Global Talent Visa: Independent program (GTI)

Education sector

Some candidates for the GTVP have sought to demonstrate achievements in the Education sector by their academic appointments.

A senior academic and researcher appointment at Australian Academic Level D or E, or their international equivalents in fields other than Education, may be considered an indicator of internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in the Education sector. Candidates should provide evidence of publications, citations, patents, awards and/or other accolades.

Academics and researchers in fields other than Education below Australian Academic Level D, or its international equivalent, are only considered favourably if they have other exceptional and outstanding achievements in the field of Education.

PhD graduates

Candidates can continue to provide evidence of completing the academic requirements (prior to conferral) for a relevant PhD to demonstrate that they have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement.

PhD graduates may be considered prominent in their area of academia and research for 3 years from the conferral date of the qualification. Decision makers also consider whether applicants have remained engaged in their field if they graduated more than 12 months prior to application.

PhD students

Relevant PhD studies, irrespective of graduation date, are now considered for the assessment of prominence in the area. PhD students must demonstrate that they have a prior internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in a priority sector.

Exceptional benefit for applicants under 18 or at least 55 years old

Applicants who are under 18 or at least 55 years old need to demonstrate that they would be of exceptional benefit to the Australian community.

Athletes and artists under the Distinguished Talent pathway

Guidance has been clarified in relation to assessing international recognition for athletes and artists applying for the Distinguished Talent (DT) pathway.

Eligible NZ citizen nominators must be onshore at the time of visa application

An Eligible New Zealand citizen is a New Zealand citizen who is a protected Special Category visa holder within the meaning of Section 7 of the Social Security Act 1991.

Special Category visas only remain valid while the holder is in Australia. New Zealand citizens outside of Australia are not holders of a Special Category visa and are not eligible to complete a Form 1000.

Target sectors and Specialisations for Global Talent Visa

This section provides examples of specialisations in each of the priority sectors. Specialisations listed here are not exhaustive and are representative only to provide an indication of what each sector covers for transparency.

For the purpose of prioritisation, consideration is given as to whether the candidate’s achievements relate to specialisations articulated below in relation to the sectors. It is anticipated that novel specialisations will continue to emerge within the sectors for consideration of priority processing:

Resources

• Advanced visualisation technologies, e.g. sensors;
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies;
• Beneficiation technologies (improving the economic value of a resource such as ore.);
• Expertise in energy saving technologies for extracting and processing ores, such as ore body mapping, geophysical tools and drilling, mineral refinement, automated trucks and robotic equipment or grinding and processing technologies; and
• Resource waste management.

Agri-food and AgTech

• Agricultural big data analytics;
• Commercialisation experience within the industry;
• Future proteins for human and animal consumption;
• Food and beverage technology;
• Individual technologies or a combination of technologies related to farm equipment, weather, seed optimisation, fertiliser and crop inputs, and irrigation;
• Precision measurement and/or application of farm inputs such as nitrogen and pesticides, gene editing, nanomaterials and synthetic biology;
• Predictive technologies around planting times, climatic forecasting and crop cycles; and
• Wearable technology, including ear-tag trackers for animal management.

Energy

• Advanced visualisation technology (e.g. sensors);
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies;
• Automation and robotics (e.g. smart sorting technologies for recycling);
• Beneficiation technologies (i.e. improving the economic value of ore);
• Recycling technology (e.g. feedstock recycling or E-waste processing);
• Traceability technologies, e.g. experience with sophisticated material trading systems that make material sources more transparent to consumers; and
• Expertise with the following fields in the sector:
  • Hydrogen technology;
  • Clean technologies, renewables and hybrids (including solar and wind power);
  • Battery/energy storage design (specialised, grid-scale and precursors for batteries);
  • Bioenergy and biofuels;
  • Micro-grid design; and
  • Supporting the transition to net zero carbon emissions.

