Australia has much to offer the world’s most talented and skilled individuals who want to settle permanently in a vibrant, multicultural and peaceful nation with a long history of steady economic growth. And the good news is, there’s a special fast-track Global Talent Visa Program designed just for them.
An Introductory Guide To The Global Talent Independent Program Australia
Structure Of The Global Talent Visa Program
The Australian government’s Global Talent Visa Program recognises that gifted and accomplished people don’t have the time to wait around for standard visa processing to reach a conclusion. The program’s streamlined permanent Australian residence pathway has three pillars:
- Global Talent Independent Program Australia. This provides a method for individuals to apply for a visa independently.
- Global Talent Employer Sponsored Program. A visa pathway allowing a forward-looking business to nominate exceptionally skilled people to come to Australia for up to four years, with the potential to apply for permanent residency. Please refer to Visa Sponsorship Australia: An Introductory Guide For Prospective Employees.
- Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce. Integrating all services available to assist skilled individuals and innovative businesses to move to Australia. This includes business and investor visas discussed in An Introductory Guide To The Business And Investor Visa Australia.
This guide concentrates on the first pillar, the Global Talent Independent Program Australia.
Ready To Get Started With Your Global Talent Independent Visa?
How The Program Works For Independent Applicants
In order to attract applicants who are at the top of their field in future-focused growth industries, the Department of Home Affairs offers a personalised service to guide them through the visa process. The goal is a permanent residency visa allowing the holder to live and work anywhere in Australia, and later apply for Australian citizenship if they wish.
There are 15,000 open places in the program in 2020-21, a threefold increase on 2019-20.
But in every process, no matter how streamlined, there is always the first step, and Four Corners Emigration is ready to be your first point of contact. We can help you identify whether your field, your record of achievement, your international standing and current or likely income will all meet the eligibility requirements for a Distinguished Talent Visa Subclass 858.
Visa Holders In The Global Talent Independent Program Australia Are Not Impacted by COVID-19 Travel Bans
If you have been granted a visa under the Global Talent Visa Program, you do not require a coronavirus travel exemption to travel to Australia, because you are already a permanent resident. When you arrive in Australia you must quarantine for 14 days at a designated facility, such as a hotel in your port of arrival.
If you are currently located in Australia, but your dependents are outside Australia, Four Corners Emigration will ensure that this is noted in your visa application. The Department of Home Affairs is also aware of delays with medical and police checks and will take this into account when processing your visa application.
Applying For The Distinguished Talent Visa – Subclass 858, Via The Global Talent Visa Program
The visa you need to apply for will depend on what stage your relationship is at (that is, pre-marriage, or already legally married or de facto) and where the applicant is currently located (either in Australia or overseas).
Eligible Specialities
There are target industries for the Global Talent Independent Program Australia, and you need to have reached a high echelon in one of them in order to apply for the Subclass 858 visa via this route:
- Agri-food and AgTech
- Space and Advanced Manufacturing
- Financial services and FinTech
- Energy and Mining Technology
- MedTech
- Cyber Security
- Quantum Information, Advanced Digital, Data Science and ICT
- Resources
- Energy
- Health industries
- Defence, advanced manufacturing and space
- Circular economy
- Digitech
- Infrastructure and tourism
- Education
We can help you to establish whether your area of expertise fits into one of these niche sectors.
Demonstration Of Talent
You’ll need to prove that you have reached and continue to maintain an elevated standard of recognition and leadership in your field, not just acceptable in your home country, but internationally. You may be assessed on your employment history, your professional achievements and publications, membership of industry and professional bodies, and international conference participation.
Evidence Of Likely Income
Australia is looking for applicants who will be an economic asset to Australia by being employed in their industry at an advanced level. Australia’s Fair Work Commission has established a high-income threshold, which is adjusted annually on 1st July. The threshold for 2020-21 is $153,600 per annum, and candidates need to demonstrate that they are capable of earning this amount by providing one or more of:
- Current payslips
- Current employment contract
- Future employment offer, specifying salary
- Recent or imminent advanced tertiary education graduates (PhD or Masters) are encouraged to apply and may be exempt from this requirement.
