Great news on MINT this September!The first round of pioneers who took up MINT are set to receive, on 4 September, the refund promised earlier by the Northern Territory MINT fund.In other words, today, 4 September 2023, the 80% portion invested in state bonds by the first round of 50 MINT applicants from 2018 begins to be returned together with interest! In this article we’ll walk you through the Northern Territory MINT program in detail.

From the afternoon of 4 September

our clients have one after another received email confirmations that their investment funds are being returned:

What is the Northern Territory MINT program?

The Northern Territory MINT program is a small-investment migration program jointly launched by the Darwin Innovation Hub and Paspalis Asset Management, with special backing from the Northern Territory Government. Although on the surface it looks like an investment scheme, the Northern Territory MINT is in fact skilled migration, and what applicants ultimately receive is a Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa.

The advantage of MINT is that it’s both fast and stable: you can secure permanent residency in one step, gaining your green card in just 1.5–2 years (including the applicant’s spouse and children). Compared with the business and investor migration program, whose quota currently sits at zero, this really is a case of achieving a great deal with a modest outlay!

There’s one thing prospective applicants need to note. This program does not accept individual applications — submissions must be made by a Panel Agent officially appointed by the Northern Territory.

Simon WU (MARN: 1175577), MARA-registered migration agent at Newstarsec’s Brisbane & Beijing offices, has been a Panel Agent for the MINT program since its earliest days.

What does the 4 September refund refer to?

The Northern Territory MINT previously required an investment of AUD 515,000 (now risen to AUD 520,000), which can be split into two parts. The 80% portion — roughly AUD 400,000 — is invested in Northern Territory state bonds and returned in full with interest after five years. That is precisely what is being refunded today, 4 September 2023, to the first round of MINT applicants from 2018.The remaining 20%, around AUD 100,000, is invested in a government-backed fund and will subsequently be returned according to the fund’s returns.

Who can apply for the Northern Territory MINT?

The Northern Territory MINT has three streams —— purely offshore applicants, offshore start-up applicants and onshore start-up applicants.

Get in touch and we’ll quickly assess which stream you fall into

Computer Network and Systems Engineer — 60+5 points

Project Administrator — 60+5 points

Contract Administrator — 65+5 points

Property Manager — 60+5 points

Civil Engineer — 60+5 points

Financial Investment Adviser — 60+5 points

Purely offshore applicant stream

First of all, the largest category of MINT applicants is probably the purely offshore applicants. This is because, as more and more people apply across the various occupations in Australia’s skilled migration program, the invited EOI scores have also risen steadily. With MINT, however, most occupations can secure an invitation on a lower score — 65 points is enough. Occupations include, but are not limited to, accountant, IT, contract administrator, customer service manager, marketing specialist, hotel manager, restaurant manager and human resources adviser, among many occupations commonly found in China.

The basic requirements for the purely offshore MINT stream are not high either — you simply need:

– to be under 45 years of age

– a valid skills assessment

– IELTS 6 in each band, or an equivalent English result

– a score reaching 65 points

– that the applicant (including the main applicant, spouse and accompanying children) has not held a student visa or Subclass 485 visa within the past five years, and has not lived in other parts of Australia for more than one year.

Offshore start-up applicants — the Start-Up stream

This stream is aimed at former Australian graduates who have returned home and now wish to migrate. Students taking the MINT pathway need to meet the following requirements:

– having studied in Australia and since returned home, and being outside Australia for the two years prior to applying;

– meeting the most basic skilled migration requirements: an individual EOI score of 50 + 15 to apply for Subclass 491; 60+5 to apply for Subclass 190;

– being able to explain the lawful source of the investment funds: they may be a gift from your parents, but the source of your parents’ funds must also be explained;

– a nominated occupation on the Department of Home Affairs’ MLTSSL + STSOL + ROL (occupations on the ROL can only apply for Subclass 491)

– passing an interview with the MINT fund’s three-member expert panel and a NT Government migration officer

[Success Story]

We have previously secured invitations through the MINT offshore start-up applicant stream too. With the tailored

business plan and interview coaching we prepared for them, our client received an invitation at lightning speed — in just three months!

For full details, see:A 65-point accountant offshore for over two years secured a Subclass 190 invitation in just 3 months! The world’s first MINT success story for an offshore Australian graduate is here!

Onshore start-up applicant stream

Onshore graduates wishing to apply for MINT need to meet the following conditions:

– being an Australian graduate holding a Subclass 485 visa (including a BVA) valid for at least 13 months (graduates from other states are acceptable)

– for onshore students, you must have lived in the Northern Territory for at least 12 months before receiving the formal state-nomination invitation

– meeting the most basic skilled migration requirements: an individual EOI score of 50+15 to apply for Subclass 491; 60+5 to apply for Subclass 190

– being able to explain the lawful source of the investment funds: they may be a gift from your parents, but the source of your parents’ funds must also be explained;

– a nominated occupation on the Department of Home Affairs’ MLTSSL + STSOL + ROL (occupations on the ROL can only apply for Subclass 491)

– passing an interview with the MINT fund’s three-member expert panel and a NT Government migration officer

Compared with the purely offshore MINT stream, this stream may be relatively stricter. Onshore graduates wishing to migrate are also welcome to come to us for an assessment of the migration pathway best suited to them!

However, the Northern Territory MINT program’s quota for the 2023–24 financial year is for now already full, which means that, provisionally, the Northern Territory MINT program will not accept new applications until July 2024.

If you’re hoping to apply for MINT, don’t worry too much. You can use this financial year to get your skills assessment ready and your English test done, then submit straight away once MINT has quota in the new financial year. Those who prepare early will surely seize the opportunity first!

Catch up on past highlights

WA issued 487 invitations in its first round, including offshore and interstate applicants! Tasmania is highly competitive this year!

Confirmed! The 408 COVID stream is cancelled from 1 September — but there’s a transition period

A close look at the skills assessment requirements for the 482 employer-sponsored visa! For occupations that require a mandatory skills assessment, can it be waived?

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Today! On 4 September, the First Round of 50 MINT Applicants Get Their Principal Plus Interest Back! Onshore, Offshore, Former International Students — Can You Take the MINT Pathway?

WA issued 487 invitations in its first round, including offshore and interstate applicants! Tasmania is highly competitive this year!

Confirmed! The 408 COVID stream is cancelled from 1 September — but there’s a transition period

A close look at the skills assessment requirements for the 482 employer-sponsored visa! For occupations that require a mandatory skills assessment, can it be waived?

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