How to Get an Endorsement For Global Talent Visa UK?

If you are a skilled worker who is considering coming to the UK, it is important to select the correct and most advantageous visa for your needs. Whereas most people might consider that the Skilled Worker visa is suitable for their needs, this may not always be the case. While the Skilled Worker visa is the most popular work visa type, if you are a leader or a potential leader in certain sectors, the better option may be the Global Talent visa, which confers several benefits. In this article, we will explain how to gain endorsement for a Global Talent visa in the UK.

What is global talent visa endorsement?

Anyone considering applying for a Global Talent visa first needs to receive endorsement from an approved endorsing body in the UK. The Global Talent visa is granted to leaders or potential leaders in the areas of:

• academia or research
• arts and culture
• digital technology

Because UK visas and immigration (UKVI) are not experts in these respective fields, they rely on a number of approved endorsing bodies to tell them if applicants meet the criteria for leadership or potential leadership.

Global talent visa endorsing bodies

There are several endorsing bodies in the UK that are approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to carry out the endorsement process. The endorsing body you will need to request endorsement from depends on the discipline in which you work, as follows:

Digital Technology

• Tech Nation

Arts, Culture, and Fashion

• Arts Council England
• British Fashion Council
• Royal Institute of British Architects
• Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television

Academia or research in Science, Engineering, Humanities or Medicine

• Royal Society - for science and medicine
• British Academy - for humanities
• Royal Academy of Engineering

The above list of areas of endorsement is not exhaustive, hence to check if your specialism is covered and by which endorsing body, check the UKVI website. If you are unsure which endorsing body to use, speak to an immigration Solicitor or contact the endorsing bodies directly, who will be able to confirm this for you.

What are the requirements and documents required for a Global Talent visa?

Requirements and documents for digital technology applicants

To apply under the digital technology route for a Global Talent visa, you will need to either meet the requirements as a person with ‘exceptional talent’ or ‘exceptional promise’.

Exceptional talent means that you are already considered to be a leading talent in digital technology and that you meet at least two of the following requirements:

• have an established record for innovation in a senior capacity for a digital technology company
• be able to show a record of innovation while in a new digital technology role
• have contributed to the digital tech industry outside of your work
• have established or played a core role in the development of a product-oriented digital technology company
• have published your own research in the field of digital technology as an expert

Exceptional promise means that you have been recognised as a potential talent in the area of digital technology and that you meet at least two of the following requirements:

• have developed at least one innovative product for a digital technology company
• have contributed to the digital technology sector outside of your work commitments
• have set up or worked in a product-oriented digital tech business in which you made a substantial technical, commercial, or entrepreneurial contribution
• have at least one research article published

Documents:

To support your application, you will need to provide:

• Your CV – this must be up to date and provide details of your academic and professional background
• Three letters of recommendation from organisations that Tech Nation considers to be ‘established’ in digital technology
• Evidence that you have established or been a senior staff member of a digital technology business in the last five years
• Any documents to prove that you meet the criteria outlined above for exceptional talent or exceptional promise

The Home Office advises that you provide up to ten items (each can be up to 3 sides of A4 paper) to support your application.

Requirements and documents for arts and culture applicants

Requirements:

In order to make an application through the combined arts, dance, literature, music, theatre or visual arts for a Global Talent visa, you will need to satisfy Arts Council England that you are a leader in your field (exceptional talent) or a potential leader (exceptional promise). You must have been working in your specialist area of the arts for at least five years and have produced work that has been published or performed internationally. Arts Council England must consider this work to be ‘outstanding’.

In addition, exceptional talent applicants must have a substantial track record of working in at least two different countries in a professional capacity, as an individual or as part of a group.

Exceptional promise applicants need to show they have a developing track record of work in at least two countries, as an individual or as part of a group.

Documents:

To support your application, you will need to provide:

• Your CV – this must be up to date and provide details of your academic and professional background
• Three letters of recommendation – two of these must be from established arts or culture organisations that are considered to be experts in your field, and one of these must be based in the UK. The third letter can be from an established organisation or an individual, but they must be an expert in your field of the arts.
• At least two items of proof of the following:
  • international media recognition
  • international awards
  • international appearances or exhibitions

The Home Office advises that you provide up to ten items (each can be up to two sides of A4 paper) to support your application.

Requirements and documents for academia and research applicants

Requirements:

Under the current eligibility rules for the Global Talent visa, those in the area of academia or research are able to gain fast track endorsement if they have a suitable job offer as an academic or researcher at an institution approved by the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering or British Academy. A full list of the eligible roles is available on the UKVI website.

Suitable jobs are those that involve:

• the direction of or leadership of an individual or a team in a research or innovation project or programme of work
• taking responsibility for academic, research or innovation leadership and development

Where an applicant does not have a suitable job offer, they may be able to apply under the individual fellowship route. Under this route, applicants require endorsement from either the Royal Society, British Academy, or the Royal Academy of Engineering. Endorsement can be gained as either a leader in your field (exceptional talent) or a potential leader in your field (exceptional promise).

Documents:

To support your fast track application under this route, you will need to provide the following:

• a letter from the HR director of human resources (or a person in an equivalent role) where you will be working. This letter must show:
  • the name of your role and the department where you will work
  • a detailed description of the role you will be carrying out for your employer
  • confirmation you have accepted the job offer
  • confirmation there is a minimum of one year remaining on your employment contract
  • confirmation the recruitment process for the role was fair and open
  • that you have at least two references
  • that at least three academic, research, or innovation representatives were involved in each stage of the interview process
  • that an expert in your field was part of the application process

Global Talent visa to ILR

You may be able to apply for permanent residence (UK indefinite leave to remain) if you have held a global talent visa for a sufficient number of years. Whereas most applicants need to have held a visa for five years to gain ILR, with a global talent visa, this is achievable within as little as three years. Three-year ILR is possible if:

• you were endorsed by the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society or UK Research and Innovation
• you were endorsed by Arts Council England or Tech Nation - this must be as a recognised leader (‘exceptional talent’)
• have an eligible award

Can you help UK applicants with the Global Talent applicants?

As specialists in global mobility for some of the world’s largest multinational organisations, Reiss Edwards can assist you with all aspects of your global talent visa application, including the endorsement process. We can handle the process fully on your behalf or advise you on making a successful application and verifying the documents you submit to support your case. By engaging our services, you can relax in the knowledge that your application has the best possible chance of success.