Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange Pilot
As part of the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA) the Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange Pilot (IECSEP) provides new opportunities for UK citizens to work in Australia.
The IECSEP aims to build on the existing connections between Australia and the UK, by establishing a new and streamlined mobility pathway for early career professionals and demonstrated innovators from the UK.
Under the IECSEP, there are two categories available for UK citizens:
- the Early Careers Skills stream, which will allow participants to undertake a short-term placement, secondment, or intra-corporate transfer for up to one year in Australia in a position relevant to their field of work in the sending organisation
- the Innovation stream, which will allow participants with a demonstrated contribution to innovation to undertake opportunities for up to three years in Australia.
Total visas available under the IECSEP will be 1,000 in the first year, and 2,000 in the second year of operation, during which the program will be reviewed.
Early Careers Skills Stream
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for the program, applicants must be:
- UK citizens aged between 21 and 45 of age at the time of application
- hold tertiary qualifications
- have worked for a minimum of three months in the sending organisation (including as graduate trainees).
Innovation Stream
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for the program, applicants must behighly experienced and skilled UK citizens in all sectors with a demonstrated contribution to innovation in areas such as:
- Research and Development
- Renewable Energy
- Artificial Intelligence
- Medical Technology
- FinTech
- AgriTech
- Audio-visual and Cultural industries
How can I apply?
For both categories, applicants must:
- have a letter of offer or contract of employment
- provide other supporting documentation as required
Successful applicants will need to apply to the Australian Department of Home Affairs for a Temporary work (International relations) visa (subclass 403). The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will issue successful applicants with a Letter of Support, which must be presented to the Department of Home Affairs at the time of application.
Applications are currently not being taken for the IECSEP. Further updates regarding the timing of upcoming application rounds will be advised here. Please ensure you monitor this page regularly.
How can Australian employers and businesses benefit?
The IECSEP recognises the importance of innovation and skills mobility to the economies of Australia and the United Kingdom. The IECSEP will provide Australian employers with an opportunity to access innovative and early-career professionals from the UK, through the pilot of a new and streamlined temporary mobility pathway from the UK to Australia.
The Innovation stream will provide a unique opportunity for highly experienced and skilled UK innovators to work in Australian organisations for up to three years, including through intra-corporate transfers.
The Early Careers stream will give Australian organisations the opportunity to participate in 12-month secondments, placements, or intra-corporate transfers of tertiary qualified UK professionals who are early in their career.
The IECSEP will open for applications after the A-UKFTA enters into force. If the IECSEP sounds right for your organisation now, talk about possible staffing opportunities under the IECSEP with your UK partners, or with suitably qualified potential applicants in the UK. Applicants will need to be ready to provide DFAT with a letter of employment offer, or a contract of employment from an Australian employer, at the time of application.
Further updates regarding the timing of upcoming IECSEP application rounds and application processing requirements will be advised here. Please ensure you monitor this page regularly.
Contact us
For further information, please email aukfta.iecsep@dfat.gov.au.
Useful resources
Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) visa (homeaffairs.gov.au)
Australia-UK FTA Official Text