Global Talent: Employer Sponsored program (GTES)

Global Talent Visa -Employer Sponsored (GTES Visa)- Subclass 859

Important: the Global Talent Employer Sponsored program has ended

The Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) program is not open to new applications. Employers wanting to sponsor highly skilled workers can now use the Skills in Demand 482 visa (Specialist Skills pathway), the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme or a labour agreement. Individuals with an exceptional record can consider the National Innovation visa. The information below is kept for reference only.

The Global Talent program (employer sponsored) was a program to attract the world’s best and brightest. It gave approved employers access to the TSS 482 visa with a permanent residence pathway through the 186 visa. Australian businesses and start-ups will have streamlined access to the best and brightest talent from around the world with the continuation of the Global Talent – Employer Sponsored program (GTES), formerly the Global Talent Scheme.

The Government recognises there is fierce competition globally for high-tech skills and talent, and that attracting these people helps to transfer skills to Australian workers and grow Australian-based businesses.

The Global Talent Scheme consisted of two components. Established businesses with an annual turnover of more than $4 million and the start up stream explained below.

Previously the Global Talent Scheme visa was with Temporary Skill Shortage Subclass 482 (replaced by the Skills in Demand 482 visa on 7 December 2024) and had a permanent residency option after three years employment on that visa.

National Innovation visa, which replaced the Global Talent visa

In December 2024 the Government introduced the National Innovation visa (subclass 858), replacing the Global Talent visa, to target exceptionally talented migrants who will drive growth in sectors of national importance.

How the GTES worked: the two streams (historical)

Established business stream

Employer criteria

Demonstrate that access to the GTES will support job opportunities and skills transfer for Australians
Labour market testing evidence for the specific positions as part of requesting a GTES agreement
The employer must be in good standing with relevant regulatory agencies, including compliance with immigration and workplace laws
Must be publicly listed or have an annual turnover of at least AUD4 million for each of the past 2 years
Be endorsed as a TSS 482 accredited sponsor

Applicant and position criteria

Must meet health, character and security requirements
No familial relationship with directors/shareholders
Qualifications must be commensurate with the highly skilled role
At least 3 years work experience directly relevant to position
Capacity to pass on skills/develop Australians
Position must have minimum annual earnings equivalent to the Fair Work High Income Threshold

For further information regarding High Income Employees see the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

Features

Access up to 20 positions per year (applicant and position criteria must be satisfied on each occasion).
Flexibility in certain visa criteria, including access to 4 year TSS 482 visas (now the Skills in Demand visa).
Transitional pathway to permanent residence after 3 years, including age cap concessions.
Simpler agreement applications and faster processing of agreements.
If the position ceases the visa holder will have 60 days to find a new sponsor and a new visa or depart Australia.

Start-up stream

Employer criteria

Demonstrate that access to the GTES will support job opportunities and skills transfer for Australians.
Labour market testing evidence for the specific positions as part of requesting a GTES agreement.
The employer must be in good standing with relevant regulatory agencies, including compliance with immigration and workplace laws.
Operates in a technology based or STEM-related field (eg digital, biomedical, agtech).
Independent startup advisory panel will assess and endorse the business as a viable and genuine startup.

Applicant and position criteria

Must meet health, character and security requirements.
No familial relationship with directors/shareholders.
Qualifications must be commensurate with the highly skilled role.
At least 3 years work experience directly relevant to position.
Capacity to pass on skills/develop Australians.
Minimum annual earnings at the market salary rate, but not less than AUD 80,000. This can include equity, but must have a cash component that is no less than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (now the Core Skills Income Threshold, $79,423 from 1 July 2026).

Features

Access up to 5 positions per year (applicant and position criteria must be satisfied on each occasion).
Flexibility in certain visa criteria, including access to 4 year TSS 482 visas (now the Skills in Demand visa).
Transitional pathway to permanent residence after 3 years, including age cap concessions.
Simpler agreement applications and faster processing of agreements.
If the position ceases the visa holder will have 60 days to find a new sponsor and a new visa or depart Australia.

