The Global Talent Independent GTI program (Subclass 858) is created to offer an efficient and high-priority route for extremely skilled and gifted people to move to Australia permanently. The goal of the government is to draw in exceptional individuals from various countries who excel in their respective industries, especially in specific "target sectors".

1. Australian Global Talent Visa Program
GTI (Subclass 858)
The Global Talent Independent GTI program (Subclass 858) is created to offer an efficient and high-
priority route for extremely skilled and gifted people to move to Australia permanently. The goal of the
government is to draw in exceptional individuals from various countries who excel in their respective
industries, especially in specific "target sectors".
Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program The number of spots available in the GTI program will be
increased threefold to 15,000.
Talent Attraction Taskforce via Global Talent Independent Visa Program (GTI)
A comprehensive Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce is set to be formed by the
government. Its purpose is to lure international businesses and outstanding talent to Australia, aiding in
the recovery from the aftermath of COVID-19 and enhancing employment opportunities locally. This
effort is an extension of the already existing Global Talent Initiative.
Introduction to the Global Talent Independent Visa Program (GTI)
The Global Talent Visa Program GTI (Subclass 858) is a government initiative that collaborates with
Australian universities, industry organizations, and regional governments to draw in highly skilled and
talented individuals. Global Talent Officers are stationed in major cities like London, Shanghai,
Singapore, Berlin, and Washington DC. These officers collaborate with crucial industries, encouraging
eligible individuals to apply for the GTI program.
The Department seeks individuals proficient in one of the seven specified target sectors. Eligible
candidates should earn a salary meeting the fair work high-income threshold or be exceptional recent
graduates with a Ph.D., Masters, or Honours degree.
Target Sectors for GTI Visa (Subclass 858)
To enter the Global Talent Visa program (GTI), individuals can gain access through either a referral from
Global Talent Officers or a nominator. The specified target sectors for eligibility are:
1. Resources
2. Agri-food and AgTech
3. Energy
4. Health Industries
5. Defence, Advanced Manufacturing, and Space
6. Circular Economy

2. 7. DigiTech
8. Infrastructure and Tourism
9. Financial Services and FinTech
10. Education
Salary Threshold for the Global Talent Visa Program (Subclass 858)
The anticipated salary threshold for the Global Talent visa program is determined annually and is set by
Fair Work Australia. For this year, the threshold is established at $167,500.
Applicants will be evaluated based on their capacity to meet the threshold through:
1. Current Salary
2. A job offer specifying the salary
3. Recent PhD or Masters graduates in the target sectors.
How to Apply for the Global Talent Visa Program GTI (Subclass 858)?
Here's a straightforward guide on how to apply:
1. Get a Unique Identifier:
Start by applying to receive a unique identifier from the Global Talent Officers.
2. Secure a Nominator:
Find someone, such as a mentor or employer, who can support your application by nominating you.
3. Apply for the Visa:
Once you have the unique identifier and a nominator, proceed to submit your visa application.
By following these three steps, you can successfully apply for the Global Talent visa program.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
Unique Identifier:
 Eligible individuals meeting program requirements will receive a unique identifier.
 Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the Global Talent Contact form.
 Upon submission, you will receive an acknowledgment. Processing times for EOIs can vary, and
due to COVID-19, they may take longer than usual.
Nominator:

3.  To nominate you for the program, you need a nominator with a national reputation in your field.
 Eligible nominators include Australian citizens, permanent residents, eligible New Zealand
citizens, or Australian organizations.
 Your nominator could be selected from various entities, including your university, employer,
industry body, or peers.
 The Department may assess the nominator's national reputation based on achievements,
industry leadership, professional associations, employment history, contributions to
international journals, and participation in conferences.
Visa Application:
 After receiving the unique identifier, lodge your application under the Distinguished Talent Visa
(subclass 858) whether you are in or out of Australia.
 Previously, if outside Australia or holding an inappropriate visa, a subclass 124 Distinguished
Talent Visa needed to be lodged.
By following these steps, you can navigate the process of obtaining a unique identifier, securing a
nominator, and applying for the Global Talent visa program.
Visa Changes for Masters and Honours Students
Changes have been made to the Global Talent Independent program regarding master's and Honours
students. As of now, individuals with these academic qualifications will no longer receive invitations
based solely on their educational background.
This policy modification applies to all upcoming Expression of Interest (EOI) assessments. It is relevant to
EOI submissions made by candidates who had not received an invitation to the Global Talent program by
20 January 2021.
For those who submitted an EOI before these policy changes and have not received an invitation, it is
recommended to reassess their eligibility. If necessary, they are encouraged to reapply when they meet
the updated requirements.
Updated Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the Global Talent Independent program, applicants must demonstrate a high level of skill
in one of the target sectors. This involves:
1. International Recognition:
 Providing evidence of outstanding achievements that have garnered international recognition.
2. Prominence in Field:
 Continuing to be a prominent figure in their field of expertise.

