Australia launches Global Talent Pilot Scheme

Introducing the GTS as a pilot allows the Government to make refinements in consultation with industry to ensure it achieves its purpose.

The GTS is only for employers to fill highly-skilled positions that cannot be filled:

• by Australian workers
• through other visa programs, in particular the short-term and medium-term streams of the TSS visa.

The new scheme will help grow Australia’s economy and answers the call from businesses to deliver more flexible, future focused visa arrangements to attract global talent to Australia.

Businesses will now have the opportunity to sponsor highly-skilled overseas workers with niche skills that are not covered short-term and medium-term streams of the Temporary Skill Shortage visa program.

There are two streams available to businesses:

• Established Business stream allows employers who are accredited sponsors to employ highly-skilled individuals with cutting-edge skills to contribute to innovation in an established business, and help make Australian businesses and their Australian employees the best at what they do.
• Startup stream allows employers to sponsor highly-skilled individuals with cutting-edge skills to contribute to Australia’s startup ecosystem and bring new ideas, new jobs, new skills and new technology for Australia. This stream is for startups operating in a technology based or STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) related field. Startups must be endorsed by the independent startup advisory panel.

In both instances, a four-year Temporary Skill Shortage visa will be issued with the option to apply for permanent residence after three years.

Employers will be required to demonstrate that they prioritise the employment of Australians and that there will be skills transferred to Australian workers as a result of the person being granted a visa.