This program allows employers to sponsor overseas, professionally skilled workers for positions that cannot be filled by Australians or through other standard visa programs.

The employer has to demonstrate that the position cannot be filled through existing skilled visa programs. Once the need is established, businesses can then sponsor workers for a TSS (Temporary Skill Shortage) under the GTES.

This program is designed to bring in highly skilled and specialised individuals to Australia. These workers can act as job multipliers to grow Australian businesses, helping them to hire local staff and fill critical areas.

The key features of GTES are:

• A trusted employer can access highly-skilled talents without being restricted to occupations lists for the TSS visa streams.
• The earning threshold of the candidate is higher than under the standard TSS stream.
• You may also negotiate variations on the standard TSS visa requirements.
• This program has two streams – for Established businesses and Startups. Connect with us to know more about these streams.
• The visa is granted for up to 4 years and allows access to a permanent residence pathway.
• You can negotiate age requirements for permanent residency.
• GTES agreements are processed on a priority

Eligibility for Established Businesses 

Employer criteria:

• As an employer, you must demonstrate that access to the GTES will support job opportunities and skills transfer for Australians
• Provide labour market testing evidence for the specific positions 
• You must be in good standing with relevant regulatory agencies, including compliance with immigration and workplace laws
• Your organisation must be publicly listed or have an annual turnover of at least $4 million for each of the past 2 years
• You must be endorsed as a TSS accredited sponsor

Candidate eligibility criteria:

• As an applicant, you must meet health, character and security requirements
• There should be no familial relationship with directors/shareholders
• Your qualifications must align with the highly skilled role that will be assigned to you
• You must have at least 3 years of work experience directly relevant to the position you are being offered in Australia
• You must have the capacity to transfer these skills to Australians
• The position you are offered in Australia must have minimum annual earnings equivalent to the Fair Work High Income Threshold.

Eligibility for Startup  

Employer criteria:

• As an employer, you must demonstrate that access to the GTES will support job opportunities and skills transfer for Australians
• Provide labour market testing evidence for the specific positions 
• You must be in good standing with relevant regulatory agencies, including compliance with immigration and workplace laws
• Business operates in STEM-related or technology-based fields
• Assessed and endorsed by Independent startup advisory panel as a viable and genuine startup. 

Candidate eligibility criteria:

• As an applicant, you must meet health, character and security requirements
• There should be no familial relationship with directors/shareholders
• Your qualifications must align with the highly skilled role that will be assigned to you
• You must have at least 3 years of work experience directly relevant to the position you are being offered in Australia
• You must have the capacity to transfer these skills to Australians
• The minimum annual salary is at the market salary rate, but not less than $80,000. 

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

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

SISA is a visa that permits foreign entrepreneurs to launch new seed stage startups and drive forward their innovative business ideas. The SISA program is being piloted in South Australia and will be rolled out nationally when successful. 

SISA benefits apply in the following ways:

• It complements existing visas for entrepreneurs and startups in the Business Innovation and Investment program
• It drives entrepreneurialism in South Australia, creating jobs and adding value to the South Australian innovation ecosystem
• It ensures Australia is competitive in attracting the best and brightest entrepreneurial talent needed to fuel innovation.

The South Australian Government ran the SISA event from November 2018 to November 2021 with the vision to grow the Australian innovations network. This event lets entrepreneurs participate and share their experience, skill, talent and innovative ideas to learn from each other, collaborate and network.

If you want more information about the Global Talent Independents Program, feel free to contact us.