Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David
Coleman today launched the Global Talent - Independent Program, a major new initiative in
Australia’s immigration strategy.
Under the new program, highly skilled migrants in selected industries will receive a fasttracked
process to permanent residency in Australia.
Applicants will have a dedicated Home Affairs contact to guide them through the process,
and applications will receive the highest priority processing.
Applicants will be eligible for permanent residency if they are likely to earn more than
$149,000 per year in Australia, and they are highly skilled in one of seven key industry
sectors. The usual character, security and integrity checks will apply to all applicants.
The seven industry sectors are AgTech, FinTech, MedTech, Cyber Security, Energy and
Mining Technology, Space and Advanced Manufacturing, and Quantum Information/Advanced Digital/
Data Science and ICT.
Global Talent Officers from the Department of Home Affairs have already been deployed in
Berlin, Washington DC, Singapore, Shanghai, Santiago, and Dubai, and will have regional
coverage. An officer has also started in New Delhi today, to further the reach of the
program.
“With this program, we are targeting the world’s most highly skilled migrants”, Mr Coleman
said.
“We want to position Australia at the forefront of major growth trends in the world
economy. By enabling local businesses to access the world’s best talent, we will help to
grow high growth industries in Australia.”
“Over time, the Global Talent program has the potential to have a transformative impact on
the Australian economy.”
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the Global Talent –
Independent program will drive growth in the Australian technology industry and will also
see local jobs created.
“These high-growth sectors exist in truly global markets. For our domestic tech industry to
grow, businesses need to be able to hire skilled Australian workers as well as access the
capabilities of specialists from across the world,” Minister Andrews said.
“We can create high-paying local jobs by making Australia a global technology hub and the
Global Talent program is a signal to tech companies that we’re open for business.”
Up to 5,000 places will be offered in the Global Talent - Independent program in 2019/20.
More information about the program is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
