The Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs introduced a new program in 2019 to boost the movement of highly skilled individuals from around the world to Australia.

This includes a fast-tracked pathway to Australian permanent residency for applicants with globally recognised talent in a target sector.

This is one of the first programs of its type where Australia is actively hunting talented people and asking them to come to Australia.

This is an older article. Click here to learn the criteria for the Global Talent Visa

The Visas for Innovation include the following three programs:

1. Global Talent Visa program (subclass 858 visa)

A pathway for talented individuals to get an Australian visa fast

2. Global Talent Employer Sponsored program (Temporary Skills Shortage visa, Subclass 482 visa)

A program helping Australian businesses fill unique positions with the best workers

3. Supporting Innovation in South Australia pilot (subclass 408 visa)

Attracting entrepreneurs to regional Australia to undertake their projects in a supported environment - this pilot program ends November 2021

Each of these programs uses a new pathway for an old visa.

These new pathways are seeking to increase the Australian workforce capabilities in high-tech industries.

Up to 15,000 places will be offered in the Global Talent program in 2021-22.

Global Talent Independent Visa (GTI) (subclass 858 visa)

NOTE: the Global Talent Independent Visa was renamed the "Global Talent Visa" in 2020.

The benefits of the Global Talent Independent Program is that it is fast, flexible and straight-to-PR. Find out why the GTI is so popular here.

It presents a great opportunity for a highly-skilled professional in a high-growth area to move to Australia permanently.

The Global Talent scheme was launched 4 November 2019 and is built on the existing Distinguished Talent program, comprised of:

• Offshore Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 124)
• Onshore Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 858)

Fast Processing

At the Law Council's Immigration Law Conference on 20 March 2020, respresentatives from the Department of Home Affairs stated that applications under the GTI program are being given priority processing. Processing times vary from 2 day to 2 months with many being decided in one to two weeks!

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (as he then was) David Coleman has also signed Direction no 85 to give high priority to GTI applications as they are considered to be highly desireable by the Government.

GTI Requirements

1. Highly skilled in one of the identified target “high-growth” sectors:

2. One of the following:

• “Ability to attract” a salary at or above the Fair Work High Income Salary Threshold (this varies each financial year and is AUD158,500 as at 01 July 2021) or
• Recent graduate of PHD or a Masters program who received high grades.

The program is designed to have global talent officers situated around the world in capital cities such as Dubai, New Delhi, Santiago, Shanghai, Washington DC, Berlin and Singapore.  These officers are seeking to attract and engage highly skilled individuals to the program to move to Australia and bring their skills with them.

Currently there are allocated 15,000 places in the GTI program which are up for grabs so if you’re a leader in your field, make sure you get your place to move to Australia.

Watch our video: Fast Track to Australian PR Now: GTI visa for Tech and IT sectors

High-Growth Fields

Agricultural Technology (AgTech)

AgTech is one of the fields identified for the Global Talent Independent Program.

Australia is looking to push the boundaries of “Agriculture 4.0”.

Growth through the Internet of Things (IOT) has been identified as an area for further explanation, with big advantages to flow for the agriculture industry.

https://www.austrade.gov.au/news/success-stories/agtech-in-australia-driving-iot-connectivity-for-farming

Financial Technology (FinTech)

FinTech is a growing field worldwide, including in Australia.

We have seen the rise of a range of:

• Modern banks such as Up, Xinja and 86,400
• Investing platforms such as Raiz, eToro and Spaceship
• Payment platforms and digital financial products, including AfterPay
• Regtech and many many other FinTech products in Australia

To develop cutting edge technologies which will function in not only the Australian financial market, but which can be exported to overseas markets, Australian FinTech startups and companies need the highest level of talent.

If you are a developer, computer scientist or financial expert with a background in FinTech, a permanent move to Australia through the GTI program could be the way to go.

Experience and skills in blockchain are especially sought after.

Medical Technology (MedTech)

There is innovation globally in the medical technology field, using technologies both existing and developing.

From a range of industries to create technologies that better serve the health needs of patients.

In Australia, there are big opportunities in developing new and better medical devices, implants and bionics.

There is work to be done in designing, building and quality assurance on new implants and body augmentations

to help those with serious health problems to live a better life.

Key foundation competencies are needed in engineering and product design in the MedTech field.

Cyber Security

Cyber Security is very important to many businesses and government Departments, ensuring that data, personal information, commercial information and funds remain secure.

With more and more connections to the internet and a growing number of attacks on private and public bodies, new Cyber Security solutions are needed and there are more positions in Australia than can be filled. 

Energy and Mining Technology

Australia has a rich and varied history of energy, mining and resources industries.

