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Global Talent Visa
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
You must be at least 18 years old and meet standard immigration checks. No job offer, salary threshold, or language test is required.
The visa offers flexibility to work, change jobs, and apply for settlement in the UK after 3–5 years.
Endorsement process
To apply for a Global Talent Visa, most applicants must be endorsed by a UK endorsing body in their field. This body assesses your skills, achievements, and leadership potential.
If you’ve won an eligible award, you can usually apply without an endorsement.
Costs
The UK Global Talent Visa costs £766. This is split into two stages:
- £561 when applying for the endorsement; and
- £205 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
The Global Talent Visa allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years, with the option to extend in 1 to 5-year increments.
There is no maximum stay limit, and you can apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) after 3 or 5 years, depending on your endorsement route.
Conditions of stay
The Global Talent Visa offers flexibility and freedom to highly skilled professionals in the UK.
- Apply for indefinite leave to remain after 3 years*
- Work for any employer, change jobs, or start a business
- No need for employer sponsorship
- Bring dependents with similar rights in the UK
It’s an ideal route for those seeking career growth and long-term settlement in the UK.
How we can help
Visa Positive offers expert Global Talent Visa support, including eligibility checks and end-to-end application help. Start with a £99 consultation today.
Questions
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.