In 2026, you cannot simply buy Australian residency for $5M AUD. The SIV program was scrapped due to "poor economic outcomes." The new alpha is the NIV, which targets high-performing individuals in FinTech, MedTech, AgriTech, and Defense.
The "Southern Hedge": Australia represents the ultimate geopolitical hedge—a G20 economy, physically isolated from northern hemisphere conflicts, with food and energy independence. The NIV offers Immediate Permanent Residency (no provisional stage), making it superior to the old SIV.
Immediate Tax Residency: Unlike the old SIV (which was a temporary visa), the NIV grants Permanent Residency on day one. This triggers the ATO's "Resides Test," potentially exposing your global income and assets to Australian tax immediately upon arrival.
The "Temporary Resident" Exemption: This exemption (for foreign income) usually applies to temporary visa holders. Since NIV holders are Permanent Residents, they generally do not qualify for this exemption, making pre-immigration trust structuring critical.
| Visa Class | NIV (Subclass 858) |
| Status | Permanent Resident |
| Family Inclusion | Spouse + Kids <23 |
| Tax Regime | Worldwide / High |
| Citizenship Path | 4 Years |