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Distinguished Talent Visa Subclass 124: What this Distinguished Talent visa lets you do
This is a permanent residence visa. It lets you and any family members who have also been granted this Distinguished Talent visa:
You need a valid passport or other travel document for this Distinguished Talent visa. If you plan to get a new passport, you should do so before applying for your visa. If you get a new passport after you have lodged your application, give the details of your new passport to one of the department of immigration and border protection.
The visa application charges are listed in Fees and charges.
You must pay a second instalment of the visa application charge for each applicant who:
The department of immigration and border protection will tell you when to pay the second instalment. You must pay it for the department of immigration and border protection to grant this Distinguished Talent visa.
How can I prove I have functional English explains how you can demonstrate your language ability
You might have to pay other costs, such as the costs of health assessments, police certificates, or any other certificates or tests. You are responsible for making the necessary arrangements.
You could get this Distinguished Talent visa if you:
If you are younger than 18 or at least 55 years of age when you apply, you must be of exceptional benefit to the Australian community.
You need to demonstrate extraordinary and remarkable abilities, be superior to others in your field and have a record of sustained achievement that is unlikely to diminish in the future.
Your achievements need to be acclaimed as exceptional in any country where the relevant field is practised. The field would also need to have recognition and acceptance in Australia as well as international standing.
You must demonstrate current prominence in your field.
You need to show that you would be of benefit to the Australian community, economically, socially or culturally, or by raising Australia’s sporting, artistic or academic standing internationally. This means your settlement would contribute to the nation as a whole – not just a local community.
You must be nominated by an eligible person or organisation with a national reputation in your field. They must also be highly regarded throughout Australia. A reputation confined to one state or region would not be considered national.
An eligible person or organisation can include:
You should have at least functional English.
Applicants and dependants (18 years and older) who cannot provide evidence of having at least functional English must pay a second instalment of the visa application charge.
How can I prove I have functional English? explains how you can demonstrate your language ability.
You must meet certain health requirements. The results of your health examinations are generally valid for 12 months.
This applies to all members of your family unit included in your application, whether they are migrating or not.
You are able to organise your health examinations upfront before lodging a visa application.
You must meet certain character requirements. You must be prepared to provide a police certificate from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age. Do not arrange for police certificates until the department of immigration and border protection ask you to.
This also applies to all members of the family unit included your application who are 16 years of age or older, whether they are migrating or not.
You must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government before this Distinguished Talent visa can be granted.
This also applies to all members of the family unit listed in your application whether they are migrating or not.
You might be asked to provide biometrics (a scientific form of identification) as part of the application. Countries and visa subclasses included in the biometrics program has more information.
You can include the following people in your visa application at the time of lodgement:
If you are under 18 years old, you can also include:
After you have applied for this Distinguished Talent visa but before a decision is made, members of the family unit can be added to your application.
For detailed information regarding who you can include in your application see including family members in your application.
The application must include documentary evidence of their relationship to you.
Members of your family unit must be able to show that they meet health and character requirements.
This information explains what you need to do to apply for a Distinguished Talent (subclass 124) visa.
You and anyone included in your application must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
You need to provide documents to prove the claims you make in the application. The documents are listed in the Document checklist.
Some documents could take some time to obtain. You should have them ready when you lodge the application to reduce any delays in processing.
You must complete:
Your nominator must complete:
For each of your dependent relatives, whether they are migrating or not, you must complete:
You need to provide all relevant documents and pay the visa application charge when you apply.
Lodge your application at the department of immigration and border protection Adelaide office in South Australia.
Please refer to preparing your application, for information on:
After you have lodged your application and documents, the department of immigration and border protection will acknowledge that they have received your information.
Your application could take longer if you need character or health checks (including x-rays), if you need to provide more information, or if your application is incomplete.
If you apply for this Distinguished Talent visa from outside Australia, do not make arrangements to travel to Australia until you are advised in writing that you have been granted a visa. Wait for a decision from the department of immigration and border protection before you leave your job, sell your home or book your travel.
