UK Global Talent Visa

The UK Global Talent visa is open to talented and promising applicants within the fields of science, engineering, medicine, humanities, digital technology and arts and culture (including film and television, fashion design and architecture) who wish to work in the UK.

‘Talent’ applicants will already be leaders in their respective field, while ‘promise’ applicants will be able to show the potential to become leaders in their field.

The UK Global Talent category is not subject to a cap on the number of applicants, does not require a job offer and can lead to settlement in the UK.  A dependent partner and dependent children under 18 can apply under this route.

UK Global Talent Visa Requirements

In order to qualify for a UK Global Talent visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You are aged 18 or over;
• You have been issued with an endorsement letter by a Home Office approved endorsing body or have been awarded a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes;
• Your application does not fall under the general grounds for refusal;
• You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required.

UK Global Talent Endorsement Application

In order to apply for a UK Global Talent visa, most applicants will need to receive an endorsement from an appropriate endorsing body as evidence of their exceptional talent or promise.  You can be endorsed in the fields of science, engineering, medicine, humanities, digital technology and arts and culture (including film and television, fashion design and architecture).

Each endorsing body has its own set of criteria for a Global Talent endorsement, but in each case you will need a substantial body of work and support from experts in your field.

To find out more about the requirements for endorsement for each field, please visit the following pages:

• Global Talent Visa: Arts and Culture
• Global Talent Visa: Film and Television
• Global Talent Visa: Architecture
• Global Talent Visa: Fashion
• Global Talent Visa: Digital Technology
• Global Talent Visa: Science, Engineering, Humanities and Medicine

Once you have been endorsed, you will be able to apply for a Global Talent visa.

Alternatively, if you have been awarded a qualifying Prestigious Prize, you will be able to make a single visa application without needing to obtain an endorsement from one of the Global Talent endorsing bodies.

UK Global Talent Visa: Arts and Culture

The UK Global Talent visa route is open to talented and promising individuals in the fields of arts and culture wishing to work in the UK.  Applicants will be leaders in their field, or have the potential to be leaders, as determined by Arts Council England. 

Arts Council England can endorse applications in the field of arts and culture, encompassing combined arts, dance, literature, music, theatre, visual arts (including those working in an artistic context in galleries and museums).

There is no cap on the number of applicants that can be endorsed in the Arts and Culture sub-category of the UK Global Talent route.

UK Global Talent Visa Arts and Culture Requirements

In order to qualify for a UK Global Talent visa in the Arts and Culture field, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You are aged 18 or over;
• You have been issued with an endorsement letter by Arts Council England or have been awarded a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes;
• Your application does not fall under the general grounds for refusal;
• You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required.

Requirements for Endorsement by Arts Council England

In order to qualify for an Arts and Culture endorsement by Arts Council England you will need to be professionally engaged in producing work of outstanding quality which has been performed, presented, distributed or exhibited internationally.

You must have been regularly engaged as a professional practitioner in your field within the last 5 years and be able to show a substantial track record in at least 2 countries (if applying on the basis of Exceptional Talent) or a developing track record in one or more countries (if applying on the basis of Exceptional Promise).

Evidence Required for Endorsement by Arts Council England

Your application for an Arts and Culture endorsement by Arts Council England will need to include 3 letters of recommendation.

Two letters of recommendation will need to be from well-established arts and culture organisations you have worked with, who are acknowledged as experts in your field and at least one of these organisations will need to be based in the UK.

The third letter of recommendation will need to be from another well-established arts and culture organisation, or an individual you have worked with, who has recognised expertise in your field.

Exceptional Talent Applicants in the Field of Arts and Culture

If you are seeking to evidence exceptional talent in the field of Arts and Culture, you will need to provide at least two of the following:

Media Recognition: evidence from at least 2 countries (which can include your country of residence) of 2 or more examples of significant media recognition for your work as an individual or as a named member of a group or as a contributor (such as an internationally recognised orchestra or dance troupe); or

Awards: evidence of winning, or significantly contributing to winning, at least 1 international award for excellence; or

Performances, publications or exhibitions: evidence from at least 2 countries (which can include your country of residence) of proof of appearances, performances, publications or exhibitions considered internationally significant in your field, or evidence of extensive international distribution and audiences for your work as an individual or as a named member of a group or as a contributor.

