Owing to its diversity, work-life balance, at-par wages, and beauty all around make Australia an ideal choice for people to come and work in this country.
If you’ve been looking at ways to work in Australia legally, the Global Talent Visa (GTV) offers a pathway to permanent residency for highly skilled individuals looking to live and work in the country.
In this article, we provide an overview of the Global Talent Visa (GTV) program, including the application process, eligibility criteria, preferred sectors, and how to seek nomination.
Read along!
What is Global Talent Visa for Australia?
The Global Talent Visa program provides a migration pathway for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievements, particularly in high-earning sectors that are essential for future growth.
This visa category addresses skill shortages and promotes innovation by allowing individuals with exceptional abilities in specific target sectors to live and work in Australia permanently.
The visa provides an opportunity for these talented individuals to collaborate with Australian businesses and organizations, fostering knowledge exchange and economic growth. By attracting global talent, Australia benefits from the injection of new ideas, diversity, and expertise, enhancing its competitiveness on the global stage and driving innovation across various industries.
The GTV program plays a crucial role in supporting Australia’s economic development and ensuring its position as a leader in innovation and technology.
What are the benefits of the Global Talent Visa?
The Global Talent Visa program offers several benefits for the applicants who are granted the visa:
- Access to a wide range of career opportunities in Australia across various industries.
- Recognition and validation of their exceptional skills, abilities, and expertise.
- The opportunity to work with leading Australian businesses, organizations, and research institutions.
- Access to a vibrant, innovative professional ecosystem that fosters collaboration and networking.
- Exposure to diverse perspectives, cultures, and experiences, contributing to personal and professional growth.
- The ability to live and work in a country known for its high standard of living, quality healthcare, and education system.
- The potential for long-term settlement and the opportunity to apply for permanent residency in Australia.
- Access to social security benefits, such as healthcare and retirement schemes.
- The chance to contribute to the growth and development of Australia’s economy and industries.
- The possibility of bringing immediate family members to Australia facilitates reunification.
- The chance to experience Australia’s unique natural beauty, multicultural society, and vibrant lifestyle.
How to apply for the Global Talent visa, and how long is the process?
To apply for the GTV, interested individuals should submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Global Talent Independent Program.
To initiate the process:
- individuals are required to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the GTIP
- await the allocation of a unique identifier number (UIN)
- secure a nominator
- fulfil the requirements of completing Form 1000
- submit a visa application for subclass 858, known as the Global Talent Visa (GTV).
The visa can be expensive. Here is a breakdown of visa fees:
| Type of applicant | Visa fees |
| Primary Applicant | $4,305 |
| Applicant over 18 | $2,155 |
| Applicant under 18 | $1,080 |
Other costs could include health examinations, police checks, and translations of documents.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs official website provides detailed information on the application process and required documentation. Depending on various factors, the processing time can vary from a few days to several months.
What are the eligibility criteria for Global Talent Visa
Your Global Talent Visa eligibility is assessed on the following criteria:
- Highly skilled in one of the Minister’s defined sectors (or in a related sector); and
- currently earning or likely to earn at or above the Fair Work high-income threshold– have a current or potential income of at least AUD $162,000.
- Be prominent in your field of expertise.
- Be viewed as an asset to the Australian community.
- Demonstrate the ability to easily obtain employment or establish yourself independently in Australia within your area of talent.
- Have an organization or individual in Australia with a national reputation in the same field who can vouch for your achievements.
- Have a valid nominator (Australian citizen; Australian permanent resident; eligible New Zealand citizen; or Australian organisation) complete the approved Form 1000.
- Meet onshore qualifying visa requirements, including Schedule 3 if applicable.
- Submit your application related to one of the target sectors specified or a related sector.
You will need the following documents to apply for your visa:
- Passport
- Statement of nominator’s national reputation in your area of expertise
- Nomination for Global Talent – Form 1000
- Evidence of:
- Employment status
- Income
- Qualifications
- internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in the sector.
What are the preferred sectors for Global Talent Visa?
