On 4 November 2019, the Global Talent Independent (GTI) program was officially launched to provide a streamlined, priority pathway for highly skilled and talent individuals to obtain Australian permanent residency.

This program is another layer of the “Global Talent” initiative that the Department of Home Affairs (Department) have rolled out to support innovation in Australia, which joins the renamed “Global Talent – Employer Sponsored” (GTES) scheme.

The below describes what this scheme is, what visa it utilises, and how to apply.

What is the Global Talent – Independent program?

The GTI program is designed to attract skilled migrants at the top of specific key sectors to Australia. It operates through an additional layer on top of an existing visa – being the Global Talent (Subclass 858) visa (discussed further below).

The GTI program involves the Department taking on a more active role by engaging “Global Talent Officers” (GTO) in key locations overseas to invite targeted individuals to apply for an Australian visa. GTOs will work with countries in their regions and attend key events/expos to promote this program.

Individuals interested in this program, should submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the Department of Home Affairs (Department) to be invited to apply for this visa. A successful candidate would receive a unique identifier and be invited to apply for a Global Talent visa. Their visa application would receive priority processing (around 2-3 months). For the:

• 2019/20 migration program year – there were 5,000 spots;
• 2020/21 migration program year – there were 15,000 spots;
• 2021/22 migration program year – there were 15,000 spots;
• 2022/23 migration program year – there will be 8,448 spots.

In particular, the Department aim to target individuals with profiles relevant to the following 10 sectors (set out in Direction 89) (see below).

The Department are also looking to target certain student cohorts with research that is internationally recognised and relevant to those targeted industries, including those who have recently (in the last 3 years) completed a PhD.

What is a Global Talent visa?

The Global Talent visa aims to attract individuals who have an “internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement” in either a profession, sport, the arts, or academia and research. The GTI program utilises the “profession” or “academic and research” aspects of this visa.

It also requires the applicant to still be prominent in the area, be an asset to the Australian community, demonstrate that they’d have no difficulty in obtaining employment (or being established independently) in the area, and be nominated by either an Australian individual or organisation with a national reputation in the area.

Am I eligible under this program?

Broadly speaking, to be eligible under this program, a candidate must:

• fit under one of the 10 targeted sectors outlined above; and
• have an “internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement” in their field, and either:
  • be able to attract a salary equivalent to the Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT), currently AUD $158,500; or
  • have completed their PhD in the past 3 years

If you do not satisfy the above, you would not be eligible under this program. Please note that being eligible is not necessarily the same as being likely to receive an invitation given the highly competitive nature of the program.

What are the 10 target sectors?

Though we are not aware of any official definition of the 10 target sectors, Direction 89 represents a departure from the original 7 target sectors which largely related to “Tech”. This broadening moves away from that “Tech” emphasis and more into the Department’s other priority sectors.

• Resources: Engineering, Geology, Metallurgy, Waste Management, Energy Saving Technology, Extraction and Processing
• Agri-food and AgTech: Seed technology, nanomaterials, biofuels, supply chain and packaging, wearable technologies
• Energy: Clean energy, resource robotics, computational metallurgy, geostatistics, beneficiation, battery / energy storage
• Health Industries: Medical and biomedical technology, pharmaceutical and vaccine research and development, IT biochemistry, digital health, implantables and wearable devices, genomics
• Defense, Advance Manufacturing and Space: Astrodynamics, satellite systems, rocket and avionics systems, urban mobility, military equipment acquisition and sustainment, automation and robotics, nano-manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing and life-cycle engineering
• Circular Economy: Bioenergy, sustainable production, recycling, waste treatment, waste to energy technology, emissions technology, ecologically sustainable manufacturing
• DigiTech: Quantum computing, cyber sciences, cyber security, artificial intelligence, blockchain, IoT, big data, disruptive technologies, smart cities, machine learning, network engineering, cloud computing
• Infrastructure: Water infrastructure, Energy infrastructure, regional development
• Tourism: Travel and tourism infrastructure
• Financial Services and FinTech: Neobanking, payment systems, wealth and regtech, blockchain
• Education: Cutting edge skills in emerging fields of the industry, developing advanced educational systems and curricula, improving the education infrastructure in Australia, digital data and eResearch platforms

How do I apply?

To access one of the 15,000 positions under the GTI for priority processing, there are three steps:

the unique identifier and code issued by the Department a nomination and the visa application itself. Unique identifier and code Nomination Visa Presently, to be considered under the GTI program, you would need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) here directly to the Department.

In our view, your EOI should submit a covering letter, a CV, and evidence of your claimed achievements.

Once the referral has been assessed, the Department would email the candidate a unique identifier number and code to make the visa application and be considered under the GTI provisions.

How much does it cost?

The government lodgement fees for this application are as follows:

Main applicant: $4,180 Dependent (18+): $2,095 each Dependent (<18): $1,045 each

Over-18 dependent applicants who do not have “functional English” also have to pay an additional $4,890 when the visa is ready to be granted.

Our professional fees for an individual applicant are set out as follows (note that fees are subject to your individual circumstances as determined in a consultation):

Conclusion

With immigration uncertainty in other countries, the Global Talent Independent program is a positive initiative to try and attract some of the best and brightest talent from around the world.

Hannan Tew Lawyers have had a significant amount of enquiries about the GTI program, and have been at the forefront of this program since conception. We have been interviewed by various media outlets including ITnews, and SBS regarding our insights and views on the GTI program, and on our insights on immigration more broadly which can be read here. We have also delivered sold out CPD sessions via industry bodies to educate other Migration Agents / Lawyers on this program.

With significant experience advising the tech and start-up industries in Australia, we have the knowledge and experience to understand your profile and convey the importance of your research, experience and skill sets to the Department to improve your prospects of receiving an invitation and/or the visa itself.

Learn More About Australia's Global Talent Visa

Hannan Tew Lawyers is a full service Australian immigration law firm with an Accredited Specialist and years of experience.

To further discuss the global talent visa Australia, or other matters related to living in Australia, reach out to Mihan and request a consultation.