Global Talent Visa

You must meet the eligibility criteria to apply for a Global Talent Visa. The specific eligibility criteria you must meet may depend on the field in which you are wishing to receive an endorsement. You must be an exceptional talent or meet the exceptional promise criteria.

Below each sector is outlined with its relevant requirements for an eligible applicant.

Science, medicine, engineering, and humanities

• You must be an industry leader or an active researcher in your field. This must be through an eligible organisation or company

Architecture

• To demonstrate your exceptional talent, you must be able to show an award or body of work with media coverage from at least two countries
• You must obtain three letters of recommendation

Arts and Culture

• You must show exceptional promise or exceptional talent(with evidence from a minimum of one country)
• At least five years of professional engagement- this must be consistent
• You must be able to demonstrate your professional engagement through the means of producing outstanding, creative works of art
• You should hold a good track record of your work within at least one country
• Three official letters of recommendation from authorised organisations

Digital Technology

• If you are applying as a digital technology business applicant, you must have proof of a commercial investment or expertise in product development
• If you are applying as a technical applicant in the field of digital technology, you must show proof to Tech Nation of a high level of competency in building technical infrastructure
• You must provide an up to date CV with a clear outline of your career achievements in the digital technology field so far
• Global talent applicants must provide three letters of recommendation from authorised organisations in the digital technology industry- Tech Nation will look at how you have previously performed in the field

Fashion and Design

• Can demonstrate five years of professional engagement within the fashion industry as a leading body with exceptional talent
• If you are applying on the grounds that you show exceptional promise, you should provide proof of media coverage or sponsorship from a recognised fashion organisation
• Three letters of recommendation from authorised organisations to show bodies such as Arts Council England you are suitable for the Global Talent Visa category

Film and Television

• You should have won a mainstream award or must have been nominated for one in the last ten years (BAFTA, Academy Award or Golden Globe, etc)
• Global talent applicants should present three letters of recommendation from authorised organisations

Typically, the Global talent visa application will cost you £623. For those applying on the basis of endorsement of exceptional talent or promise, you will pay the total amount in the following two installments:

• £456 for the application for the endorsement
• £167 for the visa application itself

For those applying based on an eligible award, you will pay the full balance of £623 upfront.

In addition, applicants are required to pay a healthcare surcharge of around £624 per person they are applying for.

For Global Talent Visa applicants including a partner or children in their application, they will each need to pay an additional £623.

You can check the amount you will need to pay before you apply.

Those applying for a Global Talent Visa can expect to hear back from authorities within up to three weeks of submitting their application, however, this can vary during busier periods.

You can apply for a Global Talent Visa up to three months before you intend to commence work in the UK. For those wishing to speed up the application process, you can opt for a priority service which will accommodate the requirement for a faster decision. However, this will come at an extra cost.

It is essential to ensure that you submit the required documents to the Home Office in full in the first instance of applying, as withholding documents or not supplying the correct information could delay your Global Talent visa application.

Those who anticipate obtaining endorsement and a Global talent visa may be able to bring their partner and children provided that they meet eligibility requirements on being dependant.

A dependant is classed as any of the following:

• A husband, wife, civil or unmarried partner
• A child under 18 years old- including if they were born within the UK during your stay
• A child over the age of 18 years old if they are in the UK as your dependant

For each dependant you include as part of your Global Talent Visa, you must be able to demonstrate proof of your relationship with them.

Your children

If your child is aged 16 or over, they must fit within the following scenarios:

• They must live with you (unless they are boarding in full-time education)
• They must not be married or have any children of their own
• They must be supported by you without the use of public funds

You will be required to submit two of the following documents on behalf of any children as proof that they live with you:

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

These must be official documents and not photocopies.

Your partner

You must be able to prove the following:

• That you are in a marriage or civil partnership that is recognised by the UK
• You must have been living together in a relationship for at least two years before applying for the talent visa

As mentioned earlier, any dependants you plan to bring to the UK with you once you are granted a Global Talent Visa must also pay the full application process fee and healthcare surcharge fees.

Receiving endorsement for a Global Talent Visa can seem complex at first. Once you have figured out eligibility requirements, you will need to decipher the specific criteria of requirements for the relevant endorsement body.

You will be able to find the correct requirements for each endorsing body below:

• Tech Nation
• Arts Council of England
• The Royal Society
• Royal Academy of Engineering
• The British Academy
• UK Research and Innovation

Once you have an endorsement letter from one of the approved endorsing bodies, you can go on to submit your Global Talent Visa application to the Home Office.

If your endorsement application is rejected there may be an opportunity for an endorsement review. If this is the case, it could be advantageous to seek assistance from a trained immigration lawyer.

You can submit an endorsement review to the Home Office for reconsideration. The Home Office will consult with the appropriate endorsing body on your behalf before returning with an outcome.

You must file for a review within 28 days of the endorsing bodies decline to ensure you can get a reconsideration.

The application process to being granted a Global talent visa can be very intricate. Before you can even consider applying to the Home Office you must have an endorsement from an endorsement body or have won an eligible award in your field.

Once you have received an endorsement letter from the endorsing body, you can apply for your talent visa if the following scenarios apply to you:

• You have been endorsed by an appropriate endorsing body, approved by the Home Office
• You are applying within three months of obtaining your letter of endorsement
• The endorsement has not been withdrawn by the endorsement body

You can then apply online using the Global Talent Visa application along with the documents you need to supply to the Home Office.

Dependant partners and children of a Global Talent Visa holder will have to apply separately to Global Talent visa holders.

Global Talent visa holders are able to extend their visa provided they meet the eligibility requirements to do so. Global Talent visas do not have a limit on how many times they can be renewed.

In order to proceed with renewal, those who have taken the global talent route must be able to demonstrate that they have earned sufficient money in their expert field during their time in the UK.

Each successful application for an extension will allow you up to five years of additional stay within the UK. You must, however, apply to extend your Global Talent visa before it is due to expire.

For those who want to stay longer in the UK, you may be able to gain Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of residency. This will allow you to live, study and work in the UK for as long as you wish to.

Extensions for family members must be made separately.

There are ample advantages to acquiring a Global Talent visa in the UK. The flexibility and decreased cost have the global talent route increasingly popular amongst those with exceptional talent or exceptional promise.

Some of the advantages are as follows:

• You have the freedom to switch jobs and expand your career repertoire unlike that of a skilled worker visa holder
• You are able to establish long term residence within the UK after three to five years of staying there
• You are not required to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship nor does your employer have to have a sponsor licence
• A fast endorsement application process means it is an efficient way to access the UK
• Global Talent visa holders have the opportunity to choose the length of their visa

Yes, the Global Talent visa leads to settlement after 3 or 5 years of holding the visa while living in the UK continuously. The duration of time visa holders must have spent living in the UK to qualify for settlement is dependant on how holders were endorsed. As well as meeting the residence requirements, you must have been making money in the UK, meet the language requirements, and pass the life in the UK test.

The process of acquiring a UK Global Talent Visa can be complex due to the multiple steps involved in getting an endorsement application before reaching out to the Home Office. The global talent route remains highly popular, but for increased chances of success, an immigration lawyer can assist you.

Our trained immigration lawyers have experience in UK Global Talent Visa and endorsing body application protocol and are ready and waiting to help you every step of the way, from the endorsement application to extending your visa once granted. Birmingham immigration lawyers have an excellent track record of helping talented and promising individuals access a talent visa and reach their full potential.

For more information on how we can help you with the Global Talent visa route, call our friendly team today on 0121 667 6530.