You might think you meet all requirements for Australia’s Global Talent Visa. However, requirements around expertise in certain sectors make this process complex.
The table below provides a comprehensive overview of eligible sectors and specific eligibility within each sector to simplify the process for you:
| Sector | Details | Eligibility |
| Resources | Considered: Leading researchers with expertise in heat and mass transfer, phase change, and metallurgical transformation in high-temperature systems. Not considered: Site managers, engineers, mechanics, technicians, and construction workers. | Considered: Leading researchers with expertise in heat and mass transfer, phase change, and metallurgical transformation in high-temperature system. Not considered: Site managers, engineers, mechanics, technicians, and construction workers. |
| Agri-food and AgTech | Considered: Individuals such as a Director of a prestigious livestock genetic engineering research centre or highly esteemed post-doctoral researchers specializing in robotics and automation in agriculture. Not considered: Professionals like farmers, agricultural technicians, food safety managers, chefs, and cooks. | Considered: Individuals such as a Director of a prestigious livestock genetic engineering research center or highly esteemed post-doctoral researchers specializing in robotics and automation in agriculture. Not considered: Professionals like farmers, agricultural technicians, food safety managers, chefs, and cooks. |
| Energy | Antimicrobial resistance Biochemistry and cell biology Biostatistics Biotechnology Biomedicine and bioengineering Cell and gene therapies – genomics Clinical trials Commercialisation experience in the health industry Digital health Healthcare entrepreneurship Health economics Implantable and wearable devices (3D printed devices, bionics and prosthetics) Infectious disease prevention Medical devices Medical Physics Microbiology and immunology Nanotechnology and genomics Neuroscience and neurology Pharmaceuticals Precision medicine Point-of-care diagnostics Regenerative medicine. | Considered: Senior energy transformation engineering specialist focused on new energy technologies. Not considered: technicians, construction workers, and distribution and sales representatives. |
| Health Industries | Antimicrobial resistance Biochemistry and cell biology Biostatistics Biotechnology Biomedicine and bioengineering Cell and gene therapies – genomics Clinical trials Commercialisation experience in the health industry Digital health Healthcare entrepreneurship Health economics Implantable and wearable devices (3D printed devices, bionics and prosthetics) Infectious disease prevention Medical devices Medical Physics Microbiology and immunology Nanotechnology and genomics Neuroscience and neurology Pharmaceuticals Precision medicine Point of care diagnostics Regenerative medicine. | Considered: Renowned infectious diseases researchers, internationally recognized practitioners, and biomedical engineers specializing in the medical application of biomaterials. Not considered: Professions like dentists, nurses, or veterinarians. |
| Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space | Considered: Business director from a globally recognized organization specializing in testing, inspecting, and certifying defence vessels and equipment, leading researcher in micro and nano electro-mechanical systems that owns multiple patents, renowned space industry leader with vast experience specialising in space systems engineering or a postdoctoral astrophysicist with a sustained record in collaborative research. Not considered: Soldiers, sailors, junior officers, engineering technicians, machine operators, and sales and administrative managers, Engineers and mechanics who do not lead ground-breaking projects. | Considered: Business director from a globally recognized organization specializing in testing, inspecting, and certifying defence vessels and equipment, leading researcher in micro and nano electro-mechanical systems that owns multiple patents, renowned space industry leader with vast experience specialising in space systems engineering or a postdoctoral astrophysicist with a sustained record in collaborative research. Not considered: Soldiers, sailors, junior officers, engineering technicians, machine operators, sales and administrative managers, Engineers and mechanics who do not lead ground-breaking projects. |
| Circular Economy | Artificial intelligence and digital technologies Bioenergy generation Bio-methane production Commercialisation experience within the industry Development of sustainable production and supply chain practices that reduce atmospheric land and marine pollution Energy infrastructure Environmental science Recycling and responsible manufacturing to support industries (plastics, paper, glass, tyre components, e-waste and lithium batteries) Reducing emissions and increasing efficient use of natural resources (including energy, water and materials) Sustainable manufacturing and life-cycle engineering specialistsWaste treatment (management and reuse) and emissions technology Waste to Energy (WtE) technology (the ability to generate reliable baseload electricity that is also capable of diverting waste away from landfill and reducing carbon emissions). | Considered: A strong candidate includes a post-doctoral researcher with well-cited high-impact publications in the field of circular economy. Not considered: Engineers and mechanics who do not lead international projects. |
