The GTI program is a simplified migration pathway. Applicants who have been accepted by this program will be directed to apply for the Subclass 858 Distinguished Talent Visa.

The GTI program has the following parts:

1. Expression of Interest. This EOI is used to let applicants demonstrate their talents.

2. Talent Visa Application. Applicants who are accepted can then apply for the permanent visa.

• More Quota

There are 15,000 places available under the GTI program, it is tripled from 5,000 places in 2019. While, Skilled Independent (189 visa) and State/Territory Nominated (190 visa) has lost 60% of their quotas this year.

• Higher processing priority and less processing time

The Australian government gives higher processing priority to this program. The average processing time for GTI program applicants is around 6 months. While 189 visa and 190 visa take more than 12 months.

• Keep informed about your EOI status

You need to submit an EOI via the Global Talent Contact Form prior to a formal Talent visa application. The Department of Home Affairs will notify you whether your EOI is successful, so you don’t have to pay visa application fees for nothing.

• Graduates are eligible for the GTI program

Recent bachelor honours, Master or PhD degree graduates who finished their studies in the last three years can also apply under the GTI program. The requirements for those graduates are slightly lower compared with other applicants. Considering the 189 visa pathway is so hard to go through, this GTI program can be a lifesaver.

• No points test

GTI program is not subject to point test, applicants are not required to create EOI on the skill select system. Applicants have no need to achieve crazy high points to be selected.

• No Skill Assessment

GTI program is not subject to any specific occupation list, applicants are not required to pass skill assessment.

• Higher visa grant rate

The subclass 858 visa has 99.5% grant rate, this is significantly higher than other visa options.

• No High Level English requirements

Unlike skilled visas and employer-sponsored visas, there are no high English requirements for applicants. You and your family members just need to have a functional English level (IELTS 4.5)

• Requirement 1: In the 7 target sectors

To be granted the Distinguished Talent visa under the Global Talent Visa Program, an applicant needs to have a recognized record of exceptional skills in one of the 7 following target sectors:

1. AgTech

2. Space and Advanced Manufacturing

3. FinTech

4. Energy and Mining Technology

5. MedTech

6. Cyber Security

7. Quantum Information, Advanced Digital, Data Science and ICT

• Requirement 2: Must be Internationally recognized with evidence of outstanding achievements

This is a subject assessment, there is no clear guideline on the exact requirements. EZOZ Migration suggest applicants to collect evidence from the following perspectives to meet this requirement.

1. If you are a business talent or skilled professionals:

• Your Patents
• Specific technical skills in the above 7 sectors and your skills are not available in Australia
• Significant achievements in your work or business
• Grant of funding
• Industry support
• Your business achievements, such as financial standing, business ownership, turnover, research, innovative products
• Professional leadership roles
• Government recognition of your skills
• Membership of reputable organization in your field

2. If you are a student, graduate or an academic and research professional:

• Research of international interest and significance
• Relevance to an international audience of your research work
• Research is used to inform academia, governments/ industry abroad
• Research is relevant to Australian academia, governments/industry to advance Australia’s competitiveness
• Research work is potential for innovation and productivity increases in an international or globalized context
• Presentence in international seminar or conference
• Published journey articles
• Your degree

This requirement is not asking you to be famous in your field, you don’t have to be the Nobel prize winner. Instead, you just need to show your talent has been recognized by third parties and you can provide an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievements.

• Requirements 3: Be still prominent in the field of expertise

You must be still active in your field. You can meet this requirement by providing recent work, research, or business evidence.

• Requirement 4: Must be an asset to Australia

You must show that your skills and knowledge can contribute to Australia’s economy by driving innovation and supporting the creation of local jobs. The typical evidence can include:

• evidence that you have created a specific technology that could bring significant economic value to Australia.
• evidence that shows your research fills a significant knowledge gap and drives the Australian economy or innovation.
• evidence that you have established a start-up company in Australia that can create local jobs.

• Requirement 5: Can easily find a job in Australia

You will need to demonstrate that your skills and knowledge can get you a job in Australia or you can be self-employed. Evidence could include:

• employment contracts from companies, employment/recruitment agencies, universities, or organizations in your field.
• evidence of self-employment or opportunities to establish a viable business within the area of achievement.
• evidence of sponsorships, scholarships, funding grants or other payments.
• evidence of academic qualifications in your field.
• evidence of high scores (overall grade-point average of 80 out of 100) during the completion of your Master’s degree or Bachelor Honors degree.
• demonstrated track records of previous employment in your field

• Requirement 6: Meet the high income threshold

Applicants need to have the ability to earn a salary at or above the Fair Work high-income threshold of AUD153,600. This figure is adjusted annually on 1 July. Evidence can include one of the following documents:

• current employment contracts or payslips
• future employment contract listing the salary amount
• job advertisements for the positions in your field
• salary survey from a reputable organization

Recent graduates are not required to meet the high-income requirements.

• Requirement 7: Have a nominator who can prove your talent

You need to have a recognized organization or individual in Australia nominate you as global talent, they need to be in the same field as you. It is not an employer nomination, your nominator does not have to employ you, but they must provide a statement to confirm your claimed talents and skills.

If your nominator is an individual, they must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen who is working in the same field as you.

If your nominator is an Australian organisation, this organization must be registered and operating in the same field as you.

The nominator must provide evidence to show their own internationally recognised record of exceptional achievement and their national reputation, evidence can include:

• current employment contracts or payslips.
• future employment contract listing the salary amount.
• job advertisements for the positions in your field.
• a salary survey from a reputable organization.

• Meet Character requirements

Applicants must have no significant crime history.

The typical process to apply under the GTI program is listed as below:

• Check if you can meet the eligibility requirements. If you are not sure, EZOZ Migration can provide a free 30-minutes consultation to do an initial assessment.
• Find an Australian citizen or an Australian organization to nominate you. They must have a national reputation in your field.
• Submit your Express of interest via the Global Talent Contact form. This step is not SkillSelect. You will need to provide a detailed outline of suitability for the program and supporting documents.
• Lodge the Distinguished Talent Visa application (Subclass 858). After your EOI is approved, you will be given a unique identifier code. Then you can use this code to lodge your talent visas.

Step 3 is the most crucial step. You must fully demonstrate your internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement.

The major costs are listed below:

1. EOI application cost: Free

2. Distinguished Talent Visa application cost:

• Base charge: $4,180
• Additional Applicant (18+): $2,095
• Additional Applicant (18-): $1,045

3. EZOZ Migration services fees:

• Stage 1: Express of Interest (EOI) $2,200
• Stage 2: Visa Application $2,200
• Clients pay fees in two stages, the stage 2 fees are not payable if you cannot pass the stage 1.

At EZOZ Migration, our migration agents will provide a start to end comprehensive services. We will guide you through every step of the entire process.

Some benefits we can provide:

• Investigate your circumstances and check eligibility before start.
• Make a personalized documents checklist based on your unique situations.
• Tailor the documents and make sure they are meeting requirements
• Help you find an appropriate nominator
• Unlimited consultations with our migration agents during the process
• Make Plan B for other visa options if fail the GTI program