Are you a skilled professional from the UK looking to explore new career horizons Down Under? The Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange Pilot (IECSEP) might just be the opportunity you've been waiting for! As part of the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement, IECSEP opens doors for early-career enthusiasts and innovative minds to embark on temporary work experiences in Australia. With two distinct streams offering placements ranging from 12 months to 3 years, this initiative promises to be a game-changer in fostering bilateral professional exchanges.

As part of the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement, IECSEP is providing new opportunities for skilled UK citizens who are early in their career, or who have made demonstrated contributions to innovation, to take their next career step in Australia. IECSEP is a two-year pilot initiative offering 1000 visas in 2023-24, and 2000 visas in 2024-25.

There are two streams under IECSEP:

• Stay in Australia for up to 12 months under the Early Career stream.
• Stay in Australia for up to 3 years under the Innovation stream.
  
  

The Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange Pilot (IECSEP) is a new visa opportunity, providing a streamlined pathway for UK citizens to temporarily work in Australia. IECSEP is a key outcome under the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement.

Through IECSEP, you can undertake a short-term placement or secondment in Australia, or you can move into a new role. IECSEP also supports intra-corporate transfers and graduate rotations, providing a streamlined pathway for UK firms to temporarily locate key personnel in Australia.

The Early Careers stream offers the opportunity to work in Australia for up to 12 months, while the Innovation stream provides the opportunity to work in Australia for up to 3 years.

Under the Early Careers stream:

• applicants must be aged between 21 and 45 years (inclusive) at the time of application;
• applicants must have recognised tertiary qualifications;
• applicants must have worked for a minimum of three months in their current organisation, and their prospective role in Australia must be relevant to the applicants’ current field of work; and
• the applicant’s prospective role in Australia must be in an occupation defined at the ANZSCO1 Skill Levels 1-3. 1 Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (see abs.gov.au)
  
  

Under the Innovation stream:

• applicants must have a demonstrated contribution to innovation;
• applicants must be highly skilled;
• applicants must be highly experienced; and
• the applicant’s prospective role in Australia must be in an occupation defined at the ANZSCO Skill Level 1. Innovation stream applications are subject to a merit-based assessment process, overseen by the IECSEP Innovation Panel.
  
  

IECSEP provides UK organisations with a framework to relocate staff to Australia for a range of purposes. IECSEP is open to all sectors and industries and supports placements, secondments, graduate rotations, and intra-corporate transfers from the UK to Australia. IECSEP doesn’t require Australian firms to provide sponsorship or undertake labour market testing as a pre-condition for employing eligible UK citizens.

Am I eligible?
To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate they have prospective employment with an Australian organisation but there is no requirement for applicants to obtain sponsorship from an Australian employer. Applicants can apply to participate in IECSEP if they are already in Australia on a valid visa (some exceptions apply). If you are early in your career, or you are an innovator with a demonstrated track record, then IECSEP may be right for you

Eligibility requirements Applications to participate in IECSEP are assessed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Applicants must demonstrate that they have prospective employment in Australia, either through a letter of employment offer, or an employment contract. The letter or contract must contain specific information. To assist applicants and Australian employers, a template letter of employment offer is available on the DFAT website (dfat.gov.au). Applicants must also provide proof of their UK citizenship and show they have the equivalent of A$5000 in their bank account, plus enough to cover airfares out of Australia.

If you plan to work in a regulated occupation in Australia, you will need to have full and unconditional Australian occupational licensing, or registrations and certification, necessary to undertake the work. Please note: business sponsorship is not a requirement for participation in the IECSEP.

For more information about participation requirements, please visit dfat.gov.au/iecsep.