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Global Talent Independent Subclass 858 (formerly Distinguished Talent Visa)

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Global Talent Independent Visa – Subclass 858

A permanent visa for individuals with exceptional talent or international recognition in a profession, sport, the arts, or academia and research.

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    What Is The Global Talent Visa?

    The Global Talent Visa is a Permanent Visa that allows you to:

    • Stay in Australia indefinitely
    • Work and study in Australia
    • Apply for Medicare (Australia’s healthcare scheme)
    • Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence;
    • Travel to and from Australia on an ongoing basis (can apply for a Resident Return Visa)
    • Apply for Australian Citizenship
    • Access certain Australian government benefits (with waiting times)
    • Buy property in Australia
    • Enjoy free schooling for your children

    858 Visa

    As of December 6, 2024, the previous Subclass 858 Global Talent Visa has been replaced by the National Innovation Visa (NIV) Scheme, and the visa subclass remain unchanged. This visa offers a pathway to permanent residency for individuals with internationally recognized, exceptional, and outstanding achievements in eligible areas.

    Why Choose Us

    Experienced Migration Agents

    • Our registered migration agents can help you prepare and lodge your 858 visa expression of interest.

    Work With Your Nominator

    • We will work closely with your nominator to ensure that you have all the required supporting evidence.

    Explore All Opportunities

    • Our experienced migration agents can explore and uncover all hidden opportunities to demonstrate that you meet the Global Talent Independent Program requirements.

    Manage The Visa Application Process

    • We can manage the entire visa application process on your behalf to ensure that it is smooth and stress-free.

    Global Talent Visa Pathways

    There are 2 pathways under the Global Talent Subclass 858 Visa: Global Talent Independent Program (GTIP) and Distinguished Talent Visa Pathway.

    Global Talent Independent Program

    • The Global Talent Independent Program (GTIP) is a permanent visa for people who have a national or internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in a targeted eligible field. The program targets individuals who are distinguished in their field and who are likely to be able to earn at least $153,600 AUD in Australia. The objective of the GTIP is to grow Australia’s innovation and tech economies, and is to attract top talent in certain critical sectors.
    • In 2020-2021, 15,000 places were made available under the program, which is triple to what it was in the previous financial year. This recognises the importance of the contribution to Australia by those who already hold this visa or potentially will make, by those who are eligible to apply under the Global Talent visa.

    Global Talent Independent Program Eligibility

    Applicants can apply for the Global Talent Independent Program (GTIP) if they are within the following fields:

    1. Resources
    2. Agri-food and Ag-Tech
    3. Energy
    4. Health industries
    5. Defence, advanced manufacturing and space
    6. Circular economy
    7. Digitech
    8. Infrastructure and tourism
    9. Financial services and FinTech
    10. Education
    To be eligible under the Global Talent Independent Visa Program you need to meet the following conditions:
    • Are distinguished in one of the identified Global Talent Visa fields/industries
    • Have an Australian nominator; You will need an Australian citizen or an Australian organisation to nominate you for the Global Talent visa. There is no fee payable with the nomination, and there are no ongoing obligations for your nominator.
    • The nominator should be in a position of expertise in Australia in your field so as to be able to verify that you have the national/international reputation and that you should be granted a Global Talent visa. An organisation, such as the Australian Computer Society, could also be a nominator.
    • Are able to earn above the Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT) (currently AU$153,600 per annum) in Australia which can be demonstrated with evidence of current earnings, future job offers or recent PhD graduates in the target sectors.
    • If applying from offshore or onshore and not yet earning this amount, you will need to demonstrate you have potential to earn $153,900. In essence, an applicant needs to demonstrate that they would have no difficulty in obtaining employment (or establishing themselves independently) in their field at an income rate to meet Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT).
    • The application needs to address how they can be a potential asset to the Australian community;
    • PhD graduates and certain PhD students may still be eligible to apply for the GTI Program if they can demonstrate exceptional talent and international recognition in a target sector. In addition, PhD students who are nearing completion of their degree must be able to demonstrate they had a record of achievement prior to commencing their PhD studies.
    • The Department is also looking to target certain student cohorts with research that is internationally recognised and relevant to those targeted industries, including those who have recently (in the last 3 years) completed a PhD or (or are close to submitting their thesis).

