The Global Talent Independent Visa is a hot new initiative by the Australian government to encourage highly skilled workers to migrate to Australia. We are seeing great interest in this visa from skilled professionals in Australia and around the world.
If you think you are eligible to apply for a Global Talent Visa, take 5 minutes to complete our free online Global Talent assessment form. Our lawyers and registered migration agents will assess your eligibility and get back to you.
Australian permanent visa processing times can often be more than 12 months, sometimes up to almost 2 years. The GTI visa has one of the fastest processing times of all Australian permanent visas.
At the Law Council's Immigration Law Conference on 20 March 2020, respresentatives from the Department of Home Affairs stated that applications under the GTI program are being given priority processing. Processing times vary from 2 day to 2 months with many being decided in one to two weeks!
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman has also signed Ministerial Direction no 85 in November 2019. Direction no. 85 enables the Department of Home Affairs to give priority processing for the Distinguished Talent cohort (subclasses 124 and 858) to “support the responsive processing of applicants that are identified as highly desirable by Government.”
The GTI program uses the Distinguished Talent subclass 858 and subclass 124 visas, but provides a new pathway to these by invitation.
Global Talent Post-Coronavirus
The recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shown how important Australian permanent residency visa status can be for receiving support in difficult times and the right to enter Australia. The GTI program allows for the grant of a permanent visa in what is likely to be the fastest time of any program.
Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge has hinted at the potential development of the GTI program as an integral part of the Australian migration program for the 2020-21 migration year, post-pandemic.
The Australian Government is keen to ensure its 5,000 spots are filled in the 2019/20 migration program year, which ends on 30 June 2020, so it is important that you get into the program while you can.
If you are interested in coming to live in Australia and meet the high income threshold, the Global Talent Independent Visa Program is a great opportunity for highly skilled individuals to migrate to Australia. It’s easy to see why the program is so hot right now!
If you think you might be eligible to apply for a GTI, take 5 minutes to complete our free online GTI assessment form. Our lawyers and registered migration agents will assess your eligibility and get back to you.
The Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs introduced a new program in 2019 to boost the movement of highly skilled individuals from around the world to Australia.
This includes a fast-tracked pathway to Australian permanent residency for applicants with globally recognised talent in a target sector.
This is one of the first programs of its type where Australia is actively hunting talented people and asking them to come to Australia.
It presents a great opportunity for a highly-skilled professional in a high-growth area to move to Australia permanently.
The Global Talent scheme was launched 4 November 2019 and is built on the existing Distinguished Talent program, comprised of:
Offshore Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 124)
Onshore Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 858)
Fast Processing
At the Law Council's Immigration Law Conference on 20 March 2020, respresentatives from the Department of Home Affairs stated that applications under the GTI program are being given priority processing. Processing times vary from 2 day to 2 months with many being decided in one to two weeks!
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (as he then was) David Coleman has also signed Direction no 85 to give high priority to GTI applications as they are considered to be highly desireable by the Government.
“Ability to attract” a salary at or above the Fair Work High Income Salary Threshold (this varies each financial year and is AUD158,500 as at 01 July 2021) or
Recent graduate of PHD or a Masters program who received high grades.
The program is designed to have global talent officers situated around the world in capital cities such as Dubai, New Delhi, Santiago, Shanghai, Washington DC, Berlin and Singapore. These officers are seeking to attract and engage highly skilled individuals to the program to move to Australia and bring their skills with them.
Currently there are allocated 15,000 places in the GTI program which are up for grabs so if you’re a leader in your field, make sure you get your place to move to Australia.
Watch our video: Fast Track to Australian PR Now: GTI visa for Tech and IT sectors
High-Growth Fields
Agricultural Technology (AgTech)
AgTech is one of the fields identified for the Global Talent Independent Program.
Australia is looking to push the boundaries of “Agriculture 4.0”.
Growth through the Internet of Things (IOT) has been identified as an area for further explanation, with big advantages to flow for the agriculture industry.
FinTech is a growing field worldwide, including in Australia.
We have seen the rise of a range of:
Modern banks such as Up, Xinja and 86,400
Investing platforms such as Raiz, eToro and Spaceship
Payment platforms and digital financial products, including AfterPay
Regtech and many many other FinTech products in Australia
To develop cutting edge technologies which will function in not only the Australian financial market, but which can be exported to overseas markets, Australian FinTech startups and companies need the highest level of talent.
If you are a developer, computer scientist or financial expert with a background in FinTech, a permanent move to Australia through the GTI program could be the way to go.
There is innovation globally in the medical technology field, using technologies both existing and developing.
From a range of industries to create technologies that better serve the health needs of patients.
In Australia, there are big opportunities in developing new and better medical devices, implants and bionics.
There is work to be done in designing, building and quality assurance on new implants and body augmentations
to help those with serious health problems to live a better life.
