Sydney
Australia Global Talent Visa Program
Australia has attracted high-net worth investors for a number of years due to its stable economy, pleasant climate, highly developed infrastructure, and excellent education and healthcare systems. Australia has the world’s 9th largest immigrant population, with immigrants accounting for 26% of the population. In 2018, Australia overtook Switzerland to become the country with the highest average wealth.
Australia
Global Talent Visa Program
Australia offers a world-class business environment, with transparent policies to conduct trade and services. The country has a 25-year growth record and has been ranked among the top five countries in the world for economic freedom. Australia was the only advanced economy not to experience a recession due to the global financial downturn of 2008 and 2009.
The Global Talent Visa Program, also known as the Global Talent Independent Program, aims to attract top talent in certain critical sectors. It is designed to help Australia compete with countries such as Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. for the world’s best and brightest. 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.
Australia Crypto Environment
Australia is one of the best countries when it comes to cryptocurrencies and the business opportunities that come with them. So it’s no surprise that many Australian startups are at the forefront of blockchain development. In recent years, there has been active participation from both the government and the private sector.
Many influential on-chain analysts like Checkmate and Willy Woo also call Australia home.
Country Overview
Program Overview
Location
Pacific
Population
25.5 million
Currency
Australian Dollar
Language
English
Capital
Canberra
Program Overview
Legal Status
Permanent resident
Mobility
EU (90 days in 180 days),
U.S. (90 days)
Timeline
2 months
Min. Investment
N/A
Physical Presence
2 years with a 5-year period
Factsheet Download
Download our free factsheet with more detailed information about this program.
Who Can Qualify?
Requirements
Applicants must be able to attract a salary equivalent to the fair work high income threshold, currently set at $153,600 AUD. Or they could have completed their Ph.D. in the past three years (or nearing completion of their thesis with an expected submission date of six months or less) in one of the following fields:
- Resources
- Agri-food and agtech
- Energy
- Health industries
- Defense, advanced manufacturing and space
- Circular economy
- Digitech
- Infrastructure and tourism
- Financial services and fintech
- Education
It also requires the applicant to still be prominent in the area, be an asset to the Australian community, demonstrate that they would have no difficulty in obtaining employment (or being established independently) in the area, and be nominated by either an Australian individual or organization with a national reputation in the area.
Benefits
Contrary to the Australian Investor Stream, the Global Talent Visa Program does not require capital outlay and directly provides permanent residency in Australia. Once permanent residency is established, there are no employment conditions to fulfill. You simply need to spend two years of five in Australia to maintain your permanent resident status in the country. After four years, you are eligible to apply for Australian citizenship. The Australian passport is one of the best in the world and provides visa-free travel to the Schengen Area, the U.S., Singapore and many more destinations.
Family
The principal applicant can include his or her spouse and unmarried children under the age of 18. There are specific requirements for children over the age of 18 to demonstrate dependency, while children 23 years and older cannot be included except in very limited circumstances.
Requirements
The main requirement for the Australia Global Talent Visa Program is to fit into the required profile. Once this is achieved, you will need to have a recognized organization or individual in Australia nominate you in your field. The remaining requirements are standard to most other resident visas in Australia. They are:
- Provide documentation about your recognition in your field
- Provide a police certificate
- Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself
Australia Global Talent Visa Application Process
The Australia Global Talent Visa Program application process takes two months for a decision. An applicant must first make an “expression of interest” to the Department of Home Affairs. The department will then select the candidate from a pool of applicants. The time spent getting nominated could delay the process.
Day 0
- Verify eligibility
- Start client onboarding process with Global RCG.
- Global RCG helps you gather the required documents.
Day 1
Month 2
Month 3
Year 5
Year 5
Mobility
Taxation
Australia is one of the nations listed in the U.S. visa-waiver program. In effect, this means Australian citizens can visit America for 90 days without applying for a tourist visa. Australia also has E-1 and E-2 treaty agreements with the U.S. These are nonimmigrant visas that allow Australians to set up a business in the U.S.
Access to the US
Australia’s tax system is one of the most investor-friendly in the Western world. Australia has signed a tax treaty with the U.S., reducing the exposure to double taxation for Americans living in Australia.
Dividends earned in Australia are taxed at 50% of the individual tax rate. Foreign income is taxed at a regular income tax rate and can lead to additional tax exposure for Americans. Under the Australia Investor Visa, you will need to be a tax resident for two years out of the four to be granted permanent residency. If you are planning to become a tax resident in Australia, you should consult a professional tax planner beforehand.
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