MINT

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Project Introduction

The Migrant Innovation Northern Territory (MINT) program is an initiative owned by the Darwin Innovation Hub and Paspalis Group, being supported by the Northern Territory (NT) Government.

The eligible applicant (in General Migration Program or Business Innovation and Investment Program) needs to invest $515,000 in the Northern Territory Government’s designated Paspalis Innovation Investment Fund and will be nominated for a state sponsorship by the Northern Territory Government. The MINT program will help applicants gain permanent residency in Australia.

Project Advantages

Obtain Australian Permanent Residency Directly

One person applies, and the whole family gets the PR visa

Express approval projects, different from the usual 2-3 months of trial time, the trial time can be shortened to 6-8 weeks

The number of occupations recognized by the Program is more than 500, far more than the number of occupations recognized by 189 independent skilled visa

The investment amount is lower than the investment immigration category

The Northern Territory has many job opportunities and strong development

Children can study for free in Australian public primary schools

General Application Requirements

Demonstrate applicants will live in the Northern Territory (i.e. will reside in the NT) for at least 3 years and meet the standard genuine intention criteria put in place for all Applicants;

Demonstrate applicants have a clear understanding of what the criteria are and what their obligations are

Have sufficient funds of their own for settlement

Provide fulsome and accurate applications

Meet Australian Government threshold criteria;

Submit Nomination applications through the relevant application process within 2 months of signing an agreement with Paspalis

Must not have Strong Links to Other Regions of Australia, unless they also have Strong Links to the Northern Territory

Application Process

Contact AVL. AVL is one of the authorised panel agents that has strict obligations under the MINT Program including the requirement to comply with the MARA code of conduct and to charge reasonable fees;

Applicant enters into a placement agreement with Paspalis and pays the placement fee. MINT placement fees are $30,000 + GST payable directly to Paspalis. (If the current quota is used up, the Applicant can join the waitlist by depositing $5,000 + GST payable directly to Paspalis. This amount is non-refundable, and is a part of the total placement fees);

The applicant’s agent lodges an online application to MigrationNT (must be within 60 days from signing the placement agreement);

Applicant receives provisional approval for visa nomination from MigrationNT;

Applicant makes an application to invest in PIIF and pays $515,000 to PIIF Trustee (must be within 30 days of receiving provisional approval). Information Memorandum is available on request;

PIIF Trustee performs AML/KYC on funds transfer and completes PIIF application process;

Visa application forwarded to Federal Department of Home Affairs.

Immediate Family in relation to a person means that person’s:

Spouse; and

Parents, siblings, children and grandchildren, by birth or by adoption that is recognised in Australia.

International Student means an Applicant who is or was the holder of a student visa granted under the Migration Act.

Other Regions of Australia refers to all other areas of Australia other than the Northern Territory.

Qualifying Business has the meaning determined in the Migration Legislation.

Spouse means a person (of any sex) who:

The other person is in a relationship with, that is registered under a prescribed State or Territory law; or

Although not legally married to the other person, lives with the other person on a genuine domestic basis in a relationship as a couple.

Strong Links to Other Regions of Australia means an Applicant meets one or more of the below:

Has spent a significant amount of time in Other Regions of Australia, being more than 12 months in the last 5 years;

Has had Immediate Family living in Other Regions of Australia in the last 5 years;

Has engaged in work in Other Regions of Australia;

Holds Assets (except residential property) in excess of AUD$100,000 in Other Regions of Australia;

Holds residential property in Other Regions of Australia and does not hold residential property in the Northern Territory; or

Has applied for Nomination in Other Regions of Australia.

Strong Links to Other Regions of Australia means an Applicant meets one or more of the below:

Has spent a significant amount of time in the Northern Territory (more than 12 months in the last 5 years);

Has or has had Immediate Family in the Northern Territory;

Has worked for a minimum period of 6 months in the Northern Territory; or

Has completed a minimum of 2 years full time study through a university higher education program or vocational education and training program, based in the Northern Territory.