Global Talent Visa

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Talent & Work Visas

Global Talent Visa provides individuals who are either talented or promising in the fields of Engineering, Medicine, Science, Humanities, Digital Technology as well as Arts & Culture an option to live and work in the UK for up to five years. Global talent visa replaced the old Tier 1 Exceptional Talent/Promise route on 20 February 2020, as part of the UK government’s initiative to remain open and welcome talented individuals from around the world. Unlike its predecessor, this route does not have any cap on the number of endorsements issued and does not form part of the UK’s point-based system.
Global Talent visa requirements
There are two stages in applying for the Global Talent Visa. On Stage 1, the applicant must obtain an endorsement from an approved endorsing body. The Designated Competent Bodies assess the application under either of the following routes.
Recognised Leader (Exceptional Talent)

This route is for applicants who can demonstrate that they have already made significant contributions as a leader in their respective fields.

Emerging Leader (Exceptional Promise)

This is for applicants who are normally at the early stage of their careers but can show potential to make significant contributions in the future in their respective fields.

You may also qualify under the UK Research and Innovation endorsed funder option.

Designated Competent Bodies are:
There are two stages in applying for the Global Talent Visa. On Stage 1, the applicant must obtain an endorsement from an approved endorsing body. The Designated Competent Bodies assess the application under either of the following routes.

The Designated Competent Bodies each have their own criteria for endorsement; however, in most cases, applicants will need to show substantial amounts of work and provide references and support from industry experts in their respective fields. Once the applicant gets an endorsement, they can then move on to Stage 2 which is the immigration application.

The key advantages of this route are that applicants can work for any employer without the need for being sponsored, running a business, or being self-employed, and are also free to change employers or businesses without informing the Home Office. In addition to this, the applicants do not need to satisfy maintenance funds requirements or English Language requirements for initial entry or leave to remain applications, with the exception of when applying for settlement.

Extension & Settlement

The visa can be for any length of time, measured in whole years up to 5 years, at the applicants’ discretion, providing them more control over the initial costs, particularly when paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Under this category, an individual can stay in the UK for an unlimited amount of time.

To be eligible for an extension, applicants must ensure that their endorsements are not withdrawn, that they have earned money in the UK from the expert field linked to their endorsement in the previous grant of leave, and that they have not been refused on general grounds such as character or immigration history. If the applicants continue to meet these requirements and pass the English Language and Life in the UK tests, they will be eligible to apply for ILR after three years in the UK if the endorsement was made under exceptional talent or exceptional promise criteria, but only for endorsing bodies in science, engineering, humanities, and medicine, or if they meet UKRI-endorsed funder fast track criteria.

To be able to apply for settlement in the UK, applicants must spend a continuous period of 5 years under the extraordinary promise pathway from Arts Council England or Tech Nation. Time spent as a Tier 1 migrant (excluding Graduate Entrepreneur & Post Study) and Tier 2 migrant may also be included in the continuous period computation (excluding Intra Company Transfer). There will be additional ILR requirements, such as absence requirements, that applicants must meet.