relevant.

For now, it remains a waiting game. I’ll share more as soon as there is concrete progress.

Practical, not promotional — *definitely not immigration advice*

Status: NSW acknowledged my Registration of Interest (ROI) under the Innovative Investor route.

Dates: Acknowledgement received on 17 August 2025 (London) / 18 August 2025 (NSW) – within one hour of submission.

Validity: an ROI remains active for six months and thereafter expires. During that time, I cannot amend my ROI.

What happens next: If I am selected, I will get an invite to apply with the next steps outlined. If I am not selected by expiry, then I'd have to re-apply.

What you should known: Keep a copy of what you submit, because once you hit submit, it is gone. The portal does not show you what you submitted.

What I'll do now: I'll develop my supporting evidence by reference to the NSW website guidelines, just in case I am invited. I’ll post again only at a concrete milestone (request for info, invitation to apply, interview, decision), with dates in both London and NSW time.

Practical, not promotional – definitely not immigration advice.

I’m publishing this anonymously to help others navigate NSW’s Innovative Investor pathway with real dates and artefacts, not guesses. I’ve struggled to find clear, lived-experience timelines outside of scattered Reddit and Facebook posts. This blog exists to be useful: real dates, concise checklists and redacted templates, so the next person spends less time guessing.

I'll caveat from the get up: this is not immigration advice. It is not a substitute for it, either.

On 17 August 2025 (London) / 18 August 2025 (NSW) I submitted my Registration of Interest (ROI) for the National Innovation Visa (subclass 858). I’ll log what I filed, when I filed it, and how long each step actually took.

By way of background: in 2024 I started down the Business Innovation and Investment route (Investor stream leading to subclass 888). That programme then closed to new applicants; candidly, I can see why – it didn’t seem to deliver the value Australia wanted. I had already made a handful of Australia-focused investments before the door shut, which only reinforced my interest in a higher-bar, outcomes-driven pathway. The National Innovation Visa was introduced at the end of 2024 to refocus on exceptional talent.

My first order of business was choosing between Innovative Investor and Entrepreneur. I wrestled with it and ultimately landed on Innovative Investor. The way the ROI and public material are framed suggests the pathway is prepared to look at the bigger picture – i.e., evidence across track record, value-add and intended NSW impact, rather than forcing people into narrow labels. This is unlike other schemes out there.

How the NIV “priorities” work

NIV is invitation-only and focuses on exceptionally talented people. Invitations are triaged by priority and sector tier. In order of priority: Priority 1: elite global award winners (top-of-field). Priority 2: candidates supported by Australian government agencies. Priority 3: exceptional candidates in Tier One sectors. Priority 4: exceptional candidates in Tier Two sectors.

Tier One covers areas such as critical technologies, health industries, and renewables/low-emission technologies. Tier Two includes, for example, agri-food and AgTech, defence and space, education, financial services and FinTech, infrastructure and transport, and resources. These tiers guide focus; they don’t replace the need to show exceptional, evidenced achievement.

This blog starts at the very beginning. There’s no certainty I’ll be invited to apply or succeed; if I don’t, I’ll say so plainly (it may be a short blog). Either way, I’ll record timelines from ROI submission to any reply and share the headings, checklists and redacted templates I actually used (if I can).

I’ll post only when there’s a concrete milestone. It may be an acknowledgement received, request for information, invitation to apply, interview or decision. I’ll attach the headings or redacted templates I used at that step (if I can). Each entry will be date-stamped in both London and NSW time. If guidance changes, I’ll note it and correct earlier posts so this stays accurate and useful.

As for why Australia: I’ve spent time in Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle and Melbourne. My time in Australia broadened my horizons. Australia feels like a country of promise with liberal values and a strong sense of equality; I can see why many people want to live there. I’m highly mobile – if relocation is an option, I’ll do it. If it is not Sydney, who knows where I will be next.

Practical, not promotional — definitely not immigration advice