    Global Talent Independent Program Benefits

    The benefits of the Global Talent Independent Program (GTIP) includes:

    • Priority processing means these Global Talent visas are given the highest priority of all Australian migration programs. The process is streamlined and extremely efficient with visas being granted in as little as 1 month from lodgement.
    • This visa is an independent applicant and does not require an applicant to be sponsored by an employer and is not points tested.
    • The visa is granted without any employment limitations or conditions.
    • Being a permanent resident provides a pathway to Australian citizenship.

    Distinguished Talent Visa Pathway

    • The Distinguished Talent Visa Pathway is an Australian permanent visa for those who have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in one of the following areas: a profession, sport, arts or academia and research.

    Distinguished Talent Visa Eligibility

    Applicants can apply for the Distinguished Talent Visa if they meet the following conditions:

    • Benefit the Australian community (economically, socially, culturally or by raising Australia’s academic, artistic or sports standing internationally).
    • Demonstrate the ability to establish themselves in Australia by having no difficulty in finding the relevant employment or being independently established.
    • Be internationally recognized with a record of achievement in a profession, a sport, the arts or academia and research.
    • Applicants must be acclaimed as exceptional in any country where their field is practiced with a sustained record of achievement.
    • Be nominated by:
    1. Australian citizen
    2. Australian permanent resident
    3. Eligible New Zealand citizen
    4. Australian organization with a national reputation in your area of talent
    5. Visa applications by Hong Kong passport holders are prioritised (recently announced by the Department of Home Affairs)

    858 Visa Application Process

    Global Talent Independent Program Application Process

    The GTIP has a 2-step application process:

    1. Whether overseas or in Australia, individuals eligible for the Global Talent Independent Program (GTIP) can lodge their Expression of Interest (EOI) with the Department of Home Affairs to be invited to apply for this visa. Only applicants with a national or international recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in one of the following identified priority sectors below may be eligible:

    • Resources
    • Agri-food and Ag-Tech
    • Health industries
    • Defence, advanced manufacturing and space
    • Circular economy
    • Digitech
    • Infrastructure and tourism
    • Financial services and FinTech
    • Education

    2. Once invited to apply under EOI, a visa application is then lodged under the Global Talent Independent Pathway (GTIP).

    How We Can Help The 858 Visa Application Process

    At AustraliaMigrate, we can help lodge your Distinguished Talent Visa Pathway by:

    1. Preparing and lodging your expression of interest, ensuring the application focuses on all the factors that the Australian government is looking for. This allows us to uncover hidden gems and opportunities in your achievements to help give you an edge in your ‘expression of interest’ application so you can win an invitation to lodge your 858 visa application
    2. Working with your nominator and referees to build the strongest supporting evidence possible for your case.
    3. Gather evidence of your earning capacity in Australia from researching relevant websites, speaking to industry leaders and prominent people in your field and undertaking market research on your behalf.
    4. Prepare, lodge and then navigate your visa application through the process to approval.
    5. Assist with including eligible family members such as your spouse, de-facto partner and children who may be over 18 but under 23

    It is important to avoid the following when applying for the 858 Visa:

    • Providing a lack of or unclear information and lack of supporting documents, that is submitted when incomplete an expression of interest. The expression of interest is an extremely important step and we work closely with our clients to ensure strong supporting documents are lodged, giving the expression of interest application a very high chance of winning an invitation to lodge an 858 visa application
    • Submitting overly technical complex information, which makes it difficult for an assessor to fully comprehend and understand your achievements, and thereby missing the opportunity of being identified as a Global Talent.

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    Why AustraliaMigrate?

    "AustraliaMigrate Pty Ltd has been helping people around the world successfully apply for Australian visas for over 25 years.

    Our professional specialists are highly experienced in the migration environment.”

    We guide individuals and businesses through the complex migration process to Australia. With long years of industry experience, our immigration specialists have built a reputation of providing accessible, accurate and genuine advice to our esteemed clients.

    Our specialists assist in preparing and reviewing your documents and forms before submitting for successful approval. We strive to make the whole immigration process hassle-free for you.

    We have a very high success rate of visa approval and a solid reputation resulting in a large amount of repeat business. We provide immigration services to individuals, families and companies, whether they are small or public companies and in any industry. Immigration is the only thing we do so we are highly specialized in it.

    Immigration is the only thing we do so we are highly specialized in it.

