Global Talent Visa

Before you apply for the visa, ensure you meet the Global Talent visa requirements. To start with, this visa is for foreign nationals who are over 18 years of age and have exceptional promise or talent in the following fields:

• Academia or research
• Arts and culture
• Digital technology sector

The above categories can include the field of science, social sciences, architecture, fashion, film and television, engineering, humanities, and medicine.

Furthermore, you must have an endorsement from the appropriate endorsing body and apply for this visa from outside the United Kingdom.

Because the UK uses a point-based system for immigration, applicants must ensure they meet the minimum point of 70 to qualify for the Global Talent visa route. They can meet this requirement through the following:

• Being awarded a prize under Prestigious Prizes, such as a Nobel Prize or Golden Globe Award
• Making an initial application with an endorsement from an approved body and the application date is no more than three months after the date on the endorsement letter
• Demonstrating that you have met the earned money requirement and the endorsement they were issued has not been withdrawn, if they are applying to extend their visa

Receiving an endorsement from an approved endorsing body is one of the most difficult elements of the Global Talent Visa application.

There are seven organisations eligible to provide endorsement to potential visa applicants. These include:

• Arts Council England (for applications within the arts, culture, fashion, film and television sectors)
• The British Academy (for humanities and social science applications)
• The Royal Academy of Engineering (for engineering applications)
• The Royal Society (for applications within the natural sciences or medical science research field)
• UK Research and Innovation (for broader science and research applications)
• Tech Nation (for applications within the digital technology sphere)

There is an associated fee involved in applying to the endorsing body (£456). Each endorsing body has different criteria. All applicants must apply on the Gov.uk website at the Apply for Global Talent Endorsement – Stage 1 page.

Before submitting an application for endorsement, it is essential to fully understand the requirements of each body and demonstrate how you meet these.

Because there is a wide range of categories eligible under this visa, it is not possible to list them all here. You should use the Global Talent guidance to find further information related to your individual circumstances, or alternatively, reach out to Newcastle Immigration Lawyers if you need one-to-one assistance with your application. Call us on 0333 242 9057 or reach out to us for expert help and advice today.

The Global Talent Visa UK is a broad-ranging visa that allows highly talented individuals to come to the UK in order to make a contribution within their chosen industry.

As a points-based immigration category, it is essential to demonstrate that Global Talent visa applicants meet the eligibility criteria.

It is necessary to score 70 points in order to be eligible. These points can be obtained through the following methods:

• You have been issued with an endorsement letter from an endorsing body
• The date of application is not longer than 3 months after the date on the endorsement letter
• The endorsement has not been withdrawn by the relevant body

Alternatively, applicants who are want to apply for a Global Talent Visa extension should demonstrate:

• They have not had their endorsement withdrawn
• They have met the ‘earned money’ requirement

In either case, meeting the above circumstances will enable the applicant to obtain the necessary 70 points.

In addition to meeting the general eligibility requirements for the UK Global Talent visa, you must also meet requirements specific to your endorsement.

Arts and culture endorsement

To be eligible, you must prove the following:

• You have professionally engaged in creating an outstanding work of art
• You have a significant track record in more than one country
• You have a history of regular engagement in your field in the last five years
• You have three letters of recommendation from eligible organisations
• You have worked in at least two countries with media recognition
• You have an exceptional promise from at least one country

Architecture endorsement

As with the Arts and Culture Global Talent visa endorsement, you must provide three letters of recommendation from eligible organisations. In addition, you must demonstrate that you have won an eligible award or done a substantial body of work within at least two countries with media recognition to prove you have exceptional talent.

Fashion design industry endorsement

Eligibility requirements include the following:

• You have had a leading role in the fashion industry with professional engagement in the last five years
• You have three letters of recommendation
• If you have exceptional promise, you must have media recognition or sponsorship from an eligible fashion organisation.