Nomination By An Australian Expert
You will need to obtain a nomination from an Australian organisation or individual who is recognised in your field. This could be a university, a professional or industry body, or one of your professional peers. It’s not necessary for the nominator to offer you employment in Australia.
Get Expert Visa Advice From A Team Of Experienced Migration Agents
Two Distinct Steps When Applying For The Global Talent Scheme Australia
Step One – Expression Of Interest
Prospective visa applicants must first complete an Expression of Interest form supplied by the Department of Home Affairs. When you submit the form you can be currently resident either in Australia (on another type of visa) or outside Australia. You won’t need a nominator at this stage, although you’ll be asked if you already have one. Other questions on the form are designed to find out whether you can meet the eligibility requirements explained above.
So, you’ll be asked about your industry sector, current occupation (including your employer’s name and your salary), your highest level of education, and your record of outstanding achievements or awards, including a full CV, academic certificates and transcripts.
Four Corners Emigration understands that the exceptional people who will consider applying are already very busy working in their professional field. We can save you time by helping you to assemble the required information, and then submit the Expression of Interest on your behalf.
If you are assessed as meeting the eligibility requirements, you will receive an identifying reference number and can move on to Step Two.
Step Two – Apply For Distinguished Talent Visa – Subclass 858
The final step is to officially apply for a permanent residency visa, and you can include family members in your visa application. Your visa should be finalised within a few weeks.
Additional eligibility requirements at the visa application stage include:
- Nominator. You must have a nominator, who is required to complete a lengthy form, at this stage. We can assist the nominator in completing the form.
- Current visa. If you are already located in Australia, you must hold one of a specified list of visas.
- English language proficiency. Your English language ability must be at least functional, and you may have to complete an assessment or test if you do not come from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland.
- Health and character. You and accompanying family members must pass the required tests.
- Australian values. The Life in Australia booklet is required reading, and you must sign an Australian Values Statement.
- No government debt. Neither you nor any member of your family can owe money to the Australian Government.
- No visa cancellation or denial. A previous visa that was cancelled, or a visa application that was denied, may make you ineligible.
Benefits Of Working With A Specialist Immigration Agent At Four Corners Emigration
Professional Migration Specialists
Four Corners Emigration is one of the world’s leading migration specialists, assisting over 61,000 individuals, small businesses and multinationals since 1996. We provide expert advice and visa services for temporary and permanent entry to Australia and work with organisations and individuals currently in Australia and around the world.
Using a professional migration agent is a wise move with a Partner Visa Australia because if the right documentation is not provided, the whole thing can fall over. That could have a significant impact on a partner or their family.
With longer processing times and issues with medical and police checks expiring, you need a professional to manage the process. This helps reduce stresses and costs to you.
Our promise, and what we have done for the last 23 years, is to look after our clients. Bringing partners and families together is the most important thing. We know that, and we feel that with our clients. It gives us great pride to play a part in reuniting loved ones.
Our consultants, including founder Matthew Garvey, are registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Providing You With Support And Stability
Our aim is to ensure our clients have access to accurate advice, strategies and support to realise their goal of migrating to Australia. Through expert knowledge and professionalism supported by exemplary customer service, we aspire to be the market leader and most trusted supplier of migration services in the world.
We have a highly successful track record across a wide range of industries and professional fields and are committed to delivering tailored, people-focused visa solutions providing you with stability and the peace of mind you deserve.
We adhere to the OMARA Code of Conduct and are members of the Migration Institute of Australia. We currently have offices in Australia, South Africa and the UK.
Our Promise To You
Our promise is an expression of our values – quality, leadership, integrity and care.
We take responsibility for the QUALITY of our work; we provide LEADERSHIP not only as a company but as individuals; we act with INTEGRITY in all we do, and we CARE deeply about our clients.