What was Australia's Global Talent Independent (GTI) program?
Australia’s “Global Talent – Independent program” was a priority program for migrants at the top of their profession, not a separate visa, according to the archived Home Affairs page captured on 18 August 2019 and the 2021 Measures No. 1 Explanatory Statement.
Its page was dated 28 June 2019; The Administration of the Immigration Program, 6th edition recorded commencement in July 2019. The Minister’s joint launch release of 4 November 2019 announced its final settings.
The first Home Affairs page named Distinguished Talent subclasses 124 and 858 and the Skilled Independent 189 points-tested stream; 858 became the main vehicle. The page captured on 25 November 2020 used “Global Talent Visa Program, also known as the Global Talent Independent Program”. From 2021, Home Affairs distinguished the Global Talent pathway—priority sectors after an EOI—from the Distinguished Talent pathway—other sectors without an EOI. Migration Program reports used “Global Talent Independent” for priority applications.
The old GTI address now leads to Home Affairs’ National Innovation Visa program page. For the visa’s closure and holder implications, read is the Global Talent visa (Australia) still available.
GTI referrals and unique identifiers: what the Australian records show
Referral, 2019: Home Affairs’ GTI page captured on 9 December 2019 described referrals by officers or nationally reputable organisations or individuals in the field. The Global Talent Contact Form, captured on 27 September 2019, referred to an identifier emailed by the Department.
Self-lodged EOI, late 2019: FOI FA 20/10/01156 recorded the switch to candidates lodging their own EOIs. Home Affairs’ application page captured on 14 September 2020 said officer contact was unnecessary.
EOI checks, 2021: The Global Talent Visa Program FAQ listed international recognition, outstanding achievement in a target sector, prominence, benefit to Australia, employability or establishment, earning capacity against the high income threshold, and an eligible nominator. An officer could not nominate.
Graduates: FOI FA 20/10/01156 recorded encouragement of recent PhDs and high-scoring Honours or Masters graduates in 2020. The 2021 FAQ ended qualification-only invitations for Masters and Honours graduates from 20 January 2021; PhDs needed a priority-sector degree within three years and recognised exceptional talent.
Identifier, then code: Home Affairs’ page captured on 10 June 2020 described priority processing through an identifier. The 2021 FAQ required a code for the Global Talent pathway from 16 December 2020, valid for 12 months and one use.
Officers: The launch release listed Berlin, Washington DC, Singapore, Shanghai, Santiago and Dubai, with New Delhi added on 4 November 2019. Archived Home Affairs pages recorded work from Australia during COVID-19; by 2022, locations were Australia, London, San Francisco, Singapore, Taipei and Washington DC. The page captured on 11 March 2023 said individual support had ended by its 30 January update; the exact cessation date remains unclear.
Late rules: Home Affairs’ application page captured on 29 September 2023 said an EOI was not a pre-assessment. Its eligibility page captured on 4 November 2024 said EOIs were usually assessed in receipt order, and success did not establish visa eligibility.
GTI places and grants in Australia, 2019-20 to 2024-25
Home Affairs’ planning pages and Reports on the Migration Program 2019–20 to 2024–25 recorded these figures:
| Program year | Planning level | Outcome (places) | Lodgements | Grant rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | 5,000; plus 200 Distinguished Talent | 4,109 | 6,417 | 99.5% |
| 2020–21 | 15,000 | 9,584 | 9,582 | Not in the source table |
| 2021–22 | 15,000 | 8,776 | 8,698 | 99.0% |
| 2022–23 | 8,448; revised to 5,000 in the 25 October 2022 Budget | 5,000 | 7,159 | 99.5% |
| 2023–24 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 6,228 | 98.6% |
| 2024–25 | 4,000; final Global Talent year | 4,000 | 2,331 | 98.2% |
The 2024–25 report included National Innovation visa outcomes from 6 December 2024, not separately reported. Outcomes included primary and secondary applicants. Places by location were 3,344 in Australia and 765 outside in 2019–20, versus 834 and 3,166 in 2024–25.
The Administration of the Immigration Program, 6th edition reported that, of 5,002 assessed 2019–20 EOIs by 31 January 2021, 2,999 (60%) were invited and 2,003 (40%) were not. Migration Program reports recorded visa refusal rates of 0.5%, 0.6% and about 1% for 2019–20, 2020–21 and 2021–22 respectively.
Department papers gave conflicting 2020–21 EOI figures: 70% invited to 31 January 2021, 57.2% not invited across the year, and 41.3% successful in the following report. These differing periods and figures do not support one definitive annual rate.
Is an old GTI EOI or unique identifier still valid for the 858?
No, on the Migration Regulations 1994 as they stand. No Home Affairs statement specifically resolving old identifiers’ status since 6 December 2024 has been identified in the checked sources.
