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Migration Innovation Northern Territory (MINT) Program 2026-27

 

The Migration Innovation Northern Territory (MINT) Program is an initiative owned and managed by Paspalis (MINT Management Pty Ltd) and the Darwin Innovation Hub Click Here, and is supported by the Northern Territory Government. Click Here. The program assists overseas nationals who demonstrate their commitment to the Northern Territory by investing in the Paspalis Innovation Investment Fund, which supports venture capital projects that benefit the Northern Territory innovation ecosystem.

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In return, eligible applicants may be nominated by the Northern Territory Government for a Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) permanent visa or a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa. MINT remains one of the very few pathways in Australia through which a Subclass 190 nomination is available to applicants who are located offshore.

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The 2026-27 MINT Program (Program Year 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027) opened on 21 August 2026 and operates through Paspalis Innovation Investment Fund No. 8 (PIIF 8). The Northern Territory Government allocates only a very small number of nominations to the program each Program Year, which may be used for either Subclass 190 or Subclass 491. Places are limited and are filled in order of completed Placement Agreements. Only one nomination is provided per applicant and unused places do not carry over to future years.

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About NPS and your Registered Migration Agent

 

Nudraft Professional Services (NPS) is an Australian migration practice with offices in Melbourne, Darwin, Shanghai and Hong Kong, providing bilingual English and Chinese services to onshore and offshore clients.

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NPS has been an Approved Panel Agent of the MINT Program since the second round of the program and is one of the longest standing panel agents on the list. All MINT applications must be lodged through an Approved Panel Agent; applications lodged by agents who are not on the panel will not be accepted by Paspalis.

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Your matter will be handled by John Jun Cao, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0961126), who has more than 17 years of experience in Australian visa and migration matters, including skilled migration, the National Innovation visa, employer sponsored and family visas. NPS is bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct and the professional standards required of all MINT panel agents.

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Objectives of the MINT Program (FY2026/2027)

 

The objectives of the program are to:

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1. Complement other activities targeted at raising start-up capital for the Northern Territory innovation ecosystem, by providing a short term solution that leverages the ability of the NT Government to nominate in select visa categories.

2. Maintain the integrity of the NT Government nomination programs.

3. Support nominations of genuine applicants who will benefit the Northern Territory not only through the introduction of venture capital, but also through population increase, filling skills shortages and undertaking business activities of benefit to the Northern Territory.

4. Ensure that local Northern Territorians are not disadvantaged through the nomination of skilled migrants.

 

Nomination Criteria

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Common criteria (all applicants, at time of application and at time of nomination)

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• Demonstrate that you will live in the Northern Territory and meet the standard genuine intention criteria that apply to all NT nomination applicants.

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the nomination criteria and your obligations.

• Have sufficient funds of your own for settlement in the Northern Territory.

• Provide a complete and accurate application.

• Meet the Australian Government threshold criteria for the visa.

• Lodge the nomination application through the relevant application process within 2 months of signing the Placement Agreement with Paspalis.

 

Skilled migration criteria (Subclass 190 and 491)

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• Must not have Strong Links to Other Regions of Australia, unless you also have Strong Links to the Northern Territory.

• Must meet the Australian Government threshold criteria for the relevant visa, including a positive skills assessment, the minimum English level and the minimum points score (currently 65 points, including the nomination points).

• Must be nominated for an occupation on the relevant Australian Government occupation list.

• Must not, in the 5 years immediately before signing the Placement Agreement, have held an International Student visa or a Graduate visa, unless you have Strong Links to the Northern Territory.

• Applicants who do not have Strong Links to the Northern Territory may only be eligible for a provisional (Subclass 491) nomination in some circumstances. NPS will assess your eligibility for Subclass 190 before you enter into any agreement.

 

The Northern Territory Government may take into account information from any source, including information provided by Paspalis and open source information, when assessing whether an applicant is eligible. The criteria above are the NT Government settings for the MINT Program and are in addition to the Australian Government requirements for the visa itself.

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Defined Terms

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• Immediate Family
  A person's spouse, and their parents, siblings, children and grandchildren, by birth or by adoption recognised in Australia.

• International Student
  An applicant who is or was the holder of a student visa granted under the Migration Act.

• Other Regions of Australia
  All areas of Australia other than the Northern Territory.