There is room for further development in mining equipment, technology and services (METS).

Global talents are being sought who can bring skills to Australia to push the METS industry even further.

The CSIRO have released a roadmap for where they see development of METS heading.

Space and Advanced Manufacturing

South Australia has recently been set up as the home for the new Australian Space Agency and space industry entrepreneurs will benefit greatly from this.

There are a range of interesting startups already underway, looking at microsatelites and other services in the space and space-adjacent industries.

Applicants who have experience working with the development of sensors, advanced materials, robotics and augmented/virtual reality systems

will have skills which are highly valuable.

One of the advantages of operating in Australia, especially in the advanced manufacturing industry, is the access to nearby asian countries.

Timezones, close proximity and existing networks make Australia a positive environment.

If you are a global talent in the advanced manufacturing industry, this program might be a suitable way for you to obtain a permanent Australian visa

and work for an established company or establish your own.

Quantum Information/Advance Digital/Data Science and ICT

There is a lot of research taking place in advanced computational systems and the field of “big data”.

There is demand for high level talent with experience and aptitude in the area to make big breakthroughs.

Global talents are sought by universities, government research organisations and private industry to develop and apply quantum information/advance digital/data science and ICT.

Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) (TSS subclass 482 visa)

The GTES is an option for businesses to sponsor highly skilled workers who do not fit neatly into atarget sector. It has been open for applications since 1 July 2018.

We have previously written about this in depth here: https://www.workvisalawyers.com.au/news/all/new-global-talent-visa-as-part-of-tss-482-to-attract-entrepreneurs-to-australia.html

A number of big tech and adjacent industry names are already registered as sponsors for this program (all current agreements are published here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/nominating-a-position/labour-agreements/list-of-current-labour-agreements)

These include:

• Atlassian
• Goldman Sachs
• Canva
• Amazon
• Pfizer

One of the big benefits of this program is the skills which highly skilled individuals can pass on to their colleagues in Australia.

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/high-skilled-visa-scheme-promises-residency-within-weeks-20191102-p536vt

There are two streams for the GTES program:

• Established Business stream
• Startup stream

Supporting Innovation in South Australia (SISA) (subclass 408 visa)

The SISA program is a new stream for the 408 visa and an opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop their new idea in South Australia.

This program has actually been in force since November 2018. We wrote about this soon after its release here: New South Australian Entrepreneur Visa (SISA) Processing Times & Requirements

Success Stories

One success story is Daniel Tan, the founder of Pencil Rocket who has obtained a SISA visa in connection with ecosystem provider Flinders New Venture Institute.

You can read Daniel’s story here: https://www.nviflinders.com.au/daniel-sisa-visa/

Another is Pascal, founder of Jobspottr: https://www.nviflinders.com.au/pascal-sisa-visa/

Sources

• https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/visas-for-innovation
• https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/resources/faq/supporting-innovation-in-south-australia-sisa
• https://www.nviflinders.com.au/daniel-sisa-visa/
• https://migration.sa.gov.au/entrepreneur/eligibility-criteria-and-requirements

This article was written by Luke Edwards

Visit Luke's profile to find out more his expertise.

So, you have decided to invest in Australia. You have a successful business in your country and thinking about starting a business in Australia.
That’s great, you may want to get an Australian Business Visa. The Business Talent (Permanent) Visa Subclass 132 is similar to Subclass 188 – Business Innovation Stream visa and shares a lot of common criteria
with the rest of business skills visas. These visas are great options for the business owners and investors who have had a proven history in successful business ownership and management over an extended period of time.
While you are excited to expand your business and lodge a business visa application you need to avoid making the mistakes that can cause your visa application being refused.
We know a visa refusal can affect your planned visa pathway. Therefore, to assist our clients in having a successful Business Visa application we have done some
research and studied 26 reviewable decisions from The Australian Federal Circuit Court, AAT, and Federal Court. We have Identified 5 Common Mistakes in the visa applications, and how you can avoid them
because we are here to save your Business visa Application.

The top reasons are:
1. PIC 4020 and “Bogus Documents” or “Misleading information”
2. Lack of Ownership in the Nominated Business
3. Insufficient Required Investment Funds
4. Funds Used to Make Investment are Unencumbered and Lawfully Acquired
5. Insufficient Points

1. PIC 4020 and “Bogus Documents” or “misleading information”

This is the Number One mistake that applicants made and as a result their visa application refused.PIC 4020 enables refusal of a visa if an applicant provides a bogus document or information that is false or misleading in relation to their application. 

PIC 4020 requires visa applicants to not give, or cause to give, false or misleading information of a material particular to not just Home Affairs in relation to a visa application, but also to: the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth or a skill assessment authority.

