Visas for Innovation” is the term being used by Australian Immigration Authorities to attract the best and brightest minds to Australia by offering them permanent residency in the shortest duration if successful. “Visas for Innovation” is divided into three categories

• Global Talent Independent program
• Global Talent Employer-Sponsored program
• Supporting Innovation in South Australia pilot

Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES)

This program enables employers to sponsor overseas employees if the position cannot be filled by an Australian Employee or through Short-term stream and Medium-term stream of the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa

Businesses need to prove that they cannot sponsor their employee by any other visas.

The GTES program is used to employ highly skilled workers who can act as “Job Multipliers”. For example, the sponsored employee must create jobs for Australians or must transfer skills and knowledge to Australian workers.

GTES Key Features:

• trusted employers can access highly-skilled roles – you are not restricted to occupation lists for the TSS visa short-term or medium-term streams
• there are 2 streams – Established business and Startups
• the earning threshold for applicants is higher than under the standard TSS stream
• you can negotiate variations on the standard TSS visa requirements
• the visa is valid for up to 4 years and allows access to a permanent residence pathway
• you can negotiate age requirements for the permanent residence pathway
• priority processing of GTES agreements

Approved businesses must meet specific criteria and requirements to be considered for the GTES.

Various Streams in GTES:

Established Business stream

In this stream, employers can employ up to 20 highly skilled personnel who can make their respective Australian businesses and their employees as best at what they do. Businesses must have an annual turnover of over 4million Dollars in the last two years. Other key features include:

• flexibility in certain visa criteria, including access to 4 year TSS visas
• Permanent Residency to the employee after 3 years of the visa grant including age gap concessions
• Faster processing times with simple agreement applications
• If the position ceases, the visa holders can look for a new sponsor or apply for a visa in 60 days or apply for a new visa or depart Australia.

Apply for GTES:

Employer Requirements

• Before Applying for Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES), the business must show that they cannot employ Australians in that particular position and through existing skilled visa programs.
• Employers must prove that this program will help improve their business and increase job opportunities
• The employer must Perform Labour Market Testing
• The employer must be endorsed as a TSS accredited sponsor

Applicant requirements:

• Applicant must have least 3 years of experience
• No familial relationship with directors/shareholders
• Must meet health, character, and security requirements
• Qualifications must be commensurate with the highly skilled role
• Capacity to pass on skills/develop Australians
• The position must have minimum annual earnings equivalent to the Fair Work High Income Threshold.

GTES Application Process for Standard Businesses:

• Apply for GTES labor agreement request via immi account
• The response will be received in 6-11 business days
• If approved GTES will send an agreement to the employer.
• Once the agreement is done, a unique code-named Permission Request Id will be provided to the employer. This can be sued when loading the application.
• Nominated workers can then apply for a TSS visa online and will be assessed under the criteria established under the GTES agreement.

Processing Time for GTES Standard Business stream:

• Nominations will generally be decided within 5 business days.
• Visa applications will generally be decided within 5 business days.

Startup stream

This stream is suitable for Australian Start-Up Businesses (operating in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields) who wish to employ highly skilled workers by sponsoring them and demonstrate that they can increase job opportunities for Australians. Under this stream, each start-up business can employ up to 5 personnel. Other key features include:

• flexibility in certain visa criteria, including access to 4-year TSS visas
• Permanent Residency to the employee after 3 years of the visa grant including age gap concessions
• Faster processing times with simple agreement applications
• If the position ceases, the visa holders can look for a new sponsor or apply for a visa in 60 days or apply for a new visa or depart Australia.

Before sponsoring, Australian Start-up Businesses must be endorsed with an independent GTES start-up advisory panel.

Apply for GTES:

Employer Requirements:

• Labor market testing evidence for the specific positions as part of requesting a GTES agreement.
• The employer must be in good standing with relevant regulatory agencies, including compliance with immigration and workplace laws.
• Operates in a technology-based or STEM-related field (eg digital, biomedical, agtech).
• Independent startup advisory panel will assess and endorse the business as a viable and genuine startup.

Applicant Requirements:

• Applicant must have at least 3 years of experience
• No familial relationship with directors/shareholders
• Must meet health, character, and security requirements
• Qualifications must be commensurate with the highly skilled role
• Capacity to pass on skills/develop Australians
• The position must have minimum annual earnings equivalent to the Fair Work High Income Threshold.

GTES Application Process for Start-Up Businesses:

• Email globaltalentscheme@homeaffairs.gov.au with Business name and ABN/ACN number along with supporting evidence. Evidence must include an investment of at least AUD50,000 from an investment fund registered as an Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership OR receipt of an Accelerating Commercialisation Grant.
• The response will be received in 6-11 business days
• If approved GTES will send an agreement to the employer.
• Once the agreement is done, a unique code-named Permission Request Id will be provided to the employer. This can be sued when loading the application.
• Nominated workers can then apply for a TSS visa online and will be assessed under the criteria established under the GTES agreement.

Processing Time for GTES Start Upstream:

• Nominations will generally be decided within 5 business days.
• Visa applications will generally be decided within 5 business days.