The UK Global Talent visa is a highly beneficial immigration fast-track route for leaders and potential leaders in the areas of academia or research, arts and culture, and digital technology. Contact our immigration lawyers for a free telephone consultation on 020 3744 2797 or complete our enquiry form to discuss your global talent visa.
The Global Talent visa is specifically intended to provide an immigration fast-track for individuals from around the world with expertise in the fields of academia or research, arts and culture, and digital technology. The Global Talent visa replaced the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa in February 2020. The scheme is open to leaders and potential leaders in the areas of:
Global Talent visas are typically granted for up to five years, after which it is possible to extend for another one to five years. Alternatively, Global Talent visa holders can choose to apply for settlement (i.e. Indefinite Leave to Remain – ILR) after three years for a leader and five years for a potential leader.
The Global Talent visa is pitched at a higher level than other UK work visas and hence comes with additional benefits. With a Global Talent visa, you will be able to:
In order to be eligible for a Global Talent Visa, you must be:
Unlike many other UK visa types, there are no salary or English language requirements.
Crucial to making a successful application for a Global Talent Visa is that you must gain endorsement to prove that you are a leader or potential leader from an approved endorsing body 1. You will not require endorsement, however, if you have an eligible award (see below). The endorsing body you need to approach for endorsement will depend on your field of work. The main endorsement bodies for the Global Talent Visa are as follows:
Arts endorsing bodies |
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Digital Technology endorsing bodies |
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Science, engineering, humanities and medicine endorsing bodies |
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The endorsement body you apply to will take into consideration a wide range of factors when determining whether you are a leader or potential leader, as follows:
Academia or Research
The endorsing body will check that you are a leader or potential leader in any of the following disciplines: science, medicine, engineering, or humanities. You will need to have:
It is also possible, if you are not eligible under these routes, to have your application peer-reviewed by an endorsing entity.
Arts And Culture
To be endorsed under the arts and culture route, you will need to satisfy the endorsing body you are a leader or potential leader in one of the following:
The exact eligibility rules depend on which area you specialise in; for example, those in Combined arts, dance, literature, music, theatre, or visual arts must:
Digital Technology
Those applying under the digital technology route must be endorsed as being a leader or potential leader in the areas of financial technology ("fintech"), gaming, cybersecurity, or artificial intelligence. This will be assessed by Tech Nation, who will determine if you are classed as an "exceptional talent" or if you have "exceptional promise". To demonstrate exceptional talent, they will check that you:
The application stages for a Global Talent Visa are as follows:
Applications are typically processed within 3 weeks if submitted outside the UK or 8 weeks if switching to this visa in the UK. This may take longer if more evidence is needed or you are asked to attend an interview.
You will be able to apply for a Global Talent visa without endorsement if you have an eligible award 3. Eligible awards are in the fields of:
Towards the end of your current Global Talent visa, you will be able to apply to extend your visa (or apply for permanent settlement if you are eligible – see below) as long as the endorsing body which initially backed your application have not withdrawn their endorsement, and you can prove that you have been able to make money from your expertise in the UK during your time here. To meet this latter requirement, you will need to provide evidence showing your earnings (there is no set minimum for this), in the form of:
The current fee for a Global Talent visa extension is £608.00 per person. You will also need to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge of £624 per year.
Global Talent visa holders who intend to remain in the UK in the long term can apply for settlement (ILR) 4, as follows:
It is important that you must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any year within your ILR qualifying period.
ILR confers considerable advantages, including removing the need to apply for further visas, greater flexibility when it comes to employment and study, and there is no requirement to pay the costly immigration healthcare surcharge.
In order to meet the indefinite leave to remain requirements, you must:
After a year of holding ILR, it is then possible to apply for British citizenship.
You will need the following funds for a Global Talent visa:
You will need the following funds for a Global Talent visa:
Fees |
Inside the UK |
Outside the UK |
Endorsement fee |
£456 |
£456 |
Application fee |
£152 |
£152 |
Other costs include Biometric fee £19.20 and healthcare surcharge (18 years or over) £624 for each year.
UK Global Talent visas are granted for up to 5 years. If you wish to stay longer, you can apply to extend your visa or apply for ILR after 3 years (if you are a leader in your field) or 5 years (if you are a potential leader in your field).
As a Global Talent visa holder, it is possible to bring your partner and dependant children with you to the UK. Each family member has to make a separate online application before travelling to the UK.
There is no English language requirement for the UK global talent visa. However, when applying for ILR / settlement, you will need to prove that you meet the English language requirements (by having an English language qualification at B1, B2, C1 or C2 level or a degree taught or researched in English).
References:
1 GOV.UK: Global talent endorsing bodies
2 GOV.UK: Apply for the Global Talent visa
3 GOV.UK: Global Talent eligible prize lists
4 GOV.UK: Indefinite leave to remain if you have a business, investor or talent visa