Key foundation competencies are needed in engineering and product design in the MedTech field.
Cyber Security
Cyber Security is very important to many businesses and government Departments, ensuring that data, personal information, commercial information and funds remain secure.
There are a range of interesting startups already underway, looking at microsatelites and other services in the space and space-adjacent industries.
Applicants who have experience working with the development of sensors, advanced materials, robotics and augmented/virtual reality systems
will have skills which are highly valuable.
One of the advantages of operating in Australia, especially in the advanced manufacturing industry, is the access to nearby asian countries.
Timezones, close proximity and existing networks make Australia a positive environment.
If you are a global talent in the advanced manufacturing industry, this program might be a suitable way for you to obtain a permanent Australian visa
and work for an established company or establish your own.
Quantum Information/Advance Digital/Data Science and ICT
There is a lot of research taking place in advanced computational systems and the field of “big data”.
There is demand for high level talent with experience and aptitude in the area to make big breakthroughs.
Global talents are sought by universities, government research organisations and private industry to develop and apply quantum information/advance digital/data science and ICT.
Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) (TSS subclass 482 visa)
The GTES is an option for businesses to sponsor highly skilled workers who do not fit neatly into atarget sector. It has been open for applications since 1 July 2018.
One success story is Daniel Tan, the founder of Pencil Rocket who has obtained a SISA visa in connection with ecosystem provider Flinders New Venture Institute.
A new visa to attract highly skilled workers from around the globe is set to increase Australian visa options.
The Australian Government has announced that the new Global Talent Visa will come into effect from 1st July 2018 and will be trialled for one year.
It is believed that the new visa will attract people with exceptional technical skills and talent, which can be transferred to the Australian work-force and in turn encourage business growth.
“Industry figures say globally mobile, highly skilled and experienced staff can act as ‘job multipliers’ in Australian businesses, helping them to hire more local staff and fill critical areas of need.”
- Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Michaelia Cash
If you think you are eligible to apply for a Global Talent Visa, take 5 minutes to complete our free online Global Talent assessment form. Our lawyers and registered migration agents will assess your eligibility and get back to you.
Highlights of the new Global Talent Visa Scheme
A key feature of the Global Talent Scheme is that it will be split into two streams:
Established business stream
Start-up stream
Successful applicants under both streams will have access to a 4-year visa within the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa Programme which came into effect on 18 March 2018, providing visa holders a pathway to permanent residency after three years and certain age cap concessions.
Applications will be simpler and have faster processing times.
The new visa scheme in its current form is not limited to a specific list of occupations.
The features of the two streams:
Established business stream
Business must be publicly listed or have an annual turnover of at least A$4 million for each of the past 2 years
Access up to 20 positions per year
Available to accredited sponsors and other businesses
If the position ends, the visa holder has 60 days to find a new sponsor and a new visa or depart Australia
Business must show a good history i.e. no breaches of workplace or immigration law
Business must demonstrate a track record of giving first preference to Australian workers
Labour market testing for the specific position
Applicants must meet health, character and security requirements
They must have no family relationship with directors/shareholders
Qualifications must be compatible with the highly skilled role
Applicant must have at least 3 years work experience directly relevant to position
Capacity to pass on skills and help develop Australians workers
Position must have minimum annual earnings of A$180,000
Start-up stream
Business operates in STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) field
A ‘start-up authority’ must endorse the business
Access up to 5 positions per year
Business must show a good history i.e. no breaches of workplace or immigration law
Business must demonstrate a track record of giving first preference to Australian workers
If the position ends (eg the start-up ceases trading) the visa holder has 60 days to find a new sponsor and a new visa or depart Australia
Labour market testing for the specific position
Applicants must meet health, character and security requirements
They must have no family relationship with directors/shareholders
Qualifications must be compatible with the highly skilled role
At least 3 years work experience directly relevant to position
Capacity to pass on skills and develop Australian workers
Minimum annual earnings at the market salary rate (this can include equity, but must have a cash component that is no less than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (currently A$53,900)).
More developments in the Entrepreneur/Start-up space
There is increasing interest in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship. The South Australian State Government has also recently announced that, with the cooperation of the Federal Government, South Australia will be trialling a new visa to attract budding entrepreneurs.
The newly announced South Australian Entrepreneurs visa is consistent with the South Australian Government’s aim to make Adelaide the start-up capital of Australia.We will provide more details as they become available.
In Conclusion
The Government recognises that there is increasing competition internationally for people with high-tech skills and experience, and believes that the new Global Talent Visa will allow Australian businesses to access the best talent across the world, leading to business growth, innovation, skills transfer and job creation.
From now until the visa is introduced on 1st July 2018, the initial settings will be refined, with an industry advisory group to provide ongoing guidance.
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Do you need help with an Australian visa application?
At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.
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