The MINT project is a small-scale investor migration program jointly launched by the Darwin Innovation Hub and Paspalis Asset Management, with special backing from the Northern Territory Government,and is a branch of Northern Territory state-nominated skilled migration, with applicants ultimately granted aSubclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa.

The project doesn’t accept individual applications — it must be lodged through an officially designated Northern Territory representative (Panel Agent),and Simon WU (MARN: 1175577), a MARA-registered migration agent at Newstars’ Beijing branch, has been a Panel Agent for the project since its earliest days.

Application requirements

1. The nominated occupation must be on the Northern Territory’s priority occupation list, and the applicant must pass the relevant skills assessment;

2. An IELTS score of 6.0 or above in each component;

3. A raw EOI score of 60 points qualifies for a Subclass 190 visa; a raw score of 50 points qualifies for a Subclass 491 visa;

4. Investment funds of AUD 515,000, with supporting proof of assets and a source-of-funds explanation;

5. The applicant has a genuine intention to live in the Northern Territory;

6. No strong ties to other parts of Australia;

7. A total investment of AUD 515,000 into the Paspalis fund, held for at least 5 years(the fund’s portfolio: 80% invested in capital- and interest-guaranteed state government bonds; 20% in a venture capital fund invested in start-ups)

A brief explanation of ‘no strong ties to other parts of Australia’:

— no study on a student visa in another Australian state in the past 5 years; no stable long-term employment in another Australian state;

— no immediate family (parents or siblings) in another Australian state;

— no property worth more than AUD 100,000 in another Australian state;

A wide range of eligible occupations, and a stable list

The Northern Territory’s approved occupation listhas more than 250 occupations, and unlike other states’ occupation lists that change frequently, the MINT occupation list hasn’t changed at all in two years(it’s still the same 2019 ‘Northern Territory Priority Occupation List’ in use today),giving it strong stability.

 Low investment threshold

The MINT project requires an investment of only AUD 515,000 (around RMB 2.5 million) into the Paspalis Innovation Investment Fund designated by the Northern Territory Government.Compared with Subclass 188 investment programs or other states’ small business programs, the investment threshold is very low, and it leads directly to permanent residency.

Short timeframe

From securing a place through to state nomination approval,the whole process takes 3-6 months, and the permanent residency visa can be granted within 1-1.5 years overall,far shorter than the time it takes to gain permanent residency through investor migration (5-6 years).

One application, the whole family migrates

The MINT project is a government-backed migration program combining skills and investment — with a single application, the applicant’s spouse and children can be granted permanent residency visas at the same time.

EOI score: 70+5=75 points

MINT timeline:

16 Sep 2019: place secured

11 Nov 2019: state nomination application lodged

18 Dec 2019: state nomination pre-approved, notified to make payment

9 Jan 2020: state nomination invitation received

28 Jan 2020: visa lodged

15 Sep 2020: additional visa documents requested

19 Feb 2021: visa granted

EOI score: 60+5=65 points

MINT timeline:

12 Oct 2020: place secured

11 Dec 2020: state nomination application lodged

5 Feb 2021: state nomination pre-approved, notified to make payment

22 Apr 2021: state nomination invitation received

EOI score: 60+5=65 points

MINT timeline:

22 Mar 2021: place secured

19 Apr 2021: state nomination application lodged

1 Jun 2021: state nomination pre-approved, notified to make payment

20 Aug 2021: state nomination invitation received

EOI score: 55+15=70 points

MINT timeline:

25 Feb 2020: place secured

18 Mar 2020: state nomination application lodged

11 May 2020: state nomination pre-approved, notified to make payment

24 Sep 2020: state nomination invitation received

EOI score: 60+5=65 points

MINT timeline:

18 Dec 2019: place secured

16 Jan 2020: state nomination lodged

13 Mar 2020: state nomination pre-approved, notified to make payment

29 Jun 2020: state nomination approved 

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