Distinguished Talent Visa (Subclass 124)

Current Program	Future Changes
Distinguished Talent Visa (Subclass 124) – Offshore	National Innovation Visa (replacing current Global Talent visa from late 2024)
Distinguished Talent Visa (Subclass 858) – Onshore	New visa to target exceptionally talented migrants who will drive growth in sectors of national importance

Visa Overview

The Distinguished Talent Visa (subclass 124) is a permanent visa for people who have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in an eligible field. This visa is for applicants who are outside Australia when the visa is granted.

Related:

• Global Talent Independent program (GTI)
• Distinguished Talent Visa (Subclass 858) – for applicants in Australia
• Australian Computer Society Nominates for Global Talent Visa
• Global Talent visa invitation numbers by nationality

Key Requirements Summary

Requirement	Details
Location at Grant	Must be outside Australia (if in Australia, see SC858)
Age	Any age (exceptional benefit required if under 18 or over 55)
English	Functional English or pay second instalment
Nomination	Required from eligible Australian nominator
Visa Type	Permanent
Cost	AUD 4,110

Distinguished Talent Visa Requirements

Meeting the requirements for a Distinguished Talent Visa is a high test. You must:

Requirement	Details
International Recognition	Have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in your profession
Current Prominence	Be still prominent in the area
Benefit to Australia	Would be an asset to the Australian community
Employment/Establishment	Have no difficulty getting employment, or in becoming established independently in your field in Australia

Eligible Fields

You must have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in one of the following areas (and still be prominent in the area):

Field	Examples
Profession	Any recognised profession
Sport	Elite sports, coaching, sports administration
The Arts	Visual arts, performing arts, creative arts
Academia and Research	Research, teaching, academic leadership

Nominator Requirements

You must be nominated by an eligible Australian nominator:

Eligible Nominators

Nominator Type	Requirements
Australian citizen	Must have national reputation in your field
Australian permanent resident	Must have national reputation in your field
Eligible New Zealand citizen	Must have national reputation in your field
Australian organisation	Must have national reputation in your field

Nominator Reputation Requirements

Requirement	Details
National Reputation	Must have a national reputation in your field
Highly Regarded	Must be highly regarded throughout Australia

Note: A reputation in one state or region would not be considered ‘national’.

Age Requirements

Age Group	Requirement
Any age	You can be any age to apply for this visa
Under 18 years	Must be of exceptional benefit to the Australian community
55 years or older	Must be of exceptional benefit to the Australian community

English Requirements

English Level	Requirement
Functional English	All applicants must have functional English
Alternative	If you do not have functional English, you will need to pay an extra charge (second instalment) to be granted this visa

Evidence Requirements

Record of Achievement Evidence

You need to show your record of achievement through:

Evidence Type	Details
Qualifications and Awards	Relevant qualifications and awards, including those received from internationally recognised institutions
Advice from Bodies	Advice from government, professional, scientific, cultural, sporting or other relevant bodies in Australia
Nominator Statement	A statement by the nominator supporting your record of achievement
Exceptional Benefit Evidence	If you are younger than 18 or older than 55 years of age: evidence that you would be of exceptional benefit to the Australian community

Employment/Establishment Evidence

You must demonstrate why you would have no difficulty in obtaining employment, or how you expect to support yourself, in Australia within your area of achievement.

Important: Income from employment which is not related to the area of achievement cannot satisfy the requirements of the visa, even if this only comprises part of your overall income.

Visa Cost

Cost Type	Amount
Government Fee	AUD 4,110
Second Instalment	Applicable if functional English not demonstrated

What You Can Do With This Visa

The Distinguished Talent Visa is a permanent residence visa. It allows you and your family to:

Benefit	Details
Live	Live indefinitely in Australia
Work	Work in Australia
Study	Study in Australia
Travel	Travel to and from Australia for 5 years (after that time you will require a Resident Return visa)
Medicare	Enrol in the Australian government’s medical fund, Medicare
Citizenship	Apply for Australian citizenship
Sponsor Family	Sponsor eligible relatives for residency in Australia

Alternative Visa Options

Other visas that may suit your needs:

Visa Type	Purpose
Entertainment Visas	For performers, entertainers, crew
Visiting Academic Visas	For academics visiting Australian institutions
Religious Worker Visas	For religious workers and ministers
Sports Visas	For athletes, coaches, sports officials

Summary

Aspect	Detail
Visa Type	Permanent
Subclass	124 (Offshore)
Alternative	858 (Onshore)
Age Limit	None (exceptional benefit if under 18 or over 55)
English	Functional (or pay second instalment)
Nomination	Required from Australian with national reputation
Fields	Profession, Sport, Arts, Academia/Research
Location at Grant	Must be outside Australia
Cost	AUD 4,110
Travel Facility	5 years

Book a meeting today for a commitment-free briefing with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to determine your eligibility for the Distinguished Talent Visa.