New Aussie visa route for highly skilled migrants

Highly skilled migrants for established and start-up businesses

The scheme is split into two streams: Established businesses and the start-up businesses. Both kinds of businesses have to apply to the Government to be able to sponsor applicants for certain highly skilled positions. They also have to perform labour market testing to show that they tried to find Australian workers with the relevant skills first.

For start-up businesses to qualify they must operate within an STEM-related field (e.g. digital, biomedical, agtech). A “start-up business authority”, yet to be determined, will have to endorse the businesses applying to the start-up stream. Businesses in the established business stream must be publicly listed or have had an annual turnover of at least AUD 4 million for the past two years.

Start-up businesses will be able to issue five visas per year while established businesses will be granted up to 20 visas per year. Each applicant will, of course, have to satisfy the visa criteria.

 See also: Australian business visas

Who will be eligible for the Global Talent Scheme visa?

To be eligible for this visa under the established or start-up business stream, you must:

• Meet the health, character and security requirements
• Have no familial relationship with the business directors/shareholders
• Have qualifications commensurate with the highly skilled role
• Have at least three years’ work experience directly relevant to the role
• Have the capacity to pass on your skills

Sponsorship salary requirements

To be eligible for the visa under the established business stream, the position that is being advertised must earn a minimum of AUD 180,000 per annum. For the start-up business stream, the minimum annual earnings must be at the market salary rate, however, this can be no less than AUD 53,900 per annum.

A route to permanent residence and Australian citizenship

If an applicant is successful, a Temporary Skill Shortage visa will be issued for four years. After just three years on this visa, you will be able to apply for permanent residence. After having lived in Australia for four years on your Temporary Skill Shortage visa, and having held permanent residence for the last year, you will be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship. Do note that you may not have been absent from Australia for more than one year in total during the four-year period, including no more than 90 days in the 12 months before applying.

The government has not stated an age limit to the visa but has said that there will be age cap concessions made. Applications for the Global Talent Scheme will also be processed faster than other Australian visas.

While this is a brand-new visa option, we have been helping people migrate to Australia for over 20 years. Get in touch with our Australian visa experts in Melbourne if you need any assistance with your Aussie visa. Email us at ausoffice@sableinternational.com or leave a comment below.