Global Talent Scheme (GTS)

The program will run for 12 months and provide businesses with a streamlined process to sponsor overseas workers with cutting edge skills, where there are no suitable Australians available to fill the vacancies.

The visa program includes two streams – one for established businesses and one for start-ups.

What are the Two Streams of GTS?

Established Business stream . This stream is for accredited employers to employ highly-skilled individuals with cutting-edge skills.

Startup stream. This stream is for startups operating in a technology based or STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to sponsor highly-skilled individuals with cutting-edge skills.

Are You an Employer Willing to Sponsor an Overseas Worker?

If you are an employer willing to sponsor an overseas worker under GTS program , you are required to meet the following criteria:

A) For Established Business

If you have an established business active in the marker for last two years , you might be eligible to sponsor maximum 20 overseas workers each year through Global Talent Scheme . The visa may be granted for 4 years and there is a transitional pathway available to your employees to gain permanent residency after three years.

The following are the criteria for an established business to sponsor an applicant:

• Demonstrate that accessing to the GTS program will benefit Australia and transfer skill and knowledge to Australians
• Labour market requirement : business sponsors are required to test the local labour market
• No adverse information about the business The business must be publicly listed or has an annual turnover of at least $4 million for each of the past 2 years The business has to be endorsed as a TSS accredited sponsor

 Visa Applicant ( Employee):

The following requirments must be met by the applicants to be considered for this visa:

• The applicant must meet the mandatory health, character and security checks.
• No family relationship with directors/shareholders of the business.
• The qualification of the visa applicant must be commensurate with the highly skilled role
• The visa applicant must have at least 3 years work experience relevant to the nominated position
• . The visa applicant is willing to mentor/ transfer his /her skills to Australians .
• Position must have minimum annual earnings equivalent to the Fair Work High Income Threshold ($145,400 as at 1 July 2018)
• If the position ceases , you have to leave Australia within 60 days or find another employer to apply for a new visa.

B) Startup Business

If you have a Startup business , you might be eligible to sponsor maximum 5 overseas workers each year through Global Talent Scheme .The visa may be granted for 4 years and there is a transitional pathway for your employees to gain permanent residency after three years.

Startups has to meet certain criteria to be eligible to seek endorsement from the Department of Home Affairs to employ overseas worker.

The following are the criteria for an Startup business to sponsor an applicant:

• Labour market requirement : business sponsors are required to test the local labour market
• Demonstrate that accessing to the GTS program will benefit Australia and transfer skill and knowledge to Australians
• No adverse information about the business
• The business operates in a technology based or STEM-related field (eg digital, biomedical, agtech).
• Endorsment required from Independent startup advisory panel

Visa Applicant ( Employee):

The following requirments must be met by the applicants to be considered for this visa:

• The applicant must meet the mandatory health, character and security checks.
• No family relationship with directors/shareholders of the business.
• The qualification of the visa applicant must be commensurate with the highly skilled role
• The visa applicant must have at least 3 years work experience relevant to the nominated position .
• The visa applicant is willing to mentor/ transfer his /her skills to Australians .
• Minimum annual earnings at the market salary rate, but not less than $80,000. This can include equity, but must have a cash component that is no less than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (currently $53,900).
• If the position ceases , you have to leave Australia within 60 days or find another employer to apply for a new visa

If you need further information about Global Talent Scheme visa program , please send us an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.