How to Apply for Australia’s Global Talent Visa

Australia’s Global Talent Visa was introduced as part of the Australian government’s JobMaker plan which focuses on improving talent migration to Australia. It attracts highly qualified and exceptionally talented individuals to live and work in the country as permanent residents, and is aimed at those who can demonstrate skills and expertise in specific target sectors.

This streamlined visa pathway is designed to support Australia’s economy by introducing new, in-demand skills to the workforce, encouraging and promoting innovation, and creating more jobs for Australian citizens. In 2021-2022, there are 15,000 available places on the program.

In this article, we outline the process for attaining a Global Talent Visa…

Who is Eligible for the Global Talent Visa?

To be eligible for this visa, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be highly skilled and able to bring new skills and knowledge to the country
• Be able to demonstrate international recognition for your achievements
• Be prominent in your field of expertise
• Prove that you would be an asset to the Australian community
• Ensure you would have no difficulty gaining employment in the country or becoming established independently in your field
• Have an organisation or individual in Australia with a national reputation in your field who can attest to your achievements
• Be capable of attracting a salary equal to or more than AUD158,500
• Be a recent PhD graduate in one of the target sectors
• Provide an exceptional track record of your professional achievements (e.g., senior roles, patents, professional awards, memberships, or publications)
• Demonstrate how your future success will contribute to Australia’s future success (e.g., show how you could help generate multiple jobs, especially in areas with target gaps)

In summary, you must be able to share a vision of how you would contribute to the Australian economy and how you can strengthen your target industry in the long term as well as short term. Long term thinking is particularly important to the Australian government as they are committed to using this visa program to help Australia’s post-COVID recovery.

Which Sectors are in Demand?

The Global Talent Visa aims to fill talent gaps in specific industries. One of the target sectors is the Health and Life Sciences industry, with the government seeking talented individuals working across MedTech, Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals, Medical Research, Disease Management, and Health IT. Below are some of the key target specialisations:

• Antimicrobial Resistance
• Biochemistry and Cell Biology
• Biostatistics
• Biotechnology
• Biomedicine and Bioengineering
• Cell and Gene Therapies – Genomics
• Clinical Trials
• Digital Health
• Health Economics
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Medical Devices (Including Implantable and Wearable Devices, 3D Printed Devices, Bionics and Prosthetics)
• Medical Physics
• Microbiology and Immunology
• Nanotechnology and Genomics
• Neuroscience and Neurology
• Pharmaceuticals
• Precision Medicine
• Regenerative Medicine

Australia’s Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce have provided the following examples of professionals who would be eligible for the visa:

“Pharmaceutical executive and founder of a multi-million-dollar global company dedicated to accelerating clinical trial processes by utilising a novel e-platform to track patient data.” (Exceptional Candidate)

“Senior auditory neuroscientist with a track record of research in health technologies, leading the research and design of cochlear implant technology.” (Strong candidate)

The following professionals would not be eligible:

• GPs
• Retail Pharmacists
• Dentists
• Physiotherapists
• Nurses
• Veterinarians
• Aged Care Workers

What is the Visa Process?

Step One: Expression of Interest

To apply for the visa, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form to the Global Talent Independent Program (GTIP). At this stage, you will also need your passport, evidence of your employment status and income, a completed Form 1000, qualifications, and other records of your relevant exceptional achievements.

Form 1000

Form 1000 is the Nomination for Global Talent form. As part of the process, you will need to select one nominator to complete the form and support your application. They must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, an eligible New Zealand citizen or an Australian organisation.

Your nominator must be able to attest to your record of exceptional achievements based on their expertise in your field. You must only choose one nominator, although you can submit multiple letters of support from Australian citizens/organisations and internationally recognised individuals/organisations in your field.

Step Two: Visa Application

If your EOI is successful, you will then be invited to complete the Global Talent Visa application. More information on this step can be found here.

For the Global Talent Visa application process, all documentation must be submitted in English, and you will be responsible for translating any documents where necessary.

Processing Time

The Global Talent Visa is a streamlined pathway to becoming a permanent Australian resident, with processing times after step two averaging between one to two months. More information on processing times can be found here.

Getting Started

Take a look at the below websites for more information on the Global Talent Visa and to get started with your application:

Am I Eligible for the Global Talent Visa?

Global Talent Visa Program – Australian Government Department of Home Affairs

Search pharma jobs currently being advertised in Australia on PharmiWeb.Jobs/au.