If you hold only a GTI EOI, identifier or invitation code: the 2024 Explanatory Statement and Regulations distinguish administrative Global Talent priority from today’s written Ministerial invitation. With Global Talent closed to new applications, those old records have no remaining use for making a new application.
If you are filling in the new EOI: Home Affairs’ National Innovation visa EOI form, updated 30 September 2026, asks “Have you previously submitted a National Innovation EOI?”, not about Global Talent EOIs.
If you lodged a Global Talent application before 6 December 2024: the Regulations preserve its applicable law, as explained below.
Home Affairs’ final GTI page, updated 29 November 2024 and captured on 3 December 2024, stopped new EOIs but allowed unanswered-EOI candidates to apply before the change if eligible. It directed candidates towards a new National Innovation EOI when available—not an automatic transfer.
GTI target sectors and the 858 priority sectors today
| Period | Direction | Sectors |
|---|---|---|
| 4 November 2019–16 December 2020 | No. 85 | Seven: AgTech; Space and Advanced Manufacturing; FinTech; Energy and Mining Technology; MedTech; Cyber Security; Quantum Information, Advanced Digital, Data Science and ICT |
| 17 December 2020–5 December 2024 | No. 89 | Ten: Resources; Agri-food and AgTech; Energy; Health Industries; Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space; Circular Economy; DigiTech; Infrastructure and Tourism; Financial Services and FinTech; Education |
| 6 December 2024–24 July 2026 | No. 112 | Its text is unavailable in the checked sources. Home Affairs’ July–September 2025 invitation data used today’s nine sector names. |
| From 25 July 2026 | No. 120 | Tier 1: critical technologies; renewables and low emission technologies; health industries. Tier 2: agri-food and AgTech; defence capabilities and space; education; financial services and FinTech; infrastructure and transport; resources. |
Direction 85 and the 2020–21 Migration Program Report establish the historical lists; Direction 120 establishes today’s tiers. The 2021 Global Talent FAQ said old-sector EOIs moved automatically to the ten sectors. Home Affairs’ eligibility page captured on 4 November 2024 called those ten “the Minister’s defined sectors”.
For current definitions and invitation counts, see the 858 visa priority sectors.
GTI applications lodged before 6 December 2024
A GTI-related visa application lodged before 6 December 2024 is decided under the Global Talent or Distinguished Talent law in force when made, under Migration Regulations 1994 Schedule 13 clause 14201(1).
Direction 120 now sets processing order for applications not finally determined. Home Affairs’ planning page says existing applicants are not adversely affected; its 2024–25 Migration Program Report recorded 3,229 Global Talent category applications on hand at 30 June 2025.
Home Affairs’ processing-time tool still labels the legacy stream “Distinguished Talent / Global Talent (Independent)”. Its National Innovation entry also carries a note tying the figures to Global Talent applications lodged before 6 December 2024. Read the caveat alongside 858 processing time.
Frequently asked questions
What is a GTI visa in Australia?
It was a priority program, not a visa. The 2021 Explanatory Statement and Home Affairs’ records show that it used existing visas from 2019–20 and ended with Global Talent’s closure on 6 December 2024.
Who qualified for the GTI program?
Home Affairs’ eligibility page captured on 4 November 2024 required high skill in a defined sector and earnings, or likely earnings, at the high income threshold. Its 2021 FAQ also required internationally recognised achievement. Today, the Migration Regulations’ 858 criteria apply.
Was there a “Global Talent Taskforce”?
The September 2020 government announcement named the Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce. No official body with the shorter name was identified in the checked government sources.
How long was a GTI invitation valid?
The 2021 Global Talent FAQ gave 12 months and one use. Home Affairs’ current National Innovation after-submission page gives 60 days, not extendable.
Can a Global Talent Officer still help with an 858?
No through the former GTI service: Home Affairs’ page captured on 11 March 2023 said individual support had ended by 30 January 2023, before the program closed.
From GTI to the National Innovation visa EOI
Check the criterion: Migration Regulations 1994 clause 858.212 requires an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement; the 2024 Explanatory Statement confirms the core assessment criteria carried over unchanged.
Lodge a new EOI: use Home Affairs’ online form. Its submission page says information and documents cannot be added afterwards. Review the fields and file limits for the National Innovation visa EOI before submitting.
Line up a nominator while waiting: Home Affairs’ after-submission page recommends this; government-agency nominations require nomination evidence at EOI stage.
If invited, apply within 60 days: Home Affairs’ after-submission page sets that deadline. Migration Regulations clause 858.212(3) requires proof of the area and achievements named in the invitation.
The remaining stages of the 858 visa are explained in the main guide.
If you hold a GTI identifier or an unanswered Global Talent EOI, ask an Australian migration lawyer to prepare a fresh National Innovation EOI and check the 60-day application deadline if invited.
Considering a review of your next step? The site enquiry form accepts questions addressed to Australian Migration Lawyers. A reference appears only after the email send is accepted and its status recorded.