Startups seeking to access the GTES must meet at least one of the following requirements:

you have received an investment of at least AUD50,000 from an investment fund registered as an Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership
you have received an Accelerating Commercialisation Grant at any time

As the pilot progresses, we will review the criteria for startups and consider how the GTES can assist a broader range of startup businesses in the future.

Important points and summary:

Any position filled through a GTS agreement must provide opportunities for Australians. These opportunities include the:

creation of new jobs for Australians
transfer of skills and knowledge to Australian workers.

The main features of the GTS are:

2 streams: established business (accredited sponsors) and startups (operating in a technology based or STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) related field)
the ability to negotiate variance from standard TSS visa requirements
agreement processing is prioritised
access to highly-skilled roles for trusted employers – not restricted to occupation lists
visa validity of up to 4 years, and access to permanent residency pathway
negotiable age requirements on permanent residence pathway

Employer sponsored visa guides

LMT for the Global Talent Scheme

Period in which LMT must be undertaken

You must provide evidence of LMT when requesting a GTS agreement. Evidence must be provided for each specific occupation sought under the GTS agreement. Within the 12 month pilot period (until 30 June 2019) no further LMT will need to be undertaken for these occupations. Evidence will not need to be provided at the nomination stage of the visa process within the pilot period.

If you are seeking a deed of variation to a GTS agreement to add new occupations, you must provide evidence of LMT before these occupations can be added to the agreement.

Evidence of LMT

You must provide evidence of 2 attempts for each specific occupation to employ qualified and experienced Australians. This can include 2 pieces from the same overall method, for example:

Where it is impossible to provide evidence of 2 attempts, for example because of a very limited global pool of suitable people and where the methods of LMT listed below are not suitable, explain these circumstances in the GTS request form you submit to the Department.

LMT can be undertaken by a third party if authorised to do so by the employer (for example, an associated entity or a contracted party, such as a recruitment agency or executive search firm).

Where a position is an intra corporate transfer of an existing employee of a company to another branch or associated entity of that company operating in Australia, the employer can provide a formal letter of transfer or other documentation outlining the intra-corporate transfer arrangement as evidence of LMT.

Under the GTS, there are no prescribed requirements for the content or duration of advertisements. The Department will assess whether any advertisement genuinely tests the Australian labour market.

The following table is intended to assist you in ensuring you have undertaken appropriate LMT.

Method of LMT	Evidence may include:
Websites including technology based global employment platforms (for example LinkedIn Jobs)	Copy of advertisement Invoices for hiring services number of people who have applied and other metrics
Business’ own website (established business stream of GTS only)	Copy of advertisement
Executive Search firms (headhunting)	Fees or invoices Summary of search undertaken Contract between company and executive search firm
Networking or referrals, where this results in the identification of globally recognised talent from overseas.	Written referral or endorsement by industry leaders/experts in their field explaining why the specific individual overseas is the only person, or one of very few people, who could undertake the nominated position, and no Australian worker is available

Note: ITOs do not apply to the Global Talent Scheme.

COVID-19 (2020, historical)

During COVID-19, the processing time for most visas and EOIs was delayed, and Global Talent Officers posted overseas worked from Australia. These arrangements have ended.

Related guides

Global Talent Employer Sponsored FAQs

Is the Global Talent Employer Sponsored program still open?

No. The GTES program is not open to new applications. The information on this page is kept for reference for people who used it in the past.

What can employers use instead to sponsor highly skilled workers?

Most employers now use the Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand 482 visa, which is for highly paid roles (Specialist Skills Income Threshold AUD 146,576 from 1 July 2026) and is not limited to an occupation list. Other options are the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme or a labour agreement.

What replaced the Global Talent independent visa?

The National Innovation visa (subclass 858) replaced the Global Talent visa in December 2024. It is a permanent visa for people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional achievement, and you need an invitation after submitting an Expression of Interest.

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