    Client Story

    Sandeep Sharma applied for his Permanent Residence visa under subclass 186 Employer Nominated Sponsorship, after two years of being sponsored under a 457 Employer Sponsorship visa. His Permanent Visa was granted on August 2014.

    I have been in Sydney, Australia for the last 6 years. I was referred to AustraliaMigrate by a friend of mine.

    In the beginning, I was sponsored by my company under a 457 visa. As I would like to stay on in Australia, I applied for the visa Permanent Residence Visa (186).

    The visa application process was complex and very challenging. AustraliaMigrate helped me to prepare and lodge my application in a limited time. My application was approved just within one week and my 457 long stay business visa was granted.

    Sandeep & Ashu Sharma

    What our clients have to say about us

    Thank you Ian. Fabulous news. Thanks to you and your team’s effort and work. Great service.

    Thank you SO so much for all of your patience and work on this. Still hasn’t sunk in yet that I’m actually free! Once again, massive thanks to both you and Mariola!!

    Thanks so much for this excellent news. I’m impressed how fast and smooth it all went, which is a result of excellence in services. Thanks so much for all the attention.

    Thank you Ian ,I highly appreciate your kind efforts. Its a big day for me and my family and you make it possible. May you live long with health, wealth and peace.

    Great news – we’re very pleased with this result. Many thanks to AustraliaMigrate for all your hard work in getting this over the line. Have a lovely weekend!

    That’s the best news I’ve had in a long time. Thanks so much for all your help and patience. You’ve been awesome! 🙂

    This is fantastic news! You have been so helpful throughout this process and a pleasure to work with.

    Thanks again Ian ; as always you never fail to deliver 😉

    Thank you for your working. It is Fantastic news !! I am very happy~. Thank you very much.

    Fantastic news!!! Thank you very much for your help with this one. Great start of the week indeed. Thank you Ian.

    Thanks again Ian, you and your team have been a great help.

    Great news – we’re very pleased with this result. Many thanks to AustraliaMigrate for all your hard work in getting this over the line. Have a lovely weekend!

    Wow that was fast. Thank you very much Mariola and Ian. Great job.

    This is brilliant news we thank you and Ian for helping us out gaining our permanent residency.

    Thank you Ian and your team for making it possible for Sebastian to stay with us.

    I am so happy that my visa application is being accepted, thank you for your help and availability, have a good weekend, and thanks again.

    Hi Ian, A big thanks to you and Lynn for all your help.

    Hi Ian, Thank you so much for your time and hard work. Marilia and myself are both thrilled.

    Thank you so much for all your help and assistance with the application.I am very happy!

    Hi Ian, Thanks foor making my day, week, month and year! This is truly amazing news! Please thank the extended team that worked on our application.

    That’s fantastic, big thanks to all for your kind support and assistance.Many thanks.

    Dear Ian, Izzy and I would like to thank you and your staff so much for all the hard work in helping us to obtain Nazma’s visa in Australia. We know that it could not have happened without you. Many thanks again Ian and will keep in touch. All the best to you and your team for all their assistance.

    Hi Ian, First of all THANK YOU and your team! Thank you for working with us on this application till the very end, thank you for the magnificent news! Although the process was stressful, the result is the only thing that matters and we couldn’t be happier! And the date couldn’t be better! We will always have fireworks on our PR day! And Thank you for your kind wishes! Wish you all the best!

    Thanks so much for your kind efforts to help Sumit and his wife to grant 457 visa.Actually I was overseas and came back yesterday. I am extermely happy for their decision. they both are coming on 12th of March.

    Hi Ian, Amazing news 🙂 Thank you so much to you and your team for all your help. Warren and I are very grateful. We will definitely keep recommend you to friencts and people we know.: )

    Hi Ian and Mariola, Thanks so much for all your help, that’s great news!!

    That’s awesome guys! Thank you guys for all!

    Hi Ian. I just drove through to Neil’s work to tell him and he’s over the moon. It has been such a journey to get here and we have been through SO much to make it all happen – but we would never have done it without you and your amazing team. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Have a great evening.

    Hello Lynn and Ian, How are you? I just wanted to let you know that my Visa has been granted. I have my Permanent Residency! Thank you for everything, Lynn has been so helpful during the all process. I could never have done it without you. I hope everything is going all right for you guys. Take care.

    Thanks Ian for pushing these through in time.

    Dear Ms Lynn, Thank you for the information, appreciated your time and effort for lodging our visa. Looking forward to seeing you for the future visa. Thank you.

