Australia's Business Talent visa 132 and the talent visa in 2026

Can you still get the Business Talent visa 132 in 2026

No. The Department of Home Affairs has not accepted new subclass 132 applications since 1 July 2021, and nobody has promised to bring it back. People who were granted the visa earlier remain permanent residents: the status does not expire.

One detail matters for holders: the travel facility on a permanent visa lasts 5 years from the grant date. After that, travelling abroad and coming back requires a separate Resident Return visa (subclass 155), or you risk being unable to return from overseas.

If you were looking at visa 132 to move with a business, read the talent visa section below: it is now the only permanent route for entrepreneurs without an Australian employer.

What visa 132 was: two streams and their conditions

Subclass 132 was granted after nomination by a state or territory government and had two streams.

Both streams required a state or territory nomination: the state checked whether the business would benefit its economy. Without a nomination you could not apply for the visa.

What else has closed: the whole business program for entrepreneurs and investors

After visa 132, Australia wound down the remaining business visas. The program for entrepreneurs and investors (temporary visas leading to permanent ones) stopped accepting new applications on 31 July 2024. The investment thresholds that used to earn a visa no longer apply: money alone does not buy an Australian visa.

The government steered part of this audience to the talent visa: entrepreneurs and innovative investors are named among the people it wants under visa 858. But there is no investment threshold there, and selection is based on achievements.

The talent visa instead of visa 132: subclass 858

The talent visa, officially the National Innovation visa (subclass 858), replaced the former Global Talent visa on 7 December 2024. The subclass number did not change, so both the old and the new names show up in search. We cover it in detail on our Australia talent visa page.

• Permanent from day one. There is no temporary stage and no tie to an employer or a state: you can live, work and study anywhere in Australia.
• Invitation only. You first lodge a free Expression of Interest, and only after the department invites you do you lodge the visa application.
• Nominator. You need a nomination from an Australian citizen, permanent resident or organisation with a national reputation in your field.
• Income. You generally need to show you can earn in Australia above the Fair Work High Income Threshold: about $140,000 a year from 1 July 2026.
• No investment threshold. An investor gets the visa for a proven track record, not for the size of an investment.

Who fits: globally recognised researchers, entrepreneurs with successful companies, innovative investors, elite athletes and creatives. For an entrepreneur the key evidence is revenue, capital raised, company growth, patents and international recognition.

Who gets invited first

The order of invitations is set by a ministerial direction, which changes more often than the law. Four priority levels currently apply.

An entrepreneur without a major award or an agency nomination lands in level 3 or 4, so the strongest file is one tied to a priority sector: a product, revenue, investors, patents.

How much does Australia's talent visa cost in 2026

Government charges for visa 858 apply from 1 July 2026 and are reviewed every 1 July. US dollar amounts use the European Central Bank rate of 5 October 2026, rounded up.

On top of the charges you pay for a medical by a panel physician, police certificates, certified English translations and expert letters. Government charges for a couple with a child start from $7,600 if both adults evidence their English. The calculation online shows the total for your family including translations and checks.

What documents you need for visa 858

• Passports for all applicants, birth and marriage certificates.
• Evidence of international achievement: awards, patents, publications, company revenue and growth, capital raised, coverage in specialist outlets, membership of professional bodies.
• Evidence of income: contracts, tax returns, statements, offers of work or investment in Australia.
• A nomination on the department's form from an Australian citizen, permanent resident or organisation with a national reputation in your field.
• Police certificates from every country where you lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since age 16.
• A medical examination by a panel physician.
• Evidence of functional English: a recognised test result or a passport from a country where English is the main language. Without it, the second instalment is payable.

Documents not in English are lodged with a translation. Everything is lodged online in the department's account, with originals on request.

What to check before applying

• No invitation. Most Expressions of Interest never turn into an invitation: places are capped by the annual migration program.
• Achievements below international level. A good career in one country is not the same as recognition across the field.
• A weak nominator. A nomination from a person or organisation without a national reputation in your field carries little weight.
• Income below the threshold. If your evidence does not show you can earn above the high income threshold in Australia, that counts against you.
• Health and character. Applicants, including family members, must pass the medical and character checks.
• False information. False documents lead to refusal and a bar on new visas for several years.

Taxes after moving to Australia

An Australian permanent resident pays income tax of 0-45% plus the 2% Medicare levy on worldwide income. The temporary resident concession, which leaves foreign income untaxed, does not apply to visa 858 because it is permanent. Australia has no inheritance tax. Rates, deductions and a salary example are on our Australia taxes page.

Before the move, decide what to do with your business and accounts in your current country: that determines where and on what you pay tax in the first year.

Australian citizenship: how many years

You can apply for citizenship after 4 years of lawful residence in Australia, including at least the last 12 months as a permanent resident. Absences over the 4 years must not exceed 12 months in total and 90 days in the final year. Applicants aged 18 to 59 sit the citizenship test. The application fee is AUD 595, about $420, from 1 July 2026. Australia allows dual citizenship.

Moving on visa 858 in 2026, you can realistically apply for a passport around 2030.

Risks and what can change

• The order of invitations is set by a ministerial direction that can change at any time: sectors and priority levels have changed before.
• The number of places for visa 858 is set by the migration program for each financial year starting 1 July.
• Charges rise every 1 July: check the amount on the day you lodge.
• An Expression of Interest gives no right to a visa and does not extend your stay in Australia.

What to choose instead of visa 132 without an invitation

• Australia's Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): employment with an Australian employer and a move to permanent residence after 2 years. The salary threshold is AUD 146,576 (about $102,100) a year for specialists and AUD 79,423 (about $55,300) for the core occupation list from 1 July 2026.
• Australia's in-demand occupations: the points-tested route if your occupation is on the list.
• The US talent green card: permanent residence without an employer under 10 achievement criteria.
• The UK Global Talent visa: endorsement by a specialist body and settlement after 3-5 years.

A manager in the chat will tell you which route is realistic for you after reviewing your file.

What the permanent talent visa 858 gives you

How to get the 858 talent visa: steps and timelines

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