Australia’s Global Talent Independent Program (also known as the Global Talent Visa Program or the GTI Program) aims to attract highly talented individuals working or studying in eligible fields in Australia. Through the Global Talent Independent Program, the Australian government grants Australian permanent residency to highly-skilled individuals.
According to the Department of Home Affairs (the Department or the DHA), because global competition for talent is intensifying, Australia works to attract the best and brightest to grow a stronger economy through the Global Talent Independent Program. Furthermore, the global talent visa is part of the Australian government’s initiative to help support post-COVID recovery and boost local jobs.
The Global Talent Program targets individuals with exceptional talent and highly-skilled professionals to come to the country for working and living on a permanent basis. This article discusses the Global Talent Independent Program.
Eligibility for the Global Talent Independent Program
The Global Talent Independent Program consists of 10 target sectors. For an individual to be eligible for the Global Talent Independent Program, they must be “highly-skilled” in any of the following target sectors:
- Agri-food and AgTech
- Circular Economy
- Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space
- Traceability technologies (for example experience with sophisticated material trading systems that make material sources more transparent to consumers)
- DigiTech
- Education
- Energy saving technologies
- Financial Services and FinTech
- Health Industries
- Infrastructure and Tourism
- Financial services
- Resources
Read more about each of the target sectors in detail here.
The Global Talent Visa: Subclass 858 Visa
Successful candidates of the Global Talent Independent Program get Australian permanent residence through the Global Talent Visa. This distinguished talent visa in Australia is a permanent visa made for professionals who have an internationally recognised record or outstanding achievement in an eligible field. These fields include resources, health industries and financial services among others, as previously stated.
Additionally, applicants must be persons who can greatly contribute to the Australian community and to Australia’s national reputation.
Benefits of the Talent Visa
With the global talent independent visa, you may be able to:
- stay in Australia permanently,
- work and study in Australia,
- enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare,
- sponsor your relatives to come to Australia,
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years, and
- apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.
Requirements for the Talent Visa
To qualify for this talent visa, you need to meet certain requirements such as:
Age Requirements
You can be any age to apply for this visa. However, if you are under 18 years of age or are 55 years or older, you must be of exceptional benefit. Factors determining “exceptional benefit” include:
- statement regarding your professional plans upon settling in Australia,
- job offer or employment in Australia,
- service agreements or business contracts in Australia,
- pitch-deck or business planning documentation for Australia,
- grants associated with planned research in Australia, and
- membership or appointment on industry advisory boards or regulatory authorities in Australia.
Be of Benefit to the Australian Community
You must contribute to the Australian nation as a whole. Your contribution may be economic, social, cultural, or it must raise Australia’s academic, artistic or sports standing internationally.
Be Internationally Recognised With a Record of Achievement
You must be internationally recognised for your work, meaning you have a record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in your field, whether in a profession, sport, the arts, or academia and research. “Exceptional and outstanding” achievements means you:
- are currently prominent in your field,
- have superior abilities to others in your field,
- are acclaimed as exceptional in any country where your field is practised, and
- have a record of sustained achievement unlikely to diminish in the near future.
In addition, you must participate in a field that Australia recognises and accepts, and that has an international standing.
Have a Nominator
You must be nominated or endorsed to apply for this visa. Your nominator must have a national reputation in the same field as you, and should either be an:
- Australian citizen
- Australian permanent resident
- Eligible New Zealand citizen, or
- Australian organisation.
It is important to note that nominators cannot be added or changed after you lodge your visa application. Additionally, an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizens living overseas can also nominate you. If your nominator is an individual, their national reputation should be detailed under Part B of Form 1000.
A “national reputation” means an image or opinion held by the Australian community about an individual or an organisation. National reputation can be proved through the following:
- Professional standing,
- Solid track record of achievements,
- Evidence of international achievements,
- Professional associations with lead organisations and industry bodies,
- Current or previous employment history,
- Contribution to a number of international journals which would be utilised by researchers, academics and organisations undertaking work in the same field of research, and
- Participation in international or Australian conferences.
To lodge an application for the talent visa, you must provide a completed Nomination for Global Talent (Form 1000). However, if you are endorsed by the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy or supported by the Minister or Director-General responsible for national security, you do not need a nominator and a Form 1000 for your application. Instead, you must provide evidence of the endorsement.
Seeking Legal Advice from Expert Immigration Lawyers
When applying for a global talent visa under the GTI Program, it is very important for your nominator to be in the same field as you. The Department may ask for more documents, such as newspaper or magazine articles, or any other publication, or anything else that can vouch for you and your nominator’s credentials.
Further, there are other requirements in obtaining a global talent visa, such as language requirements, health requirements, and character requirements. Hence, we highly advise seeking legal advice before you lodge an application for the GTI Program and avail priority processing for your application.
JB Solicitors has a leading team of expert immigration lawyers that can help with your application. We can assist you in preparing a valid submission to the DHA and to their Global Talent Officers. We have dealt with various enquiries on the GTI program and can give you legal advice on any matter pertaining to the global talent visa.
Do you have any more queries on the Global Talent Independent Program? Contact us today.
