The Global Talent Independent (GTI) program is a streamlined visa pathway aimed at attracting the world’s best and brightest migrants and high-income earners at the top of their field to work and live in Australia permanently. Touted as the fastest way to permanent residency, GTI applicants jump the administrative queues of the standard visa program to secure PR despite the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Aimed to headhunt highly skilled technologists, the GTI scheme was launched in November last year to combat competition from other popular global destinations (the US, UK and Canada) for skilled migrants.

With the expected processing time set from two days to two months, the GTI pathway is attracting highly skilled migrants working in one of the seven designated ‘future-focused’ sectors: agtech, medtech, fintech, energy and mining technology, cybersecurity and data science.

To be eligible, the applicants must demonstrate the potential to earn a salary at or above the income threshold of $153,600 per year and have their application supported by a nominator of national reputation in the same field.

With no age or English criteria or a formal skills assessment requirement, the decision is solely left up to the discretion of the immigration case officer, one in which is being made within weeks of lodgement.