Global Talent Employer Sponsored Program

The Global Talent Employer Sponsored program allows employers to sponsor overseas workers for highly-skilled niche positions that cannot be filled:

• by Australian workers
• through other standard visa programs – in particular, the Short-term stream and Medium-term stream of the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa

The main features of the GTES are:

• trusted employers can access highly-skilled roles – you are not restricted to occupation lists for the TSS visa short-term or medium–term streams
• 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
• No SAF

Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) streams

Established Business stream

The Established Business stream lets employers who are accredited sponsors employ workers with cutting-edge skills to help innovate in an established business and make Australian businesses and their Australian employees the best at what they do.

The main features of this stream are:

• access up to 20 positions per year (applicant and position criteria must be satisfied on each occasion)
• flexibility in certain visa criteria, including access to 4 year TSS visas
• transitional pathway to permanent residence after 3 years, including age cap concessions
• simpler agreement applications and faster processing of agreements
• if the position ceases, the visa holder will have 60 days to find a new sponsor and a new visa or depart Australia

Startup stream

The Startup stream lets employers sponsor workers with cutting-edge skills to contribute to Australia’s developing startup ecosystem and bring new ideas, new jobs, new skills and new technology into Australia.

This stream is for startups operating in a tech-based or STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field.

The main features of this stream are:

• access up to 5 positions per year (applicant and position criteria must be satisfied on each occasion).
• flexibility in certain visa criteria, including access to 4 year TSS visas.
• transitional pathway to permanent residence after 3 years, including age cap concessions.
• simpler agreement applications and faster processing of agreements.
• if the position ceases the visa holder will have 60 days to find a new sponsor and a new visa or depart Australia

Startups must be endorsed by the independent GTES startup advisory panel.

Panel members include:

• Alex McCauley (Chair), Chief Executive Officer, StartupAUS
• Alex Gruszka, Chief Operating Officer, StartupAUS
• Bronwen Clune, Digital Director, LaunchVIC
• Emily Close, Investment Manager, AirTree
• Lorraine Chiroiu, Chief Executive Officer, AusBiotech
• Murray Hurps, Director of Entrepreneurship, Director/Co-founder University of Technology Sydney, Startup Muster

 

Eligibility

Established Business

Employer criteria

• Demonstrate that access to the GTES will support job opportunities and skills transfer for Australians
• Labour 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
• Must be publicly listed or have an annual turnover of at least AUD4 million for each of the past 2 years
• Be endorsed as a TSS accredited sponsor

Applicant and position criteria

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

For further information regarding High Income Employees, see the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

Startup

Employer criteria

• Demonstrate that access to the GTES will support job opportunities and skills transfer for Australians.
• Labour 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 and position criteria

• Must meet health, character and security requirements.
• No familial relationship with directors/shareholders.
• Qualifications must be commensurate with the highly skilled role.
• At least 3 years work experience directly relevant to position.
• Capacity to pass on skills/develop Australians.
• Minimum annual earnings at the market salary rate, but not less than AUD80,000. This can include equity, but must have a cash component that is no less than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold.

Startups seeking to access the GTES must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• you have received an investment of at least AUD50,000 from an investment fund registered as an Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership
• you have received an Accelerating Commercialisation Grant at any time

Steps involved in Appling for Global Talent Employer Sponsored program (GTES)

Step 1. determine that the positions can’t be filled by an Australian worker.

You must also be able to demonstrate that you can’t fill the position through existing skilled visa programs.

Step 2 For Established Business – Lodge an online GTES labour agreement request via the Department’s online lodgement channel, ImmiAccount, attaching all relevant documents to your application.

For Startup Stream – [email protected] with the following information:

• Business name and ABN/ACN
• Description of the position/s required and evidence of why the position/s is not available or cannot be accessed through standard visa pathways.
• Provide evidence of 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.

Once you meet the above criteria, the Department will arrange for your startup to be assessed by the Startup Advisory Panel.

Step 3 – The Department will make an assessment based on the information you have provided. The Department can process the application between 6-11 days for decision-ready applications.
Step 4 – Sign your Agreement
If your business meets the criteria to enter into a GTES agreement, the Department will send you an agreement for signature.
Step 5 Nomination and visa application
Once an agreement has been executed, you will be provided with a unique code (Permission Request ID). You must use this when you lodge nomination applications online for overseas workers.

Nominated workers can then apply for a TSS visa online and will be assessed under the criteria established under the GTES agreement.