• Qualifying Business
  Has the meaning given in the Migration Legislation.

• Spouse
  A person (of any sex) who is in a relationship with the other person that is registered under a prescribed State or Territory law, or who, although not legally married to the other person, lives with the other person on a genuine domestic basis in a relationship as a couple.

• Strong Links to Other Regions of Australia
  An applicant meets one or more of the following: has spent more than 12 months in Other Regions of Australia in the last 5 years; has had Immediate Family living in Other Regions of Australia in the last 5 years; has engaged in work in Other Regions of Australia; holds assets (except residential property) in excess of AUD $100,000 in Other Regions of Australia; holds residential property in Other Regions of Australia and does not hold residential property in the Northern Territory; or has applied for nomination in Other Regions of Australia.

• Strong Links to the Northern Territory
  An applicant meets one or more of the following: has spent more than 12 months in the Northern Territory in the last 5 years; has or has had Immediate Family in the Northern Territory; has worked for a minimum of 6 months in the Northern Territory; or has completed a minimum of 2 years of full time study through a university higher education program or a vocational education and training program based in the Northern Territory.

 

Process

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1. Contact NPS. NPS is an Approved Panel Agent and will assess your eligibility against both the Australian Government visa criteria and the NT Government MINT criteria before you commit to the program.

2. Enter into a Placement Agreement with Paspalis and pay the placement fee of $42,352.20 (including GST), being $38,502 plus GST, to Paspalis to secure your place.

3. Within 60 days of signing the Placement Agreement, NPS lodges your online nomination application with MigrationNT.

4. MigrationNT assesses the application and issues a provisional nomination approval.

5. Within 30 days of the provisional approval, apply to invest in Paspalis Innovation Investment Fund No. 8 and pay the investment amount of AUD $590,000 to the Fund Trustee.

6. The Fund Trustee completes its anti-money laundering and know your customer (AML/KYC) checks and processes your investment application.

7. Once your investment application is accepted, Paspalis informs MigrationNT.

8. MigrationNT grants the NT Government nomination.

9. NPS lodges your visa application with the Department of Home Affairs, which makes the final decision on the visa.

 

After the visa is granted, applicants are expected to live and work in the Northern Territory and will be asked to complete periodic surveys about their settlement and activities in Australia.

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The Investment: Paspalis Innovation Investment Fund No. 8 (PIIF 8)

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PIIF 8 is an Australian unregistered unit trust open only to investors who qualify as wholesale clients under the Corporations Act. The trustee and manager of the fund is Paspalis Capital Pty Limited (ACN 645 544 501, AFSL 527915). The fund is designed to satisfy one of the Northern Territory Government's criteria for nomination under the MINT Program.

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• Minimum initial investment: AUD $590,000 per applicant (family unit).

• Minimum investment term: 5 years. No withdrawals are permitted during the minimum term, other than in limited circumstances set out in the Information Memorandum.

• Offer period: opened 1 July 2026.

• Investment strategy: at least 50% of the fund in Northern Territory Government bonds (or bonds with an equivalent risk profile); up to 20% in early stage and emerging companies that deliver productivity, jobs, innovation or research outcomes for the Northern Territory; and the balance in Northern Territory Government bonds or Northern Territory commercial and industrial property investments, including property unit trusts or REITs.

 

The investment, including both capital and returns, is not guaranteed by the Northern Territory Government or by NPS. The Northern Territory Government is not involved in the investment decisions of the fund. The summary above is general information only and is not financial advice. Full details, including fees, risks and withdrawal terms, are set out in the PIIF 8 Information Memorandum, which NPS can provide on request to interested applicants. You should read the Information Memorandum in full and obtain independent financial advice before deciding to invest.

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Program Costs

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• Paspalis placement fee: $42,352.20 (including GST) ($38,502 plus GST), payable on signing the Placement Agreement.

• PIIF 8 investment: AUD $590,000, payable to the Fund Trustee after provisional nomination approval.

• NPS professional fees: depend on the number of family members included and the scope of services. A fee schedule is provided before you engage NPS.

• Other costs: Department of Home Affairs visa application charges, English test, skills assessment, police clearances, health examinations, translation and certification of documents, and settlement funds for the Northern Territory.

