Since its launch by the Hon David Coleman MP, Minister for Immigration in November 2019, the Global Talent Independent (GTI) Program has generated a lot of interest and the first visas have now been granted.
The Program seeks to attract “the best and the brightest” from around the world by offering a streamlined and priority pathway to permanent residence if candidates are distinguished in one of the seven identified GTI industries and are likely to be able to command a salary in Australia above the Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT), currently $148,700.
The seven identified GTI industries are: AgTech; Space & Advanced Manufacturing; FinTech; Energy & Mining Technology; MedTech; Cyber Security; Quantum Information, Advanced Digital, Data Science & ICT.
The Minister has now also authorised the Department to consider the following student cohorts for the GTI Program, as long as their research is internationally recognised or has relevance for Australian academia, governments and industry:
- Recent Masters and Honours graduates (completion within the last 3 years) with degrees relevant to the seven identified GTI industries who can show that they have a distinction average (80% or above) for their course.
- Recent PhD graduates (completion within the last 3 years or those in their last semester of submitting their thesis) in areas relevant to the seven identified GTI industries.
The Department is allocating 500 onshore and 500 offshore places for these cohorts; there is an expectation that offshore places are filled by graduates of reputable universities, in keeping with the objective of the Program to attract the “best and the brightest”. There is no additional requirement to evidence that the salary threshold will be met.
Please contact your Ajuria Lawyers adviser if you require further information.
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