Comments regarding Global Talent Independent (GTI) visa program

The significant slowdown in General Skilled Migration, raised a significant rise of interest to the Global Talent Independent (GTI) visa program. This program aimed to attract qualified professionals to work and live permanently in Australia. Recently GTI merged into a single subclass 858 visa, aiming to address impracticality such as inability to apply for this visa within Australia in some instances as well as the need to depart Australia for grant of the visa.
In terms of the candidates, the program seeks to attract individuals in sectors working in cyber security, energy and mining technology, space and advanced manufacturing, data science and ICT, among others.

What makes the GTI program so interesting in the current situation with GTE?

The aim of the GTI program is to attract qualified professionals in the areas considered future-focused sectors, such as the ones mentioned above, for the purpose of providing innovation and development in tech economies.
In order for individuals to apply and be successful in applying, they must have the following requirements:

1. Prove they have international recognition through evidence providing
2. Have outstanding ability in their area of expertise by proving to Australia that they are a potential asset in their professional area
3. Not having difficulties or obstacles to find employment in Australia in your professional area
4. Have been nominated by a company or organization as a global talent in the same professional area
5. Prove that they can attract a salary greater than or at least AUD $153,600 annually.

Unlike General Skilled Migration (where invitations are being issued at a record low numbers), the GTI program is capped at 15,000 places for this financial year.

GTI applications are also priority processed by the Department of Home Affairs which makes the pathway towards permanent residency more viable in today’s environment.

According to SkillSelect, the Department of Home Affairs issued just 200 invitations for subclass 189 visa.  The SkillSelect Dashboard indicates that there are approximately 60,000 Expressions of Interest in the pipeline. Accordingly, more candidates are turning to other visa types which lead towards permanent residency including the GTI.