Health industries

• Antimicrobial resistance;
• Biochemistry and cell biology;
• Biostatistician;
• Biotechnology;
• Biomedicine and Bioengineering;
• Cell and gene therapies: genomics;
• Clinical trials;
• Digital health;
• Health economists;
• Implantable and wearable devices (e.g. 3D printed custom devices, bionics and prosthetics);
• Infectious disease;
• Medical devices;
• Medical physicist;
• Microbiology and immunology;
• Nanotechnology and genomics;
• Neuroscience and neurology;
• Pharmaceuticals;
• Precision medicine;
• Point of care diagnostics; and
• Regenerative medicine. 

Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space

Defence

• Augmented and virtual reality;
• Cyber Security;
• Expertise in military equipment acquisition, sustainment and evaluation;
• Robotics and automation; and
• Sensors and analytics.

Advanced manufacturing

• Advanced materials;
• Additive manufacturing (3D printing), materials resilience and repair;
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning;
• Automation & Robotics;
• Bio-manufacturing and biological integration;
• Biotechnologies;
• Digital design and rapid prototyping;
• Digitisation and automation;
• Nano-manufacturing and micro-manufacturing;
• Precision manufacturing; and
• Sustainable manufacturing and life cycle engineering.

Space

• Aviation in space
• Experience that would be of benefit to the National Civil Space Priority Areas:
  • Position, navigation and timing (PNT) infrastructure (global navigation satellite systems);
  • Earth observation technology and services;
  • Communications technologies and services (lasers for data communication, quantum technologies for secure communication, and hybrid radio and optical communications);
  • Space situational awareness and debris monitoring (including space traffic management);
  • Leapfrog R&D, which includes new rocket technology, high-tech materials, space medicine, synthetic biology, quantum communications, in-orbit servicing and optical wireless communication technologies;
  • Robotics and automation on Earth and in space;
  • Access to space, which includes international space missions and launch activity;
• Engagement with international space and astronomy regulatory bodies.

Circular economy

• Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies;
• Bioenergy generation;
• Bio-methane production;
• Commercialisation experience within the industry;
• Development of sustainable production and supply chain practices that reduce atmospheric land and marine pollution;
• Energy infrastructure;
• Recycling and responsible manufacturing to support industries (plastics, paper, glass, tyre components, e-waste and lithium batteries);
• Reducing emissions and increasing efficient use of natural resources (including energy, water and materials);
• Waste treatment (management and reuse) and emissions technology; and
• Waste to Energy (WtE) technology (the ability to generate reliable baseload electricity that is also capable of diverting waste away from landfill and reducing carbon emissions).

Digitech

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning;
• Automation;
• Big data;
• Blockchain technology;
• Cloud computing;
• Cyber security detection, prevention and response services;
• Data and eResearch infrastructure;
• Data management and analysis;
• Data science;
• Disruptive technologies;
• Front-end development;
• Internet of Things;
• IT integrated with control systems for plant and machinery;
• Machine learning engineering;
• Network engineer/architect;
• Quantum information and computing;
• Robotics;
• Senior experience in developing and producing digital games and immersive technology;
• Smart cities;
• Smart tech;
• Software and product management/development;
• Start-ups and Entrepreneurs in the industry;
• Systems integration; and
• 3D printing.

Infrastructure and tourism

Infrastructure

Potential or ability to:

• drive economic development in regional communities;
• develop gateways to support Australia’s international competitiveness;
• improve and expand Australia’s energy infrastructure; and
• improve water security across Australia.

Tourism

Potential or ability to:

• increase the economic benefits to Australia from tourism;
• target high value travellers in the markets and tourism segments that deliver the greatest returns; and
• foster a sustainable and innovative tourism industry.

Financial services and FinTech

• Automated and predictive financial advice;
• Blockchain technology;
• Commercialisation experience within the industry;
• Digital wallets;
• Financial advice (e.g. automated and digital);
• Financial data analytics, compliance and ‘RegTech’;
• Micro-savings;
• Next generation lending, investment and wealth management;
• Online banking; and
• Platform banking and payments (e.g. contactless).

Education

• Cutting edge innovation within the Education sector
• Research and education infrastructure planning;
• Characterisation (Technologies in advanced microscopy and microanalysis that underpin modern science, medicine, engineering and industrial innovation);
• Digital Data and eResearch Platforms; and
• Platforms for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.