4. 3. Value to Australia:
 Presenting evidence of being an asset to Australia within their area of expertise.
4. Employability and Establishment:
 Demonstrating no difficulty in securing employment in Australia or establishing themselves in
their field.
5. Endorsement from Australian Entity:
 Obtaining endorsement from a recognized Australian organization or individual in the same field
as the applicant, affirming their global talent status.
Candidates should exhibit a high standard of professional achievement, which may include:
 Holding senior roles
 Owning patents
 Receiving professional awards
 Publishing internationally
 Having relevant memberships.
Applicants should also have the capacity to attract a salary at or above the Fair Work high-income
threshold.
The Department assesses applicants based on:
 Current Salary (validated through payslips or a contract)
 Future job offers with outlined remuneration
 Recent PhD graduates and certain PhD students with relevant qualifications in the target
sectors.
Distinguished Talent Visa
The Distinguished Talent Visa is designed for individuals globally acknowledged for their extraordinary
accomplishments in fields such as professions, sports, arts, or academia and research. This visa provides
the opportunity for you and your family to establish permanent residency in Australia.
When applying for this visa, the Department will evaluate:
Your Contribution:

5.  Your contributions should significantly benefit the Australian community, economy, social and
cultural standing, or elevate Australia's status in academia, arts, or sports.
International Recognition and Prominence:
 You must have international recognition and have been prominent in your field for the past two
years.
Employability in Australia:
 Demonstrating your ability to find employment in your area of expertise within Australia.
Nominator Requirement:
 You need a nominator with a national reputation in the same field as you. This could be
someone in academia, arts, sports, or your profession.
The Distinguished Talent Visa serves as a pathway for individuals of exceptional talent to make a long-
term contribution to Australia's society and economy.
Cost of Distinguished Talent Visa GTI (Subclass 858)
The cost for the Distinguished Talent Visa is as follows:
Applicant Type Cost
Main Applicant $4,710
Dependent (over 18 years old) $2,360
Dependent (under 18 years old) $1,180
Increase in Global Talent Independent (GTI) Visa Spots for the 2020/21
Financial Year
For the financial year 2020/21, 15,000 spots have been allocated, which is three times more than the
previous financial year. Here is the breakdown of grants for the Global Talent Independent (GTI) visa
across the seven target sectors, based on statistics from the 2019-2020 Migration program by the
Department of Home Affairs:
Target Sectors
Percentage of
Grants
Quantum Information, Advanced Digital, Data Science,
and ICT 28%

6. Target Sectors
Percentage of
Grants
MedTech 26%
Energy and Mining Technology 20%
AgTech 9%
Space and Advanced Manufacturing 8%
FinTech 6%
Cybersecurity 3%
As of 27 February 2021, the Distinguished Talent (subclass 858) visa has been renamed to the Global
Talent (subclass 858) visa.
Starting from this date, eligible applicants have the flexibility to be granted either a Distinguished Talent
(subclass 124) or Global Talent (subclass 858) visa. This applies to individuals whether they are currently
inside or outside of Australia, offering a more versatile approach to the application process. This is
applicable as long as they are not in immigration clearance at the time when the decision is made.
Pathways for the Global Talent (Subclass 858) Visa
The Global Talent (subclass 858) visa offers two distinct pathways:
1. Global Talent Visa Pathway:
This pathway is for individuals with relevant skills and experience in priority sectors. Candidates should
refer to the Global Talent visa webpage for application details. Eligible candidates will receive an
invitation to apply for the Global Talent (subclass 858) visa. It's highly recommended for applicants to
submit their visa application promptly upon receiving the invitation. Priority processing is available
through this pathway, and applicants must provide their invitation details during the application
process.
Candidates who are not eligible for a Global Talent visa invitation are advised to explore other visa
options.
2. Distinguished Talent Pathway:
This pathway is reserved for exceptionally outstanding individuals. However, it is subject to
overwhelming demand, and the average processing time for the Distinguished Talent program is 18-20
months.

