Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES)

The Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) program lets approved Australian employers sponsor highly skilled, niche overseas workers for roles that cannot be filled by Australians or via standard visa pathways. It provides flexible concessions, priority processing, and a PR pathway via the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, with streams for Established Businesses and Startups.

Overview

The GTES program is designed to bring globally mobile, highly specialised talent to Australia where their expertise will act as job multipliers—creating new roles for Australians and transferring skills into local teams. Employers must first show that the position cannot be filled through existing skilled visa programs (particularly the SID visa’s standard streams). Once a GTES agreement is approved, the employer can sponsor candidates for a SID visa with tailored concessions and faster processing.

Key features include:

Access to niche roles beyond the standard SID occupation lists.
Two streams:
- Established Business: up to 20 positions per year, streamlined agreements, 4-year SID visas, pathway to PR after 2 years, possible age concessions, and 180 days for visa holders to find a new sponsor if employment ceases.
- Startup: for tech/STEM startups endorsed by the independent GTES startup advisory panel; up to 5 positions per year; similar flexibility, 4-year SID visas, and PR pathway after 2 years.
Higher earning thresholds than standard SID streams.
Ability to negotiate variations on SID criteria (e.g., age for PR pathway).
Priority processing of GTES agreements.

Employers must:

Obtain GTES access by demonstrating unfilled demand and benefits to Australians (job creation, skills transfer).
Meet sponsorship obligations and maintain accredited sponsor status if applicable.
Show ongoing realisation of benefits (e.g., training plans, local hiring outcomes) over the agreement period.

Outcome:
Approved GTES employers can sponsor top global experts on 4-year SID visas with a transition to permanent residence after 2 years, helping Australian businesses innovate and scale while ensuring opportunities and capability are built for Australian workers.