Tier 1 Global Talent Visa

The new Global Talent Visa (previously known as the Exceptional Talent Visa) allows exceptionally talented individuals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to come to the UK. You must be:

• a recognised leader (exceptional talent) in your field
• an emerging leader (exceptional promise) in your field
• under the UK Research and Innovation endorsed funder option

The Global Talent Visa is for talented and promising individuals in the fields of science, engineering, medicine, humanities, digital technology and arts and culture (including film and television, fashion design and architecture) wishing to work in the UK.

An endorsing body approved by the Home Office determines whether applicants are leaders in their field, or have the potential to be leaders. You must be able to speak English to a high level.

Your application will be reviewed by an organisation that is related to your qualifying field, called an ‘endorsing body’. Following endorsement, you can go on to apply for the Global Talent Visa. 

The fields covered and 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

Working with us on your Global Talent Visa application

We are experienced in preparing and submitting well-evidenced, successful applications to the Home Office. The evidence required for the Global Talent Visa is vitally important at the endorsement stage and we will help you with this.

It is worth noting that there is an Endorsement Review mechanism if you fail to obtain endorsement by the relevant body in your field.

How does the process work?

This is a two stage process. Firstly, endorsement, and then the application.

You’ll usually get a decision on endorsement within 8 weeks. Most people apply at the same time for endorsement and for the Visa.

A faster decision may be made if you are a digital technology specialist or have been accepted onto a recognised UK accelerator programme.

Similarly, 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

You will be granted a maximum of 5 years' leave. You can request the length of leave you wish to be granted - between 1 and 5 years. Contact us today if you have any questions about the Global Talent / Exceptional Talent Visa.