Can I apply for the UK Global Talent Visa?

10 Aug 2021, 07 mins ago

To be eligible for this category of visa, individuals must be a leader or potential leader in academia or research, arts and culture or digital technology.

Within these broader areas, the sectors of science, engineering, medicine, humanities, digital technology, film and television, fashion design and architecture are included.

To be considered for a Global Talent visa, applicants must seek and obtain endorsement from one of six endorsing bodies authorised by the UK Home Office. The relevant endorsing bodies are:

  • The Royal Society – for natural and medical science applications
  • The Royal Academy of Engineering – for engineering applications
  • The British Academy – for humanities and social science applications
  • Arts Council England – for arts, culture, fashion, architecture, film and television applications
  • Tech Nation – for digital technology applications
  • UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – for science and research applications

The visa allows applicants to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time. Applicants are permitted to apply for an extension of their visa as many times as they wish. An applicant may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK from after 3 years in the UK (or after 5 years if they were endorsed under the exceptional promise criteria by Arts Council England or Tech Nation).

The Global Talent visa varies to the Skilled Worker visa for various reasons. The Global Talent visa allows applicants to work for an employer, as the director of a company, or to be self-employed in the field they are endorsed. The companies for which a Global Talent visa holder is working do not have to hold a Home Office Sponsor Licence.

How do I apply for a Global Talent Visa?

A Global Talent visa application can be made online from within the UK if an applicant is switching from an eligible, different type of immigration category or extending their current Global Talent visa.

If an applicant does not live in the UK, they must apply for entry clearance at a visa application centre in their country of residence or a country where they hold long-term residence status.

How long do Global Talent visa applications take to be processed?

The initial application for endorsement usually takes up to 28 days to be processed. Upon receipt of your endorsement, you can proceed to applying for the Global Talent visa.

The visa application can take up to 3 weeks to be processed if you are applying from outside the UK and up to 8 weeks if you are applying from within the UK. This is in accordance with current Home Office guidelines. Such guidelines are subject to change and processing time will vary on a case-by-case basis. Subject to availability, applicants can pay an additional fee for priority service, which may help to reduce the application processing time.

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