Global Talent Visa

As part of the requirements for the Global Talent Program, visa applicants will need to have first received an official endorsement from one of the UK’s six approved endorsing bodies before applying for the UK visa.

Individuals in science, engineering, medicine, social sciences, humanities, and other academic and research roles will need to have received an endorsement letter from one of the following:

• The British Academy
• The Royal Academy of Engineering
• The Royal Society
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Eligible applicants in the academic and research field can enter the UK under endorsed funders, individual fellowships, peer review, or research appointment routes.

Individuals in non-academic arts, culture, and digital technology will need an endorsement from the following to be considered for a UK Global Talent Visa:

• Arts Council England
• Tech Nation

Foreign nationals who have not been granted an endorsement can still qualify for a Global Talent Visa if they have been awarded a qualifying prestigious prize.

Applications for the Global Talent Visa can be made online through the gov.uk website. Before a visa application is made, the applicant must have received an endorsement or won a qualifying prestigious award in their field.

After receiving an endorsement, applicants have 3 months to apply for their Global Talent Visa. If this endorsement is withdrawn, the applicant will no longer be able to apply. Visa applications should be made from outside the UK unless the applicant is already inside the UK and is switching from one UK visa to the Global Talent Visa or simply filing to extend their current Global Talent Visa.

After completing the visa application online, the applicant will then need to submit documents to the UK Home Office and pay the appropriate fees associated with the Global Talent Visa.

Applicants will then be asked to provide biometric information in the form of a photograph and fingerprints by making an appointment at the nearest UK visa application center. Some applicants will be asked to verify their identity by uploading their identity documents to the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. Applicants will be notified on which course of action to take.

As part of their visa application, applicants will need to submit a variety of documents. The specifics regarding what needs to be submitted to the Home Office will depend on the type of field the applicant is applying under. Overall, all visa applicants will need to submit the following:

• A valid passport or another travel document that proves identity and nationality
• Document verifying relationship to dependent family members (if applying to have your family members join you in the UK)
• Tuberculosis test results (if applying from a country where this is required)

Additional documents for Arts and culture applications

• An updated CV/ résumé which outlines the applicant’s achievement in their career (this must be no more than 3 pages in length)
• At least 3 letters of recommendation. These letters should confirm any achievements made by the applicant and explain how the applicant could benefit their career field in the UK if granted a Global Talent Visa.
• Up to 10 pieces of additional evidence. These pieces can include evidence such as media recognition, any international awards bestowed upon the applicant, public appearances, exhibitions, etc.

Additional Documents for Digital technology applications

• At least 3 letters of recommendation from established organizations are eligible for endorsement. These letters should include information regarding how the applicant is an industry leader or emerging leader in their field. In addition, these letters need to adequately convey how the applicant will contribute to the UK’s digital technology sector.
• Any documents related to how the applicant established or played a key role in a digital technology business
• Up to 10 pieces of evidence that demonstrate the applicant’s level of qualification and eligibility for the Global Talent Visa

Researchers and academic leader applications

• A letter from the human resources department of your current organization. This letter should include details about you, the nature of your work, the interview process the applicant underwent to obtain their job, and other relevant details relating to their position.
• A written statement by the applicant detailing the work they have undertaken and what they have achieved in their job role so far

Research grant applications

• Written confirmation that the applicant has been issued a grant from their funder that is valid for at least 2 years. The applicant will also need to provide evidence that they are in receipt of at least £30,000.

Peer-reviewed applications

• Written confirmation from an internationally recognized industry leader in the applicant’s field detailing how the industry leader knows the applicant and how they can potentially contribute to the applicant’s respective industry in the UK

It should be noted that all documents that are not in English or Welsh language will need to be accompanied by certified translations.

The Global Talent Visa is intended to attract the best and brightest talent to the UK. For that reason, this UK visa carries with it loads of benefits and advantages to help attract foreign talent which includes the following:

• Unlike other UK visas, Global Talent visa holders can work for a number of employers in the UK or be self-employed if they are working in their relevant industry. They are not limited to only one UK employer and are welcome to seek opportunities with other UK employers if they see fit to do so.
• Applicants do not require a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) in order to work in the UK. Therefore, UK employers who hire a Global Talent visa holder will not need to acquire or hold a sponsor licence from the Home Office.
• Visa holders can change jobs in the UK as much as they like without the need to inform the Home Office of these changes
• Global Talent visa holders can stay in the UK for a 5 year period of time and can extend their visa indefinitely as long as they can still meet the visa requirements
• The Global Talent visa provides a pathway to permanent residence in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain). After securing Indefinite Leave to Remain and living in the UK for at least 1 year, Global Talent visa holders are welcome to apply for British citizenship and even a British passport.

The UK Global Talent Visa is valid for a period of up to 5 years. Visa holders who would like to remain in the UK can apply for an extension or renewal as many times as they would like if they can meet the requirements for the extension/renewal.

Extensions can last between 1-5 years depending on how long the visa holder would like to remain in the UK. Visa holders are eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after living in the UK for 3 or 5 years, depending on the field in which the visa holder works.

Applicants applying for the UK Global Talent Visa will need to pay the following fees associated with the visa application. This may include the following:

• Endorsement application: £456
• Visa applications: £167
• Healthcare surcharge: fees will be calculated at £624 per year of stay in the UK

Applicants who are applying based on receipt of an eligible award and who will not be applying for an endorsement will need to pay a total of £623 for their application in full. Applicants who are including dependent family members in their visa application will need to pay £623 per person.

Eligible family members can come to the UK to live and work with the Global Talent Visa holder. Under UK immigration rules, eligible dependent family members are classified as the following:

• A spouse, civil partner, or unmarried ‘de facto’ partner
• Children under 18 years old (including any children born in the UK during your visa stay)
• Children over the age of 18 who live with their parents as a dependant

Global Talent visa applicants will need to provide proof of relationship to dependent family members. Furthermore, there are additional requirements which are outlined below.

Requirements for Spouses and partners

Spouses and partners of UK Global Talent visa holders who would like to join their family members in the UK will need:

• Be in a marriage or civil partnership that is recognized by the UK
• Have been living together and in a romantic relationship for at least two years before applying for the UK visa

Requirements for children

Children who are aged 16 years or older are eligible if:

• The older children are living with their parent(s) unless they are at a full-time boarding school or educational institution
• The older children are unmarried and with no children of their own
• The older children are fully financially supported by their parents (the use of public funds is prohibited)

Children who are living with their parents will need to provide at least 2 of the following documents:

• Driving license
• Bank statement
• Credit card/ utility bills
• NHS registration documents
• Official letters from educational facilities

All documents must be submitted in their original form and in English or Welsh. Photocopies will not be accepted. Documents that are not in these two languages will need to be accompanied by a certified translation.

Furthermore, all eligible family members who are applying for a dependant visa will need to pay the corresponding visa application fees as well as the healthcare surcharge fee for every year they will stay in the UK.