It applies to not only the visa application, but to a visa that an applicant held in the 12 months before the application was made. Should an applicant be refused for failing this PIC for bogus documents or misleading information, they are subject to a 3-year bar (from being granted another visa) for any visa which has this PIC as a criterion.

In most of these cases the question of bogus documents arose about their financial documents such as tax return and the business assets.
On the other hand, there are few cases where the applicant mistakenly provided bogus document or information that is false or misleading.

We agree that the process is one of the most complicated visas, it involves numerous financial reports, evaluation reports, and auditing reports.

The best way to prevent a refusal is to lodge a complete and correct application, and to respond to all requests for further information within timeframes as notified by the Department. Any gaps or inconsistences in information and/or documents provided can result in further scrutiny being applied to your application, and therefore a greater delay and likelihood of your application being refused.

2. Lack of Ownership in the Nominated Business

To demonstrate business experience, the application requires you have experience in owning and actively managing a business in your home country.
Insufficient ownership in the main business is the second reasons for the Department of Home Affair to refuse the business visa application.
In some cases, the applicant did not have the minimum of 30% ownership requirement in the main business.
Even if they had the minimum ownership requirement, it may not have been at least 2 of the 4 fiscal years immediately before the date of invitation to apply for the visa.
To avoid making this mistake in your application make sure you know the requirements and criterial to be eligible for a business visa.

For both the Business Innovation and Investment 188 visa and the 132 Significant Business History Visa, in two of the four fiscal years prior to applying
you must have had an ownership interest in one or more main businesses, which means:

• have maintained direct and continuous management in the business
• have an ownership interest to the total value of at least:
• 51% if the turnover is less than AUD 400 000 or
• 30% if the turnover is AUD 400 000 or more or
• 10% if the business is a publicly listed company
  
  

For the132 Significant Business History Visa there is the additional requirement that: The total net assets of you, your partner, or you and your partner combined, 
must be at least AUD400,000 from the ownership interest in one or more qualifying businesses, gained over at least 2 of the 4 fiscal years immediately before you were invited to apply for this visa.

3. Insufficient Required Investment Funds

You probably think that the applicants in this case did not have required funds and as a result their visa application refused. Well, it’s not as simple as that.
Our research shows the applicants might have enough funds but some could not prove it due to different system of property valuation undertaken in their countries.
For example, in one of the cases the applicant told the Tribunal that in Iran the law provides that only 2% of the total value of the property is required to be recorded on the Title Deeds.
If you live in a country where the system of property valuation is different and as result you cannot prove correct value of your property or assets,
you need to get a legal advice from your lawyer before you lodge an application.

It is critical to remember to support your business visa application you must provide the certificate of title, title deed,
valuation certificate by an accredited property valuer and/or mortgage certificate.
If these certificates cannot show the correct value of your property and assets you cannot have a successful visa application.

4. Funds Used to Make Investment are Unencumbered and Lawfully Acquired

Coming to the fourth reason for Subclass 132 and 188 visa refusal where the Applicants failed to consider the funds being used to make the investment must be unencumbered and lawfully acquired.
Our research shows that the Federal Court and the Tribunal affirmed the decision to refuse the visa application where the source of investment fund is from use of;

• gambling proceeds,
• gifts from unrelated parties, and
• invalid trust

To avoid making this mistake as a business visa applicant you need to make sure that the funds used to finance your designated investment are personally owned and unencumbered and legally accumulated
as a result of your business and/or investment activities. You also need to provide a signed declaration listing the sources of funds for your asset portfolio, and that these funds were lawfully acquired.
Evidence to support your source of funds declaration:

• For business income, provide evidence of business ownership, performance and profit distribution. For example, company registration and shareholder records, financial statements or taxation records
• For investment income, provide evidence of investment activities and performance. For example, statements issued by stocks trading company, property purchase and sale contracts,
  leases or investment product contracts.
• For gifted or inherited assets, provide duly witnessed gift deeds or wills. Also provide other evidence demonstrating how the original owner accumulated the assets
• For a historical accumulation of wealth where official verifiable evidence is no longer available, provide bank records demonstrating continuous ownership of funds over a substantial period.
• For assets held in Australia, provide evidence which links the assets to the declared sources.

Through these investment structures, the investor may hold complying investments in any proportion.
“Eligible investments” for the purposes of the Investor Stream include:

• Ownership interests in a business
• Cash on deposit
• Stocks or bonds
• Real estate
• Gold or bullion
• Loan to a business
  
  

5. Insufficient Points

No matter which visa you wish to apply, points are always important for having a successful application.
The fifth and last common reason for Business Innovation Visa and 188 refusals is not having the required 65 points.

