Subclass 124 Distinguished Talent and how it differs from 858 Global Talent
Subclass 124 (Distinguished Talent, offshore) and 858 (Global Talent, onshore) were historically separate visa categories. The 2020 restructure merged them under the 858, but residual differences in processing, nomination, and evidence persist. This article compares the two and explains which path remains open.
The Subclass 124 (Distinguished Talent, offshore) and Subclass 858 (Distinguished Talent, onshore) were historically separate visa categories within the Distinguished Talent stream. Both granted permanent residency to applicants who could demonstrate an exceptional record of achievement in a profession, sport, the arts, or academia and research. The 124 was the offshore variant; the 858 was the onshore variant. Both required a nominator with a national reputation.
The November 2020 Migration Amendment (Global Talent) Regulations merged the two subclasses, abolishing the 124 and expanding the 858 to cover both onshore and offshore applicants. As of May 2026, the 124 is no longer available for new applications, though applications lodged before the 2020 closure continue to be processed. The expanded 858 now serves all distinguished talent and global talent applicants — onshore and offshore, in any profession, sport, art, or academic field.
This article explains what the 124 offered, how it differed from the 858, and what the post-2020 unified framework means for applicants who might have previously been routed through the 124.
The pre-2020 landscape: 124 (offshore) and 858 (onshore)
Subclass 124 (Distinguished Talent — offshore). The 124 was the pathway for offshore applicants with a record of exceptional achievement. Its criteria were broad: it covered professions, sports, the arts, and academia and research. There was no requirement that the applicant’s field fall within a government-designated priority sector — the only criterion was that the applicant had an “exceptional record of achievement” in their field and that their presence in Australia would benefit the Australian community. The 124 was a low-volume visa, with fewer than 200 grants per year in its final years.
Subclass 858 (Distinguished Talent — onshore). The pre-2020 858 was the onshore mirror of the 124. Its criteria were identical except that the applicant had to be in Australia at lodgement and grant. Like the 124, it covered professions, sports, arts, and academia, with no sector restriction.
The 2020 restructure: merger under 858
The November 2020 reforms achieved three things:
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Abolished the 124 for new applications. All new Distinguished Talent and Global Talent applications are now lodged as 858 applications, regardless of whether the applicant is onshore or offshore.
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Expanded the 858 to cover both onshore and offshore applicants. The expanded 858 absorbed the 124’s offshore jurisdiction.
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Introduced the 10 priority sectors as a de facto filter for the Global Talent stream. While the 858 formally retains the “profession, sport, art, or academia and research” categories — including the Distinguished Talent stream that predated the Global Talent expansion — in practice, the Department allocates its processing resources almost exclusively to applicants in the 10 priority sectors. Non-priority sector applications (e.g., a distinguished artist or sportsperson who does not fit a priority sector) face processing delays of indefinite duration.
Key differences between the old 124 and the current 858
| Dimension | Old 124 (offshore) | Current 858 (unified) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Offshore at lodgement and grant | Onshore or offshore |
| Sector filter | None — profession, sport, art, academia broadly | 10 priority sectors (de facto, though wider Distinguished Talent categories remain formally open) |
| EOI requirement | No EOI — direct visa application | EOI through Global Talent portal required for priority sector applicants |
| High income threshold | No explicit threshold | AUD 175,000 income capacity as indicative benchmark |
| Processing time | 12–24 months (historically) | 3–8 months (priority sector EOIs) |
| Places | Undifferentiated Distinguished Talent stream (~200/year) | 4,000 places (2025–2026), allocated predominantly to priority sector applicants |
What the 124 offered that the 858 does not
The 124 had one key advantage: the absence of a sector filter. A distinguished sculptor, an Olympic medallist, or a concert pianist could demonstrate exceptional achievement in their field without having to argue that their field fell within one of 10 government-designated sectors. The 2020 restructure did not formally remove these categories from the 858 — the Distinguished Talent stream within the 858 still covers professions, sport, the arts, and academia and research beyond the 10 priority sectors — but the practical effect of the Global Talent prioritisation has been to marginalise non-priority sector applications.
An applicant who would have been a strong 124 candidate — for example, an internationally recognised sculptor with major gallery exhibitions, press coverage, and awards — can still technically apply through the 858 Distinguished Talent stream, but should expect processing delays that may extend to years rather than months. The Department’s published processing time for Distinguished Talent stream applications (as distinct from Global Talent stream applications) is “not available due to low volume” — a signal that these applications are not being actively processed.
Who should consider the Distinguished Talent stream within the 858
The 858 Distinguished Talent stream (as distinct from the Global Talent stream) remains relevant for:
Sportspersons and artists at the absolute elite level. A current or recent national team member, an Olympic medallist, a musician with international touring and recording contracts with major labels, or an artist whose work is held in major national collections may still find a pathway through the Distinguished Talent stream. The nominator requirement (a person or organisation of national reputation in the applicant’s field) is the same.
Academics and researchers in non-priority sectors. A distinguished historian, philosopher, or legal scholar who does not map to one of the 10 priority sectors may apply through the Distinguished Talent stream rather than the Global Talent stream. The EOI through the Global Talent portal is not required for Distinguished Talent stream applications, though the visa application form (Form 47GT) is the same.
Applicants who cannot demonstrate the income threshold. The Distinguished Talent stream does not formally require evidence of the ability to attract a salary above the AUD 175,000 threshold, though in practice a successful application will need to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency.
Processing reality for non-priority Distinguished Talent applications
The Department’s migration program management explicitly prioritises Global Talent priority-sector applications. Non-priority Distinguished Talent applications that would have been processed within 12–24 months under the old 124 framework may now face processing times of three to five years or more, and there is no published commitment to process them within any timeframe.
For an applicant who qualifies under the Distinguished Talent stream but not the Global Talent priority sectors, a parallel strategy — exploring whether their achievements can be reframed to fit a priority sector, or considering alternative pathways — is advisable. The companion articles at /pathways/talent-858-overview/ and /pathways/talent-858-strategy/ cover the Global Talent pathway in detail. An applicant who cannot fit a priority sector may find that a state-nominated skilled visa (/pathways/190-state-nominated/) or an employer-sponsored visa (/pathways/186-employer-sponsored/) is a more predictable route, even if it involves a points test or an employer sponsor.
The 124’s legacy: ongoing processing of pre-2020 applications
The Department continues to process 124 applications lodged before the November 2020 closure. As of 2025, the backlog of pre-2020 124 applications has been substantially cleared, and remaining applications are primarily those that have been held up by health, character, or security checks.
A 124 application that was lodged before the closure date and remains undecided cannot be withdrawn and lodged as an 858 without losing the queue date. Applicants in this position should seek migration advice on whether to maintain the 124 application or switch to the 858 pathway.