7. The Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce Overview
Last year, amid the global uncertainty caused by COVID-19, the Australian Government introduced the
JobMaker Plan—a comprehensive strategy for economic growth. A key component of this plan is the
Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce, initiated by the Prime Minister to boost the Australian
economy. Termed "Australia’s brain gain," the task force focuses on bringing the best businesses and
talent to the country, targeting entities capable of contributing cutting-edge technologies, research and
development, intellectual property, and capital.
Changes and Enhancements as of 27 February 2021:
Effective from 27 February 2021, strategic changes were implemented to bolster Australia's
competitiveness as a relocation destination. These changes primarily impact the Global Talent visa
(formerly known as the Distinguished Talent visa) and include:
Direct Nominations by the Taskforce:
The task force is now empowered to directly nominate exceptionally talented candidates who are
expected to make significant contributions to the Australian economy.
Temporary Work Visa Option:
A groundbreaking visa option has been introduced to expedite the swift temporary deployment, lasting
up to 18 months, of critically skilled staff to Australia. This aims to establish a 'beachhead' for business
relocation and is available through the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408), Australian Government
Endorsed Events stream, and Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery event. Up to ten visas are offered to
the relocating business under this stream.
Criteria and Considerations for the Global Talent Visa Program Application
1. Academic Achievements in the Education Sector:
Candidates for the Global Talent Visa Program (GTVP) can showcase accomplishments in the Education
sector through academic appointments. Holding a senior academic and researcher position at Australian
Academic Level D or E, or their international equivalents in fields other than Education, may serve as an
indication of an internationally recognized record of exceptional achievement in the Education sector.
Evidence such as publications, citations, patents, awards, and other accolades should be provided.
For academics and researchers in fields other than Education below Australian Academic Level D, or its
international equivalent, favorable consideration is contingent upon other exceptional achievements in
Education.
2. PhD Graduates:
Candidates can demonstrate exceptional achievement by providing evidence of completing the
academic requirements for a relevant PhD before conferral. Ph.D. graduates may be considered
prominent in their academic area for three years from the qualification's conferral date. Decision
makers also assess ongoing engagement in the field for graduates more than 12 months post-
graduation.

8. 3. PhD Students:
Relevant PhD studies, irrespective of graduation date, are now considered for assessing prominence in
the area. Ph.D. students must demonstrate a prior internationally recognized record of exceptional
achievement in a priority sector.
4. Exceptional Benefit for Applicants Under 18 or Over 55:
Applicants under 18 or over 55 must demonstrate exceptional benefit to the Australian community.
5. Athletes and Artists under the Distinguished Talent Pathway:
Clear guidance has been provided for assessing international recognition for athletes and artists
applying for the Distinguished Talent (DT) pathway.
6. Eligible NZ Citizen Nominators:
Eligible New Zealand citizen nominators must be onshore at the time of visa application. These citizens
are protected Special Category visa holders under the Social Security Act 1991.
Note: Special Category visas are valid only while the holder is in Australia; therefore, New Zealand
citizens outside Australia are ineligible to complete Form 1000.
Target Sectors and Specializations for Global Talent Visa
This section highlights examples of specializations within each priority sector. The listed specializations
are not exhaustive but serve as representatives to provide an overview of each sector for transparency.
Consideration for prioritization is given to whether the candidate's achievements align with the
specializations articulated below to the sectors. It is expected that new and innovative specializations
will continue to emerge within these sectors for consideration in priority processing.
Resources:
i. Advanced visualization technologies (e.g., sensors)
ii. Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies
iii. Beneficiation technologies (enhancing the economic value of resources, such as ore)
iv. Expertise in energy-saving technologies for extracting and processing ores, encompassing ore
body mapping, geophysical tools and drilling, mineral refinement, automated trucks and robotic
equipment, and grinding and processing technologies
v. Resource waste management
Agri-food and AgTech:
i. Agricultural big data analytics
ii. Industry commercialization experience

9. iii. Future proteins for human and animal consumption
iv. Food and beverage technology
v. Technologies related to farm equipment, weather, seed optimization, fertilizers, crop inputs,
irrigation, precision measurement/application of farm inputs (e.g., nitrogen and pesticides),
gene editing, nanomaterials, synthetic biology
vi. Predictive technologies for planting times, climatic forecasting, and crop cycles
vii. Wearable technology, including ear-tag trackers for animal management
Energy:
i. Advanced visualization technology (e.g., sensors)
ii. Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies
iii. Automation and robotics (e.g., smart sorting technologies for recycling)
iv. Beneficiation technologies (improving the economic value of ore)
v. Recycling technology (e.g., feedstock recycling, E-waste processing)
vi. Traceability technologies, including experience with sophisticated material trading systems
vii. Expertise in hydrogen technology, clean technologies, renewables, hybrids, battery/energy
storage design, bioenergy, biofuels, micro-grid design, and supporting the transition to net-zero
carbon emissions
Health Industries:
i. Antimicrobial resistance
ii. Biochemistry
iii. Cell biology
iv. Biostatistics
v. Biotechnology
vi. Biomedicine
vii. Bioengineering
viii. Cell and gene therapies
ix. Clinical trials
x. Digital health

