The Australian Government has announced a new skilled visa pilot scheme to attract highly skilled workers from around the world.

This new visa pathway called the Global Talent Scheme (GTS) pilot program will allow businesses from 1 July to sponsor highly skilled and specialised workers who will help to grow their businesses and create more jobs.

The pilot will run for 12 months and provide businesses with a streamlined process to sponsor overseas workers with cutting edge skills, where there are no suitable Australians available to fill the vacancies.

The scheme has resulted from extensive consultations with industry, the start-up sector and tertiary institutions.
A business wanting to sponsor a worker to Australia under the scheme will need to demonstrate that they have been unable to source suitable individuals in the Australian labour market.

These workers will have access to a Temporary Skills Shortage visa and permanent residence after three years.
The visa will have two streams:

• Established Business stream – which allows employers who are accredited sponsors to employ highly-skilled individuals with cutting-edge skills to contribute to innovation in an established business and help make Australian businesses and their Australian employees the best at what they do.
• Start-up stream – which allows employers to sponsor highly-skilled individuals with cutting-edge skills to contribute to Australia’s developing start-up ecosystem and bring new ideas, new jobs, new skills and new technology for Australia. This stream is for start-ups operating in a technology based or STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) related field. Start-ups must be endorsed by the independent GTS start-up advisory panel.

Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Senator Michaelia Cash said the new scheme answers the call from business to deliver more flexible, future focussed visa arrangements that help attract global talent to Australia.
“This scheme will connect Australia with the skills to help grow the economy and develop innovative new businesses,” Minister Cash said.

“The Government has been working closely with stakeholders to ensure this program brings maximum benefit to Australia – to promote business growth, skill sharing and increased job creation.”

Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Alan Tudge said the innovative new scheme will help to attract top global talent.

If you are a skilled worker that would like to find out your immigration options to Australia, please contact our team of Registered Migration Agents to begin your visa application. Our team can ensure your path into Australia, should you meet all the requirements of the new pilot scheme.