The Department of Home Affairs announced on its website that it will no longer be accepting applications for Distinguished Talent Visa (Subclass 124).
This visa is designed for individuals to apply for permanent residency directly or via invitation through SkillSelect. The primary criteria for grant of the visa for the applicants are to be outside Australia at the time of grant.
Those who already have Sbubclass 124 visa will need to obtain a Returning Resident visa or apply for Australian citizenship.
Those applicants wishing to access the Distinguished Talent Visa via the Standard Stream or the Global Talent Independent Stream will need to lodge an application for Subclass (858) Distinguished Talent Visa. Department has removed onshore and off-shore requirements for this visa. These measures are in line with announced earlier plans to decrease the number of visas with the same purpose. The next one probably will be Spouse and Partner onshore and offshore visas.