10. xi. Health economics
xii. Implantable and wearable devices
xiii. Infectious disease
xiv. Medical devices
xv. Medical physics
xvi. Microbiology
xvii. Immunology
xviii. Nanotechnology
xix. Genomics
xx. Neuroscience
xxi. Neurology
xxii. Pharmaceuticals
xxiii. Precision medicine
xxiv. Point of care diagnostics
xxv. Regenerative medicine
Defence, Advanced Manufacturing, and Space:
Defence:
i. Augmented and virtual reality
ii. Cybersecurity
iii. Military equipment acquisition, sustainment, and evaluation
iv. Robotics and automation
v. Sensors and analytics
Advanced Manufacturing:
i. Advanced materials
ii. Additive manufacturing (3D printing), materials resilience and repair
iii. Artificial intelligence and machine learning
iv. Automation & robotics
v. Bio-manufacturing, biological integration, and biotechnologies
vi. Digital design and rapid prototyping
vii. Digitization and automation
viii. Nano-manufacturing and micro-manufacturing

11. ix. Precision manufacturing
x. Sustainable manufacturing and life cycle engineering
Space:
Here is the numbered list of various space-related technologies and experiences:
i. Aviation in space
ii. Earth observation technology
iii. Communications technologies
iv. Space situational awareness
v. Debris monitoring
vi. Leapfrog R&D (Research and Development)
vii. Robotics and automation on Earth and in space
viii. Engagement with international space and astronomy regulatory bodies
Circular Economy:
i. Artificial intelligence and digital technologies
ii. Bioenergy generation
iii. Bio-methane production
iv. Commercialization experience within the industry
v. Development of sustainable production and supply chain practices
vi. Energy infrastructure
vii. Recycling and responsible manufacturing for supporting industries (plastics, paper, glass, tire
components, e-waste, and lithium batteries)
viii. Emission reduction and efficient use of natural resources
ix. Waste treatment (management and reuse) and emissions technology
x. Waste to Energy (WtE) technology
Digitech:
i. Artificial intelligence
ii. Machine learning

12. iii. Automation
iv. Big data
v. Blockchain
vi. Cloud computing
vii. Cybersecurity
viii. Data and research infrastructure
ix. Data management and analysis
x. Data science
xi. Disruptive technologies
xii. Front-end development
xiii. Internet of Things (IoT)
xiv. IT integrated with control systems
xv. Machine learning engineering
xvi. Network engineering/architecture
xvii. Quantum information and computing
xviii. Robotics
xix. Digital games and immersive technology production
xx. Smart cities
xxi. Smart tech
xxii. Software and product management/development
xxiii. Startups
xxiv. Entrepreneurs in the industry
xxv. Systems integration
xxvi. 3D printing

13. Infrastructure and Tourism:
Infrastructure:
i. Drive economic development in regional communities
ii. Develop gateways to support Australia's international competitiveness
iii. Improve and expand Australia's energy infrastructure
iv. Improve water security across Australia
Tourism:
i. Increase economic benefits from tourism
ii. Target high-value travelers in markets and tourism segments delivering the greatest returns
iii. Foster a sustainable and innovative tourism industry
Financial Services and FinTech:
i. Automated and predictive financial advice
ii. Blockchain technology
iii. Industry commercialization experience
iv. Digital wallets
v. Financial advice (automated and digital)
vi. Financial data analytics
vii. Compliance
viii. 'RegTech' (Regulatory Technology)
ix. Micro-savings
x. Next-generation lending
xi. Investment and wealth management
xii. Online banking
xiii. Platform banking
xiv. Payments technology (e.g., contactless)
Education:
i. Cutting-edge innovation within the education sector
ii. Research and education infrastructure planning

14. iii. Characterization technologies (advanced microscopy and microanalysis supporting modern
science, medicine, engineering, and industrial innovation)
iv. Digital data and eResearch platforms
v. Platforms for humanities, arts, and social sciences