Changes To The Global Talent Visa Program

The Global Talent Visa Program is a smooth visa pathway that allows highly talented professionals to work and live in Australia permanently. Here are the changes made to the Global Talent Visa programs are listed below. 

Repeal of the subclass 124 visa 

Subclass 124 visa is for those applying from outside Australia and a Global talent visa 858 is for those applying from within Australia. The subclass 124 visa was abolished on November 14, 2020, and the subclass 858 was updated in 2021, allowing candidates to apply from any place. This update streamlines the application procedure and guarantees that applicants do not apply for the incorrect visa category. It is also a lifesaver for applicants who have been separated from their families due to the pandemic. It makes no difference where your family members are in the world, and you can all apply for a visa simultaneously.

The global talent stream

This stream was created in November 2019, but it has been the darling of the migration programme after the pandemic reached Australia. The government tripled the number of places available by this point, from 5,000 in 2019-2020 to 15,000 in 2020-2021. The Global Talent Stream is for highly talented professionals and PhD graduates who have achieved international recognition in one of the government's ten future-focused fields.

Eligibility

Your current pay must be at least AUD 158,500 per year (as of July 1 2021), or

Future employment offers to specify your remuneration must display a salary of at least AUD 158,500 (as of July 1 2021), or 

You must be a high-performing recent PhD holder in one of the target sectors.

Loading of 858 visas from a larger pool of visas

The Bridging Visas A, B, and C all allow holders to apply in Australia, unlike the old subclass 858 visas. It also removes a restriction that prevents visa holders from applying for the 858 visas if they have one of the following visas:

• Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
• Subclass 600 includes both sponsored and unsponsored visitors.
• Tourist
• Subclass 400 (Temporary work and short stay specialist visa)
• Subclass 456 business (Short stay)
• Maritime Crew (Temporary)
• Superyacht Crew (Temporary)
• Special purpose visa

This amendment aligns the subclass 858 visa with most other skilled migration visas, removing eligibility barriers for potential candidates.

Changing the criteria for health

The health basis for the subclass 858 visa has been changed from Public Interest Criteria (PIC) 4005 to PIC4007. This is significant since the old system, PIC4005, prevents applicants from being given a visa if:

• The health care and community services they require are expensive. A considerable cost is now estimated throughout their lifetime or
• They would discriminate against Australians seeking health care or other community services.

Under PIC4005, these requirements are not waived, which means that if you or a member of your family does not match one of the above criteria, none of your family members will be given a subclass 858 visa. The inclusion in the subclass 858 visa indicates that the Department of Home Affairs views applicants for this visa as job creators who will be able to cover a large portion of any future medical bills they or their family members may face.

Closing thoughts

The changes mentioned above are extremely beneficial for people seeking clearance to apply for a subclass 858 visa through the Global talent visa Australia Program. They cut red tape, shorten wait periods, and increased eligibility for candidates with medical issues.