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Global Talent Employer Sponsored

→ Australian Visa and Immigration Advice → GLOBAL TALENT EMPLOYER SPONSORED PROGRAM (GTES)

Table of Contents

GTES Program Features

The main features of the GTES are:

  • Trusted employers can access highly-skilled roles - Employers are not restricted to occupation lists for the TSS visa short-term or medium-term streams
  • 2 Streams - Established Business and Startups
  • Earnings - Higher earning threshold than under the standard TSS stream, Subclass 482 Visa
  • Visa Validity - 4 years visa validity and allows access to a permanent residence pathway
  • Priority Processing - Priority processing of GTES agreements
  • Age Limit to 55 Years - Although the Age limit is set at 55 years, there are Age exemptions, with Ministerial approval. Exemptions on Age grounds may be granted where there is a potential benefit to Australia & Australian workers. Note that the Home Affairs Minister weighs the additional cost to the Australian community against the benefit an individual or group of individuals may bring to the economy.

Established Business Stream - Employers Eligibility

  • Provide evidence that access to the GTES will support job opportunities and skills transfer for Australians
  • Evidence of Labour market testing for the specific positions, to request a GTES agreement
  • The Employer is required to be in good standing with relevant regulatory agencies, including compliance with immigration and workplace laws
  • Employer's Company must be publicly listed or have an annual turnover of at least $4 million AUD for each of the past 2 years
  • Employer is already endorsed as a TSS accredited sponsor

Applicant and Position Criteria

  • Health and Character - Must satisfy health, character and security requirements
  • No Family Relationship - No family relationship with directors/shareholders
  • Qualifications - must be proportionate with the highly skilled role
  • Work Experience - Applicant has acquired at least 3 years work experience directly relevant to the position
  • Mentoring and Training Australians - Applicant has the capacity to pass on skills, and develop Australians
  • Established Business Stream - earnings - The Position must have minimum annual earnings equivalent to the Fair Work High Income Threshold
  • Start-Up Stream - Earnings - The Minimum Annual Earnings can be set at the current market salary rate, but not lower than $80,000 AUD
  • Start-Up Stream - Investment - Start-Ups must either have received an investment of at least $50,000 AUD from an investment fund registered as an Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership or received an Accelerating Commercialisation Grant at any time.

Established Business Stream For Accredited Sponsors

The Established Business Stream of the GTES Program is available for 'Accredited Sponsors' to enable them to employ cutting-edge employees, who can innovate in an Established Business and train and mentor Australians. The main features of the stream are as follows:

  • Access High Number of Positions - access up to 20 positions per year
  • Flexibility - flexibility in certain visa criteria, including access to 4-year TSS visa
  • Permanent Residence - transitional pathway to permanent residence after 3 years, including age cap concessions
  • Simpler Agreements - Simpler agreement applications and faster processing of agreements

Start-Up Stream - GTES

The Start-Up Stream has the same Features as the Established Business Stream above, except for the following:

  • STEM Field - The Company operates in the STEM related field (for example, digital, bio-medical or agritech company). STEM companies are companies involved in: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
  • Access 5 Positions Annually - access up to 5 positions per year
  • Start-Up Endorsement - Startups must be endorsed by the independent GTES startup advisory panel

The Industry Advisory Group

The Industry Advisory Group is made up of Australian Government Representatives and Industry Stekeholders, who are Business Experts from a variety of fields including startups, tech and biomedical sectors, as well as organisations representing businesses and universities all over Australia. Organisations represented on the IAG include:

  • Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Australian Information Industry Association
  • Business Council of Australia
  • Cochlear
  • Fragomen
  • Innovation and Science Australia
  • StartupAUS
  • Universities Australia

VisaConnect Australia Office

Contact VisaConnect's Consultants at our Sydney, NSW, Australia office below:

VisaConnect Sydney
Suite 19, 103 George Street
Parramatta
NSW 2150
Australia

Telephone: (+61) 2 9151 7350

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Under the GTES Programme, what Visa do I apply for?

The GTES Program allows Employers to sponsor Highly Skilled Overseas workers that cannot be found locally, and then apply under the Skills in Demand, Subclass 482 Visa.

How long is the Visa valid for under the GTES Program?

The Skills in Demand visa is valid for 4 years, with a pathway to apply for Permanent residence.

What are the GTES Streams?

There are 2 Streams. 1. Established Business Stream - this stream allows Employers who are accreedited sponsors to employ workers with cutting-edge skills toi help innovate in an established business. 2. Start-Up Stream - this stream allows Employers to sponsor workers with cutting-edge skills to contribute to Australia's developing startuip ecosystem.

In what field should the StartUps be operating?

The Start-Ups should be operating a tech-based or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field.

How many Positions can be Nominated each year for the StartUp and Established Business streams?

The StartUp stream allows Employers to Nominate up to 5 positions per year. The Established Business stream allows the Employer to Nominate up to 20 positions per year.

After how long on the GTES, can an Applicant apply for Permanent residence?

After 2 years, there is a transitional pathway to Permanent residence, and this also includes Age cap concessions.

What is the Eatablished Busines Criteria?

The Established Business must be publicly listed or have an annual turnover of at east $4 Million AUD for each of the past 2 years.

Are there Minimum Annual Earnings for Employees under the Established Business stream?

Yes, the Employees must have a minimum annual earnings equivalent to the Fair Work High Income Threshold.

What are the Minimum Annual Earnings for Employees under the StartUp stream?

The Minimum Annual Earnings is the Market salary rate, but not less than $80,000 AUD per year.

Does that StartUp need any investments or Grants?

Yes, the StartUp must have received either an investment of at least $50,000 AUD from an Investment fund registered as an Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership or received an Accelerating Commercialisation Grant.