Our research shows that most visa applications were refused because the applicant did not have sufficient points, or did not provide evidence to prove he or she is entitled to more points.

The AAT usually remitted the business visa applications where the applicants provided further documents such as university qualifications or English language ability to receive the required points.

To avoid such an issue with your application, you need to know what the required points are for subclass 132 and 188. As an applicant you need to make sure that you have all the necessary documents to prove your points at the time you make a business visa application.

Well what are the minimum required points for subclass 132 and 188 are 65 points? The factors that can affect your points are:

• Age
• English language ability
• Educational qualifications
• Financial assets
• Business turnover
• Investor experience
• Special endorsement 

The link below will show you how much points you can have for the above factors.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/business-innovation-and-investment-188/points-table

We hope you have found our research of case decisions over the past four years helpful.
And when it comes to considering a Business Visa Application, you keep in mind that bogus documents, lack of ownership in the nominated business,
insufficient required investment funds, funds used to make investment are unencumbered and lawfully acquired and insufficient points
are the most common reasons for Business Visa application refusals. Remembering these pitfalls when preparing your application will put you in the best position for Visa success.

Do you need help with an Australian visa application? At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Partner Visas, Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:
(08) 8351 9956 or +61 8 8351 9956 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Other Useful Blogs and Videos on 132 Visa and 188 Visas

 Introducing Business Visa Compare
8 Things you need to know about Business Migration for Australia (132, 188 & 888 visa)
Video – Your Guide to the Australian Business Talent 132 visa. Straight to Permanent Residency – PR Visa!

List of Cases Reviewed between 2019 – 2015

Akhavannejad (Migration) [2019] AATA 2223 (14 February 2019)
Zhang (Migration) [2019] AATA 1009 (10 January 2019)
Surya (Migration) [2017] AATA 976 (16 June 2017)
SADEGHIAN (Migration) [2019] AATA 3012
Kukadia (Migration) [2019] AATA 4527 (14 August 2019)
HOSSEINIANJEDANI (Migration) [2019] AATA 3511 (17 June 2019)
HOSSEINIANJEDANI (Migration) [2019] AATA 3511 (17 June 2019)
WU (Migration) [2018] AATA 1092 (9 March 2018)
Guo (Migration) [2019] AATA 487 (14 March 2019)
Lovely (Migration) [2019] AATA 5318 (28 November 2019)
Wong & Ors v Minister for Immigration & Anor [2018] FCCA 3490 (29 November 2018)
Chen & Ors v Minister for Immigration [2015] FCCA 1018 (22 April 2015)
Momtaz v Minister for Immigration [2019] FCCA 520 (7 March 2019)
Xie & Anor v Minister for Home Affairs [2019] FCCA 266 (7 February 2019)
Han v Minister for Immigration [2019] FCCA 3558 (11 December 2019)
Zhang v Minister for Immigration & Anor [2017] FCCA 134 (30 January 2017)
Smith (Migration) [2019] AATA 4939
Cai (Migration) [2017] AATA 416 (9 March 2017)
Ding & Ors v Minister for Immigration [2019] FCCA 160
Zhang (Migration) [2017] AATA 1662 (5 September 2017)
1404069 [2015] MRTA 781 (19 May 2015)
1408380 [2015] MRTA 459 (24 March 2015)
1413159 [2015] MRTA 537 (8 April 2015)
W0600780 [2007] MRTA 480 (7 September 2007)
1508766 (Migration) [2016] AATA 3715 (11 April 2016)
HOSSEINIANJEDANI (Migration) [2019] AATA 3511
Kukadia (Migration) [2019] AATA 4527 (14 August 2019)
Momtaz v Minister for Immigration [2019] FCCA 520 (7 March 2019)
Zhang v Minister for Immigration & Anor [2017] FCCA 134 (30 January 2017)
HOSSEINIANJEDANI (Migration) [2019] AATA 3511
HOSSEINIANJEDANI (Migration) [2019] AATA 3511
Zhang (Migration) [2019] AATA 1009 (10 January 2019)
Zhang v Buljan [2016] FCCA 2426 (15 September 2016)
Cai (Migration) [2017] AATA 416 (9 March 2017)

Click here to view the full table of case decisions.
This information is accurate on 9th January 2020.

In this video, we show you how easy it is to use Business Visa Compare to explore your Australian business visa options.

Work Visa Lawyers was pleased to attend the recent Regional Showcase held in Murray Bridge, organised by Immigration SA and The Australia China Business Council (ACBC).

Work Visa Lawyers launched a new online tool to help you explore your Australian Business Visa options.