If you are highly skilled and have outstanding achievements in the tech industry, you may be qualified for the Global Talent Independent Visa to live and work permanently in Australia.
Global Talent Visa (Subclass 858)
As part of the Australian Government’s initiative to drive innovation and support post-COVID economic recovery, the Global Talent Independent (subclass 858) permanent visa is given top priority amongst other skilled visa programs to attract high calibre and exceptional talent from overseas.
In 2021 – 2022, there are 15,000 places available under the program.
Overseas talented individuals who are working in the critical sectors below are strongly encouraged to apply.
Highest Priority Processing
All qualified visa applicants will receive highest priority processing of their applications.
Although the standard processing timeframe for this visa is approximately 17 to 20 months. However, the processing time for this visa is relatively fast based on our experience, as most of the decisions were made within 1 – 3 months after the lodgement of the Expression of Interest (EOI).
When visa is approved, visa applicants will be able to live and work permanently in Australia.
What are the target sectors for this Global Talent Independent Visa?
To be eligible for GTI visa, you must be highly skilled in the following target sectors:
- AgTech
- DigiTech
- Financial services and FinTech
- Health Industries
- Energy
- Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space
- Resources
- Circular Economy
- Infrastructure and Tourism
- Education
Do you have exceptional and outstanding achievements?
If your work relates to one of the above industries, the next important requirement to consider is your achievements in the relevant industry.
To be considered as highly skilled, you must have a track record of exceptional and outstanding achievement that are international recognised within your field.
One of the common examples of achievement can be prestigious awards received from internationally recognised institutions or organisations.
You will also need to provide proof of your achievements. Example of evidence such as a detailed CV is always mandatory, media articles or publications about your achievements, patents, awards or keynote presentations are considered as evidence.
This visa is assessed on a case-by-case basis. We strongly encourage that you reach out to us for a professional assessment of your situation before applying for this visa.
Do I need a sponsor or a nominator?
Unlike TSS 482 or 186 visas, you do not need a Standard Business Sponsor to nominate you for this GTI visa.
However, you must be nominated by an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an Australian organisation with a national reputation in the same field as you.
Your nominator must be prepared to attest that you are recognised as a global talent and would meet the requirements for this visa. Not everyone can be qualified to be an 858 nominator. We strongly recommend that you speak to us about your nominator’s professional profile to ensure that they indeed satisfy the national reputation requirement.
The nomination process is similar to a written endorsement of your skills on the specified form. Your nominator will not be required to bear any sponsorship obligations like those imposed on 482 or 186 sponsors.
There are other alternatives for those who are unable to secure a nominator. Please consult one of our immigration lawyers for further information.
Is there any salary requirement for this GTI visa?
Yes – you must be able to prove that your current annual earning is equivalent to the Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT) which is currently at $153,600.
To be qualified for priority processing, you must also be able to demonstrate evidence that you will be offered the equivalent salary in Australia.
The role of Global Talent Officers
Unique to this visa, there is the option to present a proposal or submission to the Global Talent Officer. If your proposal secures support from the GTO, it will greatly fast track your visa processing.
We can assist in preparing the proposal and consolidating the relevant and critical documents to strengthen your case.
Global Talent Officers are located in Australia, London, San Francisco, Singapore, and Washington DC.
How can I apply?
The GTI program consists of two stages:
First, you will need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) application. This application gives you an opportunity to explain and attach relevant evidence regarding your outstanding achievements.
If the Department decides that you satisfy the GTI program requirements, you will be issued a unique identifier to apply for the visa.
If you already have a pending EOI, you do not need to submit a second EOI.
Why do I need a migration lawyer?
A submission that is lengthy with unorganised documents or not presented in the most logical and compelling order may cause the case officers to overlook the essence of your case, leading to failure of your visa application.
Our migration lawyers are professionally trained to craft and prepare submissions in a way that is clear and effective in capturing the strength of your case. Each submission is carefully drafted to tailor to the specific evidence of each visa applicant.
Our role is also to advise you other type of evidence that you can obtain to further solidify your case.
What are my options if I don’t meet one of the target sectors?
If you are highly skilled but do not have internationally recognised achievements or simply do not meet work in one of the targeted sectors above, you may consider other skilled visa programs such as 189, 190 or 491 visa.
If you are able to secure a sponsor who is willing to employ you, you may consider applying for 482 or 494 visa instead.
To check if your occupation is eligible for the above visa, you can search manually via this link. Alternatively, you may book an initial consultation with our immigration lawyer at 03 9663 8818.
How can we assist?
At Agile Legal, we are a team of immigration expert lawyers who have assisted many highly skilled professionals to obtain the most suitable visa to live and work in Australia.
For any enquiries for advice, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@agilelegal.com.au.
We are here to help.
Who are we?
Agile Legal Consulting is a boutique law firm in the heart of Melbourne CBD. We support and assist our clients in all areas of law, with a specialisation in immigration law, commercial law, and property law.
Led by our Accredited Immigration Law Specialist – Jensen Ma (MARN 9802879), together with a dedicated immigration law team with over 60 years of collective experience, we are passionate about providing our clients with comprehensive, client-focused solutions.
Our multi-lingual lawyers offer assistance on a broad spectrum of immigration matters. Come speak to us in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean or Bahasa Melayu – we are always available to answer your questions.
