Global Talent Independent Program

In 2020-2021, the Department of Home Affairs has allocated 15200 places to attract the best and brightest minds to migrate to Australia.

On the 12th of November 2020 Alan Tudge, the Acting Minister for Immigration amended the Migration Act and repealed the offshore Subclass 124 (Distinguished Talent) visa and introduced Subclass 858 (Distinguished Talent) visa which can be applied for and granted regardless of the visa applicant’s location. The amendments also streamlined criteria for the grant of the Subclass 858 visa.

Distinguished Talent Visa Program

The Distinguished Talent Visa, which was consolidated in November 2020 into a single subclass, delivers the Global Talent Independent Program under Subclass 858 (Distinguished Talent).

Under the Distinguished Talent visa program, there are two permanent visa pathways available:

• The Global Talent Pathway
• The Distinguished Talent Pathway

Pathway One: The Distinguished Talent

This is a permanent visa for those individuals who have a record of extraordinary and outstanding achievement in an eligible area that is globally recognised.

There are very few annual places in the Distinguished Talent pathway (200 places in 2020-21) and the visa pathway is subject to intense competition. The current processing time for the Distinguished Talent pathway is between 12-16 months.

You do not need to have an invitation reference identifiers to lodge an application within Distinguished Talent pathway , however if you submit your EOI (Expression of Interest) to receive an invitation code, you will be subject to the standard processing time.

Pathway Two: The Global Talent

According to the Direction 89 that was issued under section 499 of the Migration Act 1958, by the Alan Tudge, the Acting Minister for Immigration on 17/12/2020, the priority of the assessment and allocation of places should be given to  the applicants in 10 specific target sector.

There are currently 15000 places available under the Global Talent pathway in Australia's immigration intake program in 2020-2021.

To be considered for an invitation to apply under the program, you need to demonstrate that you are highly skilled in one of the following 10 target sectors:

1. Resources
2. Agri-food and AgTech
3. Energy
4. Health industries
5. Defence, advanced manufacturing and space
6. Circular economy
7. Digitech
8. Infrastructure and tourism
9. Financial services and FinTech
10. Education

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the Global Talent Independent program and receive invitation:

• Applicants must show that they are globally known with proof of excellent and outstanding achievements.
• Applicant are prominent in their field of expertise
• Applicants must provide evidence that they would be an asset to Australia, in their field of expertise
• Applicants will have no difficulty in obtaining employment in Australia.
• Applicants are endorsed as global talent by a recognised organisation or person in Australia in the same field as the applicant.

Applicants must follow a high standard and display an excellent record of professional and outstanding accomplishments. This can include senior positions, patents, professional awards, international journals, media articles and international membership.

Nominator

If you wish to apply for a Subclass 858 , you must be nominated by an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, an eligible New Zealand citizen or an Australian organisation with a national reputation in the same field as you, in order to apply for a Distinguished Talent visa.

The nominator must attest to your accomplishments and international status and is not necessary to provide you with employment or to assist you in Australia to become settled.

English Language Ability 

Global Talent Independent visa applicants are required to provide evidence of functional English, unless the applicant is a passport holder of the following countries:

1. Canada
2. New Zealand
3. the Republic of Ireland
4. the United Kingdom
5. the United States of America

Or the applicant chooses to pay the 2nd Visa Application Charges ( VAC). The evidence needs to be provided at the time of application with no waiver provisions in place. There are a number of ways to demonstrate functional English proficiency. Please contact us for further information.

There is an exception for any primary applicant who is under 18 at the time of application.

Click here to read more about the approved English language tests and their test score equivalencies.

PhD Graduates

If you are a PhD graduate or PhD student with outstanding talent and international recognition, you may be invited to apply for an 858 subclass.

PhD graduates must provide evidence that they have completed their studies in a priority sector within the last 3 years.

PhD students who are nearing completion of their degree must be able to demonstrate they had a record of outstanding achievement. Applicants also must demonstrate that their PhD qualification is equivalent to Australian standards.

Applicants should have the ability to attract a salary at or above the Fair Work high income threshold of AUD153, 600.

Global Talent team will consider following evidence for the assessment of the threshold salary:

• future job offers outlining salary , or
• current salary shown through payslips or a contract or
• recent PhD graduates and certain PhD students with relevant qualifications in the target sectors

Masters or Bachelor with Honours Graduate

From 20 January 2021, Masters and Bachelor with Honours graduates are no longer eligible for invitation to the Global Talent Independent program on the basis of their qualifications.

However if you can demonstrate that you have the ability to attract a salary at or above the Fair Work High Income Threshold of; AUD $ 153,600 , Master or Bachelor with Honours graduates can still apply for Global Talent Independent Program.

Applicants, who have already received your invitation reference identifier, still be eligible to lodge an application for a Distinguished Talent (subclass 858) visa.

Check your Eligibility

 Please contact us if you wish to know more about this program and check your visa eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

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