    Hi Kathy & Ian, Thank you so much for this. It’s great news. Thank you once again.

    Hello IAN,Thank you again. It was a wonderful experience working with you.

    Dear Ian and Kathy, I can’t believe it, such good news! Thank you so so much for all your help and effort!!! Richard and I really appreciate it. I can’t find the right words to describe how grateful we are. Thank you! May both of you have a wonderful weekend.

    WOW! This is amazing. Ian, Mariola and team, I cannot express my gratitude enough for all the effort and hard work you put in to making this happen. Thanks you so so much!!!

    Ian and Lynn, Pete and I would like to thank you both for all your direction and hard work to make this happen. We really appreciate it. We’re elated that the Partnership Visa has finally been granted! We will be eternally grateful to both of you for making this tedious process easier for us. We couldn’t have done it without your expertise and guidance. Thank you, thank you, thank you… Have a wonderful day,

    Thank you so much this has made my day 😍😍😍😍😅

    I can’t believe it after all these years

    Thanks again JUST BRILLIANT NEWS!!

    Thank you so so so much for your hard work and support!!! We are very happy and emotional!! Today is actually our wedding anniversary, and this email made today even special.

    I truly appreciate your support all the way.

    Thank you very much for this great news. I am very glad that the wait is over and that I can finally start working

    Thank you for the excellent news 🙂 and thank you for all your help. I really appreciate it!

    You will be hearing from me in the near future.

    Wishing you both all the best, especially in these unpredictable times.

    Thank you so much for all of your help with this application. I have no doubt we would not have looked to so good without your expertise and support.

    You guys have a done a great job and Mariola your professionalism is brilliant.

    Thank you both again.

    OMG

    That is the best news EVER!

    Thank you so so much for all your help to you and Ian! I am so glad I chose you to help me with all my visas all these years!

    Will highly recommend Australia Migrate if I heard anyone looking for an agent 🙂

    Thanks again!

    Hi Ian & Lynn,

    Thanks for your email! We are really thrilled to hear the news!

    Jessica and I really appreciate your support during this time. Without your help, the application process won’t be so smooth.

    Thank you so much.

    WOW WOW WOW!!

    That is amazing!! So super stoked and happy!

    Again, thank you so much for all your effort and work put into this process!!

    My Family & I thanks you from the bottom of their hearts!

    Thank you so much for all your help. We really appreciate it and we are soooo happy – I can’t even described 😊🙏🏻🤗

    Thank you again!

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    Subclass 186 Frequently Asked Questions

    I want to apply for permanent residence based on Employer Nominated Sponsorship, Subclass 186 –what are the overall pathways?

    There are two application pathways for this category:

    Pathway One – 186 Temporary Residence Transition:

    Once 482 visa holders have been employed for two years out of the last 3 years on a 482 visa, which could have been with the same employer/sponsor or a combination of previous sponsor and current sponsor, they can apply for 186 Temporary Residence Transition. They must be sponsored on a 482 visa by their current employer who will nominate them in their Employer Nominated Sponsorship application, subclass 186 application.

    The visa holder can hold any occupation, both from the previous Consolidated Skilled Occupation List (CSOL) and the current Core Skilled Occupation List (CSOL) so long as they hold a 482 visa.

    The application must be lodged before turning 45 years old, unless they meet specified exemptions. One of these is that their salary (net of superannuation) has met the high-income threshold in two of the last three years as applicable in the year they hold that visa. The current high-income threshold for 2024 is set at $175,000.

    Pathway Two – Direct Entry:

    The nominated occupation must be on the Core Skilled Occupation List (CSOL). The 186-visa applicant must complete a Skills Assessment from the assessing authority of that occupation and demonstrate that they have had at least three years of post-qualification work experience in that occupation. Applicants need to be under 45 years old at the time of application. There are no exemptions for age under 186 Direct Entry.

    In both Pathway One and Two, the employer has to present a range of documents to meet the requirements of the nomination. These include financial documents, position description, employment contract, organization chart, a statement about why the position is genuine, evidence that the salary is market related etc.

    AustraliaMigrate is a trusted leader in immigration & visa services. Led by Director Ian Singer and a team of five registered migration agents.

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    ©2025 AustraliaMigrate Pty Ltd | ABN 62 091 202 345 | Registered Migration Agent 0001947 | Migration Agent Code of Conduct

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