Film and television endorsement

Film and television-based applicants must prove the following:

• Have three letters of recommendation from relevant organisations
• Won a ‘main award’, such as an Academy Award, a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (BAFTA), a Golden Globe, or an Emmy Award or have been nominated for one of those awards in the last ten years

Digital technology endorsement

Here are the requirements for digital technology endorsement:

• You must have proven expertise in creating technical infrastructure
• You must have proven expertise in commercial investment or product development
• You must have career achievements and three letters of recommendation from relevant bodies

Science, engineering, humanities, and medicine fields endorsement

For this category, you must be an active researcher or leading industry individual in the field and an eligible organisation or research institute.

Please note that the requirements in the lists above are not exhaustive and you may be required to provide evidence to be granted the Global Talent Visa for other conditions not listed here. It’s recommended that you reach out to a UK immigration solicitor for advice on the requirements specific to your situation and the best pieces of evidence to meet them. Please call Newcastle Immigration Lawyers today on 0191 303 8965.

As there are two parts to the Global Talent Visa, the documents you need to submit will depend on which part of the application you are completing.

For the first part, as it relates to the endorsement requirement, you should consult the relevant body to identify the documents they are looking for.

There are significant evidential requirements involved, including providing proof of industry track record, as well as letters of recommendation, potential awards, media recognition, sales (where relevant), publishing history, proof of significant career history, etc.

You should provide documents that demonstrate your talent or eligibility based on work completed by you in the past five years.

As part of the visa application, you should provide the following documents:

• Valid passport or travel document
• Clear tuberculosis test results (where relevant)

If you have been awarded an award or scholarship to study in the UK in the last year, you should obtain written permission from the agency or government that issued the award.

How you apply will depend on whether you are inside or outside the UK.

If you are outside the UK, you must first obtain an endorsement to prove that you are a leader or potential leader in your field. This is an important step in the process and you cannot complete the visa application without this endorsement.

Ensure that you have all the relevant documents to submit with your application and that you are prepared to pay the relevant fees and surcharges.

Once you have completed the online application, you will be required to submit your biometric information. This could be at a visa application centre, or alternatively, via a smartphone app.

If you intend to bring eligible dependents, they will have to apply separately (using your application number).

Fees

The cost of applying for the Global Talent Visa as of February 2023 is £623. If you are submitting an application with a dependent partner or children, there is a charge of £623 for each person.

There is also an immigration healthcare surcharge involved with this visa, costing approximately £624 per year.

There is also a requirement to pay the endorsement application fee which currently costs £456.

Waiting time

According to the Home Office, the estimated waiting time to receive a decision on your application is three weeks, but this may take longer.

If you have a family member who needs to attend a visa application centre, if your supporting documents need to be verified, if you are required to attend an interview, or if you have a criminal conviction or other concerning circumstances, you will likely be waiting longer.

In some cases, you will be able to pay for a faster decision. When the decision is made, you will receive an official email or letter outlining further details and the next steps.

Extending

A Global talent visa holder can extend their visa if they are eligible. It is essential that your relevant endorsing body has not withdrawn its approval and that you can show you have earned money since you came to the UK.

If you applied under the previous Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa, you can apply to extend under the Global Talent Visa.

This visa is issued for five years and you can apply to renew it as many times as you wish. This visa can provide a route towards settlement and British citizenship.

After three or five years, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Switching

Some categories of existing visa will allow you to switch to the Global Talent Visa. If you have a dependent partner or child, they will need to apply separately.

In order to switch to the global talent visa category, you must be present in the UK and be able to prove that you are a leader or future leader in one of the relevant disciplines.

The fields are limited to academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology.

If the following circumstances apply to your case, you cannot apply to switch to this visa:

• If you hold a visitor, short-term student, parent of a child student, season worker, or domestic worker in a private household visa
• If you are on immigration bail
• If you have permission to stay outside the immigration rules (e.g., on compassion leave)

Additionally, if you plan to switch to this visa from a Student visa, one of the following must apply to you:

• You’ve completed the course you were sponsored to study on your Student visa
• The start date of your job is after the completion date of your course
• You’ve been studying for a PhD for at least 24 months