| DigiTech | Data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning Automation and robotics Big data, data management and analysis Blockchain technology Cloud computing 5GCyber security detection, prevention and response Data and research infrastructure SmartTech and disruptive technologies Front-end development internet of Things Immersive technologies, including virtual, augmented and extended reality IT integrated control systems for plant and machinery Machine learning engineering Network engineering/architecture Production and development of digital (video) games and game engine technology Quantum information and computing Smart citiesSpecialised knowledge in software and mobile application development 3D printing. | Considered: A strong candidate includes a Founder of an award-winning video game developer company that has developed a number of original titles targeted at wide international audiences. Not considered: Business analysts and developers without international experience. |
| Infrastructure and Tourism | Leading large complex transport infrastructure projects for roads, bridges, tunnelling, rail and airports.Designing, developing or operating smart cities and technologies that improve transport services’ safety, efficiency, and reliability using emerging transport technologies such as automated vehicles/trains, emerging transport network technologies or artificial intelligence machine learning applied in transport systems.Utilising new technologies applied to electricity grids (distribution, transmission, micro/smart grids) that assist with the integration and transition to distributed generation, batteries and electric vehicles.Water management technologies. | Considered: A chief operating officer of a national freight company with expertise in large-scale and complex interstate railroading operations, a managing director of an innovative company known globally for sports events and international championship events. Not considered: Engineers or mechanics, tour guides or travel agents. |
| Financial Services and FinTech | Senior management of universities and institutions of higher learning, such as vice-chancellors, presidents, deans and heads of school or their international equivalents Senior academics and researchers at Australian academic level D or E, or their international equivalent researchers and academics with demonstrable and innovative achievements in the field of education, including: Academics and researchers in the field of education and pedagogy Fundraising for research and development in universities Research commercialisation Edtech. | Financial data science and analysisFintech cyber and data security Cloud technologies Software engineering and application programming User experience, including natural language processing Digital assets, including decentralised finance applications, digital asset marketplaces and non-fungible tokens (subject to Australian Government regulation) Blockchain engineering (full stack developer or solutions architect) Regtech Wealth tech Insurtech Neobanking Digital wallets and cryptocurrencies Automated and predictive financial advice next generation lending, investment and wealth/fund management Platform banking and payments (such as contactless, DLT-based layers, lightning network). |
| Education | Senior management of universities and institutions of higher learning such as vice-chancellors, presidents, deans and heads of school or their international equivalentsSenior academics and researchers at Australian academic level D or E, or their international equivalent researchers and academics with demonstrable and innovative achievements in the field of education, including Academics and researchers in the field of education and pedagogy Fundraising for research and development in universities Research commercialisation Edtech. | Considered: An executive with a track record in setting up university centres abroad. Not considered: School teachers or school administration staff. |
How to seek nomination for Global Talent Visa?
Applicants are required to have a nominator who can attest to their international record of achievement. The nominator must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen, or an Australian organization with a national reputation in the same field. The nomination process involves completing Form 1000, which identifies the nominator and their expertise.
FAQs
Who can apply for the Global Talent Visa?
The GTV is open to highly skilled individuals with internationally recognized achievements in their profession, sport, the arts, or academia and research. Prominence in the field and the ability to contribute to the Australian community are essential criteria.
What is Expression of Interest requirements?
To submit an EOI, candidates should provide information about their skills, qualifications, and achievements. It is important to demonstrate eligibility against the subclass 858 visa requirements before lodging an EOI.
Conclusion
Applying for a Global Talent Visa can be a lengthy, complex and expensive process but a rewarding one! If you think you are eligible to apply for the Global Talent Visa but require expert guidance to ensure your visa process is hassle-free, you can talk to one of our qualified lawyers here.
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