Global Talent Visas
For exceptionally talented individuals in certain fields, the Global Talent visa offers freedom to work, the ability to sponsor family members, and a straightforward path to permanent settlement.
The Global Talent visa offers a lot of freedom and flexibility. You can work in any type of role, and bring family members with you. It’s also fairly easy to convert it into permanent settlement in the UK.
It’s available for people who can demonstrate exceptional talent or exceptional promise in academic, digital tech or cultural fields. Applying is a two-stage process, and our expert lawyers can guide you every step of the way.
The Global Talent visa application process
The first stage is the hardest: endorsement. You can skip this first step if you have won a prestigious prize in your field; the Home Office publishes a list of acceptable awards. But most people will need to start by getting an endorsement from one of six designated endorsing bodies, which include Tech Nation and the Arts Council England. The endorsement criteria differ from body to body, but generally you will need to provide three letters of recommendation and up to ten pieces of additional evidence to prove your talent in the field.
It typically takes between three and eight weeks to receive a decision on an endorsement application.
If you’re not sure whether you are eligible for endorsement, or which endorsing body to apply with, our immigration law experts can help by explaining the criteria in detail and reviewing the evidence you can provide.
Stage two is the visa application. You have three months after you receive an endorsement to apply for the visa. You will be asked to provide evidence of your endorsement, plus other supporting documents. Dependant family members can apply with you at this stage. The timeframe to receive a decision from the Home Office varies, but again from three to eight weeks is typical.
How we can help
We specialise in guiding our clients through the endorsement application process. We carefully review your personal circumstances, advise on the best evidence for you to secure an endorsement, and provide dedicated support at every stage.
A lawyer isn’t essential to make this kind of application, but we can work with you to demystify a sometimes puzzling process and improve your chances of success.
We know that not everyone wants the same legal support. Some of our clients only need a consultation to ensure that they have properly understood their endorsement criteria, and are then content to prepare their applications themselves, perhaps also asking for a quick review of their final bundle of evidence. Others prefer to hand off a lot of the preparatory work, in which case we will help put together a strong bundle of evidence on your behalf. We match our service to the level of involvement you want.
Our experience
Our team has worked with a wide range of exceptionally talented and exceptionally promising individuals. We will bring this expertise to your case to ensure you maximise your endorsement prospects.
In digital tech, we have recent experience of working successfully with clients in tech company leadership, software development, video game development, and fintech.
In the arts, we have successfully worked with leading and up-and-coming authors, musicians, painters, and visual artists to secure endorsement from Arts Council England, and with an Emmy-winning producer to secure endorsement from Pact.
Meet our key contacts
John Vassiliou
Director and Head of Immigration
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be sponsored by an employer to get a Global Talent visa?
No, you don’t require a work sponsor. The only requirement is obtaining an endorsement from one of the designated endorsing bodies.
How can I secure permanent residence in the UK?
To qualify for permanent residence (also known as settlement or indefinite leave to remain) you will need to do two main things – both fairly easy.
You will need to ensure you are not absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period. But if that’s a problem and your visa is nearing an end, you can simply extend it, provided your endorsement has not been withdrawn.
You will also need to prove that you have made earnings in the UK from the discipline you were endorsed in. There is no specified sum that you need to earn: you just need to prove that you have earned some income from working in the field that you used to apply for your visa.
Contact us
John Vassiliou
Director and Head of Immigration
