UK Global Talent Visa

UK GLOBAL TALENT VISA

The U.K. Global Talent visa is an immigration category specifically targeted at individuals in specific sectors that wish to work overseas in the U.K. It is  is a UK immigration category for talented and promising individuals in specific sectors wishing to work in the UK. It replaced the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa in February 2020.

To be considered for entry under the Global Talent visa, applicants must normally* seek endorsement from one of six endorsing bodies engaged by the UK Home Office. 

An individual might be able to apply for a Global Talent visa for working in the U.K. if they are either a leader or a potential leader, in any of the following fields –

• Digital Technology
• Academia or Research
• Arts and Culture

ENDORSING BODIES

• Tech Nation [for DigiTech]
• Arts Council England [for Arts and Culture]
• British Academy
• Royal Academy of Engineering
• Royal Society
• Research and Innovation [UKRI]

After being granted an endorsement, the final immigration decision for the Global Talent visa will lie with the U.K. Home Office. f you are applying for endorsement in non-academic fields of arts and culture and digital technology, your application will be referred to Arts Council England or Tech Nation, which follow separate endorsement criteria. Please see Appendix Global Talent of the Immigration Rules and the guidance on GOV.UK for further information.

• With the Global Talent visa, you can live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time.

While there is as such “no limit” on the total duration that you can stay on in the U.K. on a Global Talent visa, you will be required to get your visa renewed, thereby extending the same when it expires. An extension of the Global Talent visa can last anywhere from 1 to 5 years. Following a stay in the U.K. For a certain period, a Global Talent visa holder might be eligible to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain [ILR] so that they can settle in the U.K. permanently. Depending on the field that the individual is working in, an ILR can be applied for after 3 to 5 years in the U.K. on a Global Talent visa. With the ILR, an individual gets the right to live, work and study in the U.K. for as long as they require, even applying for benefits if found to be eligible for the same. Applications for the Global Talent visa are to be made online. Generally, the processing time is that of 3 weeks, if applying from outside the U.K.

BENEFITS OF WORKING IN THE U.K. ON A GLOBAL TALENT VISA

• Ability to change occupation and employer without seeking approval of the U.K. Home Office and to take up self-employment in the U.K.
• Earn additional income from consultancy, or any other sources
• Advantages for the partners and dependents
• It is a Fast-track route to U.K. settlement after 3 years
• Can take up research overseas