Overview

The UK Global Talent Visa is the UK’s best program for attracting exceptional talent in the UK. With a Global Talent Visa for the UK; applicant can apply visa if he/she is a “Leader or Potential Leader” in either fields of;

• Academia or Research

• Arts and Culture

• Digital Technology

Time Period to reside in the UK

The successful applicant can reside in the UK for up to Five Years. This is good to know that the visa can be renewed multiple times and the holder can change jobs without notifying the immigration authorities.

Fees

Work In The UK As A Researcher Or Academic Leader

Academia or Research is the sub-category of the Global Talent Visa. Applicant can apply visa if he/she is the Leader or Potential Leader in one of the following fields:

• Science

• Medicine

• Engineering

• Humanities

• Social science

Endorsement

You need to apply for an endorsement to prove you’re a leader or potential leader in your field. The Home Office will send your application to be reviewed by a UK organisation (‘endorsing body’) with expertise in your field.

English language

Not Required

You can:

• Choose how long your visa is for, up to 5 years

• Be an employee, self-employed and a director of a company

• Change or stop doing your job without telling the Home Office

• Bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’

• Travel abroad and return to the UK

You can't:

• Apply for most benefits (‘public funds’), or the State Pension

• Work as a sportsperson

Eligibility

You may be eligible if you have any of the following:

• An eligible job offer as an academic or researcher

• An individual fellowship

• A research grant that is approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

• An eligible award

If you do not, you can apply by having your application peer reviewed, but your application will take longer.

Work in the UK as a leader in arts and culture

Arts and Culture is the sub-category of the Global Talent Visa. Applicant can apply visa if he/she is the Leader or Potential Leader in one of the following fields:

• Combined arts, dance, literature, music, theatre or visual arts

• Architecture

• Fashion design

• Film and television, including animation, post production and visual effects

Endorsement

You need to apply for an endorsement to prove you’re a leader or potential leader in your field. The Home Office will send your application to be reviewed by a UK organisation (‘endorsing body’) with expertise in your field.

English language

Not Required

You can:

• Choose how long your visa is for, up to 5 years

• Be an employee, self-employed and a director of a company

• Change or stop doing your job without telling the Home Office

• Bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’

• Travel abroad and return to the UK

• You can also apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) after:

• 3 years if you’re applying as a leader

• 5 years if you’re applying as a potential leader

You can't:

• Apply for most benefits (‘public funds’), or the State Pension

• Work as a sportsperson

Eligibility

You may be eligible if you have any of the following:

1. You need to be producing work that is published or performed internationally and that Arts Council England judges to be ‘outstanding’.

2. You will also need to prove people have engaged with your work. For example through:

• Appearances

• Performances

• Publications

• Exhibitions

The work can be work you did on your own or as a member of a group. You can also include examples where you contributed to a group’s work but were not a member.

Applying as a leader

Applying as a potential leader

Work in the UK as a leader in digital technology

Digital Technology is the sub-category of the Global Talent Visa. Applicant can apply visa if he/she is the Leader or Potential Leader in one of the following fields:

• Financial technology (‘fintech’)

• Gaming

• Cyber security

• Artificial intelligence

Endorsement

You need to apply for an endorsement to prove you’re a leader or potential leader in your field. The Home Office will send your application to be reviewed by a UK organisation (‘endorsing body’) with expertise in your field.

English language

Not Required

You can:

• Choose how long your visa is for, up to 5 years

• Be an employee, self-employed and a director of a company

• Change or stop doing your job without telling the Home Office

• Bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’

• Travel abroad and return to the UK

• You can also apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) after:

• 3 years if you’re applying as a leader

• 5 years if you’re applying as a potential leader

You can't:

• Apply for most benefits (‘public funds’), or the State Pension

• Work as a sportsperson

Eligibility

You may be eligible if you have any of the following:
You do not need a job offer to get the visa. Your background can be either:

• • Technical, for example you’re a developer, engineer or data scientist...

  • Business, for example you have commercial, investment or digital product expertise in a technology company that creates software, hardware or that processes data...

You can apply either as:

• • A leader (called ‘exceptional talent’)

  • Potential leader (called ‘exceptional promise’)

Exceptional promise applicants are likely to have less than 5 years of experience in technology, but can have had a longer career in another type of work. You must be able to prove your potential to be a leader through your skills and achievements.

Tech Nation will assess your endorsement application and decide whether you meet the criteria to apply for the Global Talent visa.