You can provide more information to the department of immigration and border protection, at any time until a decision is made on the application. If you want to correct information you provided, use:
The department of immigration and border protection could also ask you for more information. You will have to respond by a set date. After that date, they can make a decision about your application using the information that they have.
If another person gives the department of immigration and border protection information that could result in you being refused a visa, the department of immigration and border protection will usually give you the opportunity to comment on the information.
You might also be interviewed. If you are asked to attend an interview in person, bring your passport or other identification and any requested documents to the interview.
You must tell the department of immigration and border protection if your circumstances change. This includes a new residential address, a new passport, or a pregnancy, birth, divorce, separation, marriage, de facto relationship or death in your family.
Please report changes in your circumstances via ImmiAccount. If you are not able to use ImmiAccount, you can use the following forms:
If you do not provide the department of immigration and border protection with the details of any new passport issued to you, you could experience significant delays at the airport and may be denied permission to board your plane.
​You can withdraw the application at any time before the department of immigration and border protection make a decision about it. To do this, send the department of immigration and border protection a letter or email to ask for the withdrawal. Your request must include your full name and date of birth. You should also include your file reference number, client ID, or a Transaction Reference Number.
​​​All applicants 18 years of age or older, wishing to withdraw, must sign the request for withdrawal. ​​​​​​
If the visa is granted, the department of immigration and border protection will let you know:
If the visa is refused, the department of immigration and border protection will send you a letter or email stating why it was refused.
You need to provide documents to support your application for this Distinguished Talent visa. The department of immigration and border protection can make a decision using the information you provide when you lodge your application. It is in your interest to provide as much information as possible with your application.
Provide certified copies of original documents. Do not include original documents unless the department of immigration and border protection specifically ask for them. Police certificates should be original documents. Documents not in English must be accompanied by accredited English translations.
Use this checklist to make sure your application is complete.
Provide the original certificates and keep a copy for yourself.
You should have at least functional English.
Applicants and dependants (18 years and older) who cannot provide evidence of having at least functional English must pay a second instalment of the visa application charge. If they have less than functional English, provide a statement indicating your intention to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge.
To prove you have functional English you must provide evidence of one of the following:
Evidence that you are still prominent in a profession, the arts, a sport or research and academia
If you are claiming a distinguished talent in a particular area, but have not been active in that area for more than two years, you would not be regarded as retaining prominence in that area.
Evidence includes:
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. 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.
Evidence includes:
This is a permanent residence visa. It lets you and any member of your family unit who has also been granted this Distinguished Talent visa:
There could be other qualifying criteria if you want to represent Australia in an international event.
Your obligations
You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
It is also expected that you will contribute to Australia in your field of expertise.
You must tell the department of immigration and border protection if your circumstances change. This includes a new residential address, a new passport, or a pregnancy, birth, divorce, separation, marriage, de facto relationship or death in your family.
Please report changes in your circumstances via ImmiAccount. If you are not able to use ImmiAccount, you can use the following forms:
If you do not provide the department of immigration and border protection with the details of any new passport issued to you, you could experience significant delays at the airport and may be denied permission to board your plane.
To nominate someone for this Distinguished Talent visa you must:
If you are an eligible New Zealand citizen, you must have met health and character checks at the time of your last entry to Australia.
To nominate someone you must complete:
The visa applicant must include this form, along with your supporting documents, when they lodge their application.
Document checklist for nominators
You need to provide documents to support your application to nominate someone for this Distinguished Talent visa. The department of immigration and border protection could ask you for more information, but they can make a decision using the information you provide when you lodge the application. It is in your interest to provide as much information as possible with your application.
You must provide certified copies of original documents. Do not include original documents unless the department of immigration and border protection specifically ask for them. Documents not in English must be accompanied by accredited English translations.
Use this checklist to make sure your nomination is complete.
Source: The Australian Department of Home Affairs (www.homeaffairs.gov.au). Please visit www.border.gov.au to get updated information.
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