Any working professional considering a move to the UK has likely heard about the Global Talent visa. In February 2020, the Global Talent visa route replaced the previous Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa.
 

In this article, we will be taking a closer look at the Global Talent visa. You are in the right place if you’re curious about eligibility criteria, which disciplines qualify, and the application process involved in the Global Talent route.
 

Global Talent Visa Eligibility
The Global Talent Visa includes 2 categories of eligibility:
- Exceptional Talent: This visa is aimed at individuals with a proven track record in leadership roles within their given field.
- Exceptional Promise: This visa is designed to recognise emerging leaders that have demonstrated potential as leaders in their field.
 

This allows people considered as either leaders or emerging leaders in certain fields to enter the UK. Before final visa approval, applicants must first receive an endorsement from one of the endorsing bodies that are officially recognised by the UK Home Office. These endorsing bodies review documentary evidence included with the application to determine an applicant’s eligibility.
 

You can apply for the UK’s Global Talent visa route if you’re a proven Leader or Potential Leader in:
- Arts and Culture
- Architecture
- Digital Technology (including Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Fintech, Gaming, and Web Development)
- Fashion Design
- Film and Television (including Animation, Post Production, and Visual FX)
- Health and Medicine
- Research & Development/Academia
- Science and Engineering
 

Each endorsement must come from the relevant endorsing body for your given discipline:
- Architecture: Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
- Digital Tech: Tech Nation
- Engineering: The Royal Academy of Engineering
- Fashion & Design: British Fashion Council
- Fine Arts & Culture: Arts Council England
- Humanities: British Academy
- Media (Film and TV): Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT)
- Research & Academia: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
- Science & Medicine: The Royal Society
 

The Global Talent Visa Application Process
You can apply for a Global Talent visa if you have received an official endorsement verifying your position as a leader or potential leader. Recipients of certain prestigious awards can apply for the visa without an endorsement.
 

Visa Duration - How Long You Can Stay
With the UK Global Talent visa, you can live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time.
During that time, there is no need to obtain sponsorship from an employer. The Global Talent visa permits recipients to work for any employer or even for themselves, although they should stay in touch with their endorsing body throughout their stay.
Each endorsing body has its own standards for how often and in what manner this communication occurs.
 

If you decide to stay longer in the UK
There’s no limit on the Global Talent visa as far as how long you can stay in the UK overall, but you will need to renew your visa when it expires (called an extension). Each extension can last from 1 to 5 years - you choose how long you want the extension to be at the time of renewal.
Some holders of the Global Talent visa are eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 3 or 5 years, depending on which field they work in and how they apply. 
This is a permanent settlement route and gives you the right to live, work, and study within the UK for as long as you like. Permanent residents may also apply for benefits if eligible.
 

How to apply?
Once you’ve received an endorsement and gathered the other relevant documentation, the visa application is submitted online.
 

How you apply depends on whether you are:
- outside the UK and are coming to the UK
- inside the UK and extending your current visa
- inside the UK and switching from a different visa
 

How long does it take?
You’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents as part of your application.
You may need to allow extra time if you require an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.
 

Getting a decision
Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity, and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:
- 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
- 8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK
 

According to the Home Office website, it’s currently taking longer to get a decision on Global Talent visas when you apply from outside the UK. Find out visa decision waiting times (links to Home Office).
Documents you'll need to apply
 

When applying for a Global Talent visa, you’ll need to provide:
- a valid passport or another document that shows your identity and nationality
- tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
 

If you’ve received an award or scholarship to study in the UK within the year prior to applying, you’ll also need to provide written permission to apply for the visa from the agency or government that granted the award or scholarship.
If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation.
 

If you’ve won an eligible award, the Home Office will look at publicly available information to confirm that you’ve won. You’ll only be asked for evidence of your win if they cannot find this.
 

Conclusion
To conclude, we hope this article helped provide insight into the application process for the UK’s popular Global Talent visa programme. We covered the eligibility criteria, which disciplines qualify, and the application process for this exciting new option of immigrating to the UK. 
Applying for a UK Global Talent visa is ultimately a fairly complex process, with many separate components needing to come together into one solid picture. Presenting oneself properly to the endorsing bodies is a critical part of this process. Still, any inaccuracies or omissions in other areas can delay an application or even result in rejection.
Securing an endorsement and conducting a thorough documentary review of all required material is critical to a successful Global Talent visa application. Still, the opportunities presented within the UK’s robust business economy are substantial and prove more than worth it for many.
 

Our Promise to our clients
We will always provide clear guidance and advice on whether you are eligible and would meet the strict criteria set by endorsing bodies across the United Kingdom’s Global Talent Visa, Start-up Visa and Innovator Visa programmes.
Just send us an email (office@t1digitalconsultants.co.uk), give our experts a call or chat with us via WhatsApp today at 0044 207 993 6286.