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FAQ

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• Can I use my own migration agent who is not an approved panel agent?
  No. All applicants must use an Approved Panel Agent for both the Northern Territory nomination and the Department of Home Affairs visa application. Panel agents receive MINT specific training from the NT Government and Paspalis. Applications made by agents who are not on the panel will not be accepted.

• What are the costs of the MINT Program for applicants?
  The Paspalis placement fee for the 2026-27 program is $42,352.20 (including GST), being $38,502 plus GST. Migration agent professional fees, visa application charges and the other costs listed under Program Costs are separate.

• How much do I need to invest in the Paspalis Innovation Investment Fund?
  The minimum investment in PIIF 8 is AUD $590,000 for a minimum term of 5 years. The application form and the Information Memorandum are available from NPS on request.

• Who owns the MINT Program?
  The MINT Program is owned and managed by Paspalis and the Darwin Innovation Hub. The Northern Territory Government supports the program but does not own or manage it.

• What is the placement fee charged by Paspalis used for?
  The placement fee covers the processing, marketing, monitoring and reporting of the program and the operational costs of the Darwin Innovation Hub. The Northern Territory Government receives no financial benefit from the MINT Program or from Paspalis.

• Who approves the nomination and the visa?
  The Northern Territory Government nominates applicants who meet both the Australian Government criteria and the NT specific criteria. The NT Government approves the nomination only. The Australian Government, through the Department of Home Affairs, decides whether the visa is granted. Paspalis and the panel agents do not approve nominations or visas.

• Will I be nominated for Subclass 190 or Subclass 491?
  The NT Government may nominate MINT applicants for either visa within the small annual allocation given to the program. Subclass 190 is a permanent visa. Applicants who do not have Strong Links to the Northern Territory may in some circumstances only be eligible for a provisional Subclass 491 nomination. NPS will advise you which visa you are eligible for before you sign the Placement Agreement.

• What is the main objective of the MINT Program?
  The program raises start-up capital for the Northern Territory innovation ecosystem by nominating genuine applicants who contribute through their investment, by increasing the population, by filling skills shortages and by undertaking business activities that benefit the Northern Territory, without disadvantaging local Northern Territorians.

• Which occupation list does my occupation need to be on?
  Your nominated occupation must be on the relevant Australian Government occupation list for the visa subclass you are applying for. NPS will confirm whether your occupation is eligible under the current MINT Program settings before you sign the Placement Agreement.

• Are there any exemptions for overseas applicants joining the MINT Program?
  There are no exemptions from the Australian Government visa criteria for any applicant. Concessions apply only to the NT Government criteria: MINT applicants must show that they can fill a skills shortage in the Northern Territory but are not required to hold a job offer from an NT employer. Where the NT Government sets a higher English requirement for a particular occupation, MINT applicants must meet that requirement.

• What English level do I need?
  The minimum for the visa is Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each component or an accepted equivalent). Some occupations carry a higher NT Government English requirement, for example Management Consultant requires IELTS 7.0 overall or equivalent. NPS will confirm the level that applies to your occupation.

• How can I find out more about the investment?
  NPS can provide the PIIF 8 Information Memorandum on request. Questions about the fund itself can be directed to Paspalis at compliance@paspalis.com.au.

• Is the investment guaranteed by the NT Government?
  No. The investment, both capital and returns, is not guaranteed by the Northern Territory Government, Paspalis or NPS. The NT Government is not involved in the investment decisions of the fund. Applicants are advised to seek independent financial advice before investing.

• What professional standards must the panel agents meet?
  Panel agents are selected by Paspalis using criteria agreed with the NT Government, based on their performance history. All panel agents are Registered Migration Agents bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct. Panel agents are not formally endorsed by the NT Government. Any concern about a panel agent's conduct should be reported to Paspalis.

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Useful Links

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• Paspalis MINT Program: https://paspalis.vc/live-work-in-the-nt/

• NT Government skilled migration: https://australiasnorthernterritory.com.au/move/migrate-to-work/nt-government-visa-nomination

• Australian Government skilled occupation lists: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2019L00278

• Department of Home Affairs visa pricing estimator: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/visa-pricing-estimator

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Last updated: 22 August 2026. Program fees and criteria are set by Paspalis and the Northern Territory Government and may change without notice. Please contact NPS to confirm the current requirements before relying on this information.

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