Global Talent Visa

Who can apply for a Global Talent Visa?

To ensure that the United Kingdom’s (‘UK’) economy remains at the forefront of the world, highly talented individuals from industries such as digital technology, science, medicine, engineering, research, humanities, and arts and culture are eligible to apply under Global Talent visa route.

The Global Talent visa replaced the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa on 20 February 2020. However, unlike the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa, the new Global Talent visa will not be subject to an annual cap.

Applicants applying for a Global Talent visa will be leaders in their field, or have the potential to be leaders, as determined by an endorsing body that is approved by the Home Office.

Qualifying for a Global Talent Visa

You can apply for a Global Talent visa if you work in a qualifying field and have been endorsed:

  • As a recognised leader (exceptional talent)
  • As an emerging leader (exceptional promise)
  • Under the UK Research and Innovation endorsed funder option

Recognised Leader – Exceptional Talent

For applicants who have already demonstrated that they have made a significant contribution as a leader in their field.

Emerging Leader – Exceptional Promise

For applicants who may be early in their careers but have already shown the potential to make significant contributions as a future leader in their field.

How to apply

To qualify for a Global Talent visa, you would be required to pass both stages set out below.

You will only be granted entry clearance, leave to enter, or leave to remain if you are successful at both stages.

Stage 1 – Endorsement from a Designated Competent Body

An endorsing body will be required to assess your skills, abilities, and achievements and advise the Home Office of their decision on whether you should be endorsed in order to progress your application.

The Designated Endorsing Bodies are:

  • Arts Council England – for dance, music, theatre, visual arts (including museums and galleries), literature, combined arts.
  • Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television – for film, television, animation, post-production, visual effects.
  • British Fashion Council – for fashion design.
  • Royal Institute of British Architects – for architects.
  • Tech Nation – for digital technology applications
  • The British Academy – for languages, literature, education, culture and social science applications.
  • The Royal Academy of Engineering – for engineering applications.
  • The Royal Society – for mathematics, computer science, chemistry and science related applications.
  • UK Research and Innovation (‘UKRI’)

If the endorsement is approved by the relevant endorsing body, you would then be eligible to move onto stage 2 of the process.

Stage 2 – Submission of a visa application to UK Visas and Immigration (‘UKVI’)

The second part of the application process will be for you to submit a visa application to UKVI.

As part of the submission to UKVI, you will be required to submit a copy of your endorsement letter which would have been received at the time your stage 1 application was approved.

It is also at this stage that UKVI will consider whether there are any general grounds for refusal.

Fees

The fee for Stage 1 of the process is £456 and the fee for stage 2 of the process will be £152 (unless you’re from Turkey or Macedonia in which case the stage 2 fee is £97). All dependants applying with you will pay £608 per application, and all applicants will need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £400 per annum for the duration of the visa.

Length of the Global Talent Visa

The Global Talent visa allows you to choose the amount of leave in whole year increments up to 5 years.

You can apply for settlement once you’ve been in the UK for:

  • 3 years with an exceptional talent visa.
  • 3 years with an endorsement in science.
  • 3 years with an endorsement under the UK Research and Innovation endorsed funder scheme.
  • 5 years with an endorsement as an emerging leader (exceptional promise) in either arts and culture, or digital technology.

Family members

Qualifying family member (‘dependents’) could join you in the UK. However, dependents will only be eligible for settlement after having completed 5 years’ leave in the UK.

If you are an interested in applying for a Global Talent visa or require further advice, please contact us.

*Please note that all immigration matters are dealt with by Muldoon Britton Immigration Limited (SRA Number: 829759).