Tech Nation will continue to process the Global Talent Visa applications in the area of digital technology for the Home Office and applicants can continue to apply as normal with applications in process unaffected, while the Home Office identifies a new endorsing body to take over from Tech Nation in the future.

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

Updates as per the new amendments of 18 October 2022

As per the new amendments, the evidential requirements for arts and culture applications are being amended to require applicants to provide letters of support from organisations or individuals who have directly worked with the applicant and can therefore comment on their skills through personal experience rather than via reputation.

The evidential requirements for digital technology applications are being amended to require applicants to provide letters of support from individuals who have detailed knowledge of applicant’s work over a period of at least 12 months.

Also, the new amendments would allow time spent as a Representative of an Overseas Business to be included as part of the 3 or 5 year continuous period for settlement.

A. Application process

You need to complete 2 stages to get this visa.

You need to:

apply to the Home Office for endorsement as a leader or an emerging leader in your particular field
apply for the visa

Most people apply for endorsement first, but you can complete both applications at the same time. However, if your endorsement is refused, your visa application will also be refused and you will not get any money back for either application.

B. How long it will take

After you get your endorsement, the earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you travel.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

C. Eligibility

To get a Global Talent visa, you need to apply to be endorsed:

as a leader (exceptional talent)
as an emerging leader (exceptional promise)
under the UK Research and Innovation endorsed funder option

Your application will be reviewed by an organisation that’s related to your qualifying field, called an ‘endorsing body’.

The endorsing bodies are:

The Royal Society, for science and medicine
The Royal Academy of Engineering, for engineering
The British Academy, for humanities
Tech Nation, for digital technology
Arts Council England, for arts and culture
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), for research applicants

If your qualifying field is fashion, architecture or film and television, Arts Council England will pass on your application for review to:

British Fashion Council, for fashion
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), for architecture
Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT), for film and television

With regard to the educational background and when applying under the Royal Society for humanitarian sciences, the applicants must have the following:

they must have a PhD qualification or equivalent research experience (including industrial or clinical research); and
they must actively participate in a relevant field in a University, research institute or industry; and
they must have their name or post listed on the grant or award as the Principal or co-investigator, Researcher Co-investigator, Post-doctoral researcher or Research Assistant.

D. English language and maintenance

Under the current Immigration Rules for this visa category, there is no requirement to have passed the English language test and to show any evidence of maintenance funds.

E. How to get endorsed

You apply to be endorsed online.

If you’re a digital technology specialist, you’ll also need to apply for a Tech Nation Visa endorsement.

F. How long it takes

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

You may get a faster decision if you’re a digital technology specialist, and you’ve been accepted onto a recognised UK accelerator programme.

You may also get a faster decision if you:

hold an approved peer-reviewed fellowship
are a senior academic or senior researcher at a UK university, college or research institute - check with your employer whether your role is eligible
will be hosted or employed in an approved UK research organisation and will provide critical contributions to work supported by a research grant or award from an approved endorsed funder

G. What happens next

If you’re successful, you’ll receive an email from the Home Office with a copy of your endorsement letter. You’ll need these for your visa application.

If you submitted your endorsement and visa applications at the same time, your endorsement letter will be automatically linked to your visa application. You do not need to do anything.

You will not automatically get a visa if you’ve been endorsed.

If your application is turned down, you can request an endorsement review.

You must apply for your visa within 3 months of receiving your letter of endorsement from the Home Office.

H. Documents you must provide

When you apply for your visa, you’ll need to provide:

a current passport or other valid travel identification
your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test

You need a blank page in your passport for your visa.

You need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

I. Switch to the Global Talent Visa

You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a Global Talent visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa, with the exception of:

on a visit visa
on a short-term student visa
on a Parent of a Child Student visa
on a seasonal worker visa
on a domestic worker in a private household visa
on immigration bail
you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

You can choose how long you want to apply for, up to a maximum of 5 years. You only have to pay the healthcare surcharge for the amount of time you choose to stay.

You must leave the UK and make your application from abroad if you’re in another category.

J. Extend your Global Talent visa

You can apply to extend your visa if:

the organisation that endorsed you have not withdrawn its approval
you earned money in your expert field during your last period of leave in the UK - the guidance notes have a full list of acceptable evidence

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Applicants who currently hold leave under Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) can extend under the Global Talent category.

K. How long you can stay under the Global Talent visa

Your visa lasts between 1 and 5 years.

You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like. Each extension can last from 1 to 5 years.

L. Family members under the Global Talent visa

Your family members (dependants) must apply to join or remain with you in the UK.

A dependant is any of the following:

your partner
your child under 18
your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as a dependant

M. Settlement under the Global Talent visa – Qualifying periods

Main applicants endorsed by one of the four Science bodies qualify for accelerated settlement in 3 years instead of standard period of 5 years.

With regard to the accelerated settlement, the applicant must have spent a continuous period of 3 years in the UK if:

they were endorsed by the Royal Society, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or UK Research and Innovation; or
they were endorsed under the exceptional talent criteria by Arts Council England or Tech Nation; or
they were granted their initial application using a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes.

For settlement purposes, the continuous period may consist of time with permission on any of (or any combination of), the following visa routes:

Global Talent; or
Innovator; or
Skilled Worker (previously Tier 2 category); or
Tier 1 Migrant.

N. Settlement under the Global Talent visa – Dependants

The qualifying period for a partner of a Global Talent applicant is 5 years, regardless of whether the main applicant is eligible for accelerated settlement.

Dependent children can qualify for settlement if both parents are settled or are applying for settlement at the same time. Dependent children can also qualify if they are applying at the same time as the main applicant, if the main applicant has sole responsibility for the child.

O. Administrative Review (Entry clearance, extension and settlement applications)

If the entry clearance, extension or settlement application is refused by the ECO in the British Diplomatic post or by the Home Office, the applicant will be given a right to make a request for a review of the decision that must be exercised within 28 days of the date of service of the decision if application was submitted outside the UK or 14 days if application is made inside the UK. The applicant will only be able to rely on the information/documents already submitted with the application and will not be allowed to provide or submit any fresh evidence with the review request.

It is therefore strongly advised to take professional help while making grounds for making review request.