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Global Talent Visa [UK]
A UK visa for the best and brightest talent
The UK Global Talent Visa is designed for individuals who are leaders or potential leaders in fields such as academia, research, arts, and digital technology.
It allows talented professionals to live and work in the UK without sponsorship and with an accelerated path to settlement.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Global Talent Visa, you must be a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:
- Academia and research
- Arts and culture
- Digital technology
In addition, you must be at least 18 years of age and meet all relevant suitability and validity immigration checks.
A language test, job offer or minimum salary is not required for the Global Talent Visa route.
Meeting these requirements, along with submitting strong evidence of your achievements, is essential to qualify for this visa. If approved, the Global Talent Visa offers the freedom to work, change jobs, and apply for settlement in the UK after three to five years.
Endorsement process
The endorsement process is a critical step in applying for a UK Global Talent Visa. Applicants must secure an endorsement from an approved UK endorsing body relevant to their field. The endorsing body evaluates your skills, achievements, and potential as a leader in your field before granting approval.
If you have won an eligible award then you can usually apply without endorsement.
Costs
The UK Global Talent Visa costs £716. This is split into two stages:
- £524 when applying for the endorsement; and
- £192 when applying for the visa
Additionally, applicants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The IHS fees are currently £1,035 per year for adults and £776 per year for children under the age of 18.
How to apply
You must make an online application for a Global Talent Visa in a two part process:
- First, you must secure an endorsement from an approved endorsement body; AND
- Second, you must apply for the visa itself if your endorsement is successful
Processing time
Once you’ve applied online the processing time are as follows:
- For endorsement, the processing time is typically 8 weeks; AND
- For the visa itself the processing time typically takes three weeks if applying from outside the UK and up to eight weeks for in-country applications
Length of stay
A Global Talent Visa permits the holder to live and work in the UK for a period of up to 5 years. It is possible to extend the visa or apply for settlement if eligibility criteria are met.
There is no limit on how long you can stay in the UK and you can extend each time for between 1 to 5 years – you can choose the grant of length in whole years.
You may also be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 3 or 5 years, depending on your field of work and under which category you were endorsed.
Conditions of stay
The UK Global Talent Visa offers numerous advantages, making it an attractive option for highly skilled professionals across various fields. This visa provides flexibility, independence, and opportunities for career growth in the UK.
- You can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after three years*
- You can work for any employer, switch jobs, or even start your own business
- Unlike other work visas, it does not require employer sponsorship, giving you freedom to choose where and how to work
- You can include dependents such as your spouse and children and enjoy similar rights in the UK.
The Global Talent Visa is an excellent pathway for professionals looking to advance their careers while enjoying long-term residency options in the UK.
How we can help
Visa Positive offers complete, ready-to-ship endorsement applications for the Global Talent visa set-up for approval. As immigration experts we can asses your eligibility for this route and support you with all aspects of the application process. Simply get started with our always available questionnaire.
Our guarantee
Should your endorsement application be denied, we will submit an endorsement appeal on your behalf for free. No other firm will make this commitment.
FAQ’s
No, unlike other visa routes, the Global Talent Visa doesn’t require a pre-existing job offer. You’ll need an endorsement from a designated body in your field instead.
A list of awards can be found . If you are the holder of an eligible award you can apply for the visa without endorsement
If approved, you’ll receive a visa allowing you to live, work, and study in the UK, with a path to settlement.
An immigration lawyer can advise you on your appeal options and represent you throughout the process, increasing your chances of a successful outcome.