Exceptional Promise Applicants in the Field of Arts and Culture

If you are seeking to evidence exceptional promise in the field of Arts and Culture, you will need to provide at least 2 of the following:

Media Recognition: evidence from at least 1 country (which can include your country of residence) of at least 2 examples of recent media recognition for your work as an individual, as a named member of a group or as a contributor; or

Awards: evidence of winning, or significantly contributing to winning, or significantly contributing to being nominated or shortlisted for, or being nominated or shortlisted for, at least 1 international award for excellence; or

Performances, publications or exhibitions: evidence from at least 1 country (which can include your country of residence) of proof of appearances, performances, publications or exhibitions recognised in your field, or evidence of international distribution and audiences for your work as an individual, as a named member of a group or as a contributor.

UK Global Talent Visa: Film and Television

The UK Global Talent visa route is open to talented individuals in the fields of film and television wishing to work in the UK.  Applicants will be leaders in their field as determined by the Producers’ Alliance for Film and Television (PACT) acting on behalf of Arts Council England.  

PACT, acting on behalf of Arts Council England, can endorse applications in the film, television, animation, post production and visual effects industries.

There is no cap on the number of applicants that can be endorsed in the Film and Television sub-category of the Global Talent route.

However, individuals who work in the film, television, animation, post production and visual effects industries will need to demonstrate ‘exceptional talent’.  PACT does not endorse ‘exceptional promise’ applications.

UK Global Talent Visa Film and Television Requirements

In order to qualify for a UK Global Talent visa in the Film and Television field, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You are aged 18 or over;
• You have been issued with an endorsement letter by PACT or have been awarded a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes;
• Your application does not fall under the general grounds for refusal;
• You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required.

Requirements for Endorsement by PACT

The criteria for an endorsement by PACT within the film, television, animation, postproduction and visual effects industries all essentially relate to recognition by awards.

You will need to be able to satisfy at least one of the following criteria:

• You have won an Academy Award, a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award (Film, Television, Television Crafts, Cymru, Scotland, Games awards only), a Golden Globe or an Emmy Award; or
• You have, within the last 10 years, been nominated for, or made a significant contribution to winning, or being nominated for an Academy Award, a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award (Film, Television, Television Crafts, Cymru, Scotland, Games awards only), a Golden Globe or an Emmy Award; or
• You have, in the last 15 years, achieved a minimum of 2 nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award (Film, Television, Television Crafts, Cymru, Scotland, Games awards only), a Golden Globe or an Emmy Award, or
• You have notable industry recognition through achieving international sales and a specified combination of awards from Pact’s Notable Industry List.

There are almost 200 awards on the PACT notable industry list so it is important to check thoroughly to see if you can meet the criteria. It is also notable that when you rely on these awards, you also need to show that your work has international distribution sales and recognition, so unlike applications under options 1, 2 and 3 above, having the awards alone is not enough.

UK Global Talent Visa: Architecture

The UK Global Talent visa route is open to talented and promising individuals in the field of architecture who wish to work in the UK.  Applicants will be leaders in their field, or have the potential to be leaders, as determined by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) acting on behalf of Arts Council England.

There is no cap on the number of applicants that can be endorsed in the Architecture sub-category of the UK Global Talent route.

UK Global Talent Visa Architecture Requirements

In order to qualify for a UK Global Talent visa in the field of Architecture, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You are aged 18 or over;
• You have been issued with an endorsement letter by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) or have been awarded a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes;
• Your application does not fall under the general grounds for refusal;
• You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required.

Requirements for Endorsement by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

In order to qualify for endorsement by the Royal Institute of British Architects you will need to be professionally engaged as an architect producing work of outstanding quality which has been published, presented or exhibited internationally.

You must have been regularly engaged as a professional architect in the last 5 years and be able to show a substantial track record in at least 2 countries (if applying under Exceptional Talent criteria) or a developing track record in at least 1 country (if applying under Exceptional Promise criteria).

UK Global Talent Visa: Fashion

The UK Global Talent visa route is open to talented and promising individuals in the fashion design industry who wish to work in the UK.  Applicants will be leaders in their field, or have the potential to be leaders, as determined by the British Fashion Council (BFC), acting on behalf of Arts Council England.

The British Fashion Council can endorse applications from individuals within the fashion design industry who have a leading design role in the fashion business.

There is no cap on the number of applicants that can be endorsed in the fashion industry sub-category of the Global Talent route.

UK Global Talent Visa Fashion Design Requirements

In order to qualify for a UK Global Talent visa in the field of Fashion Design, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You are aged 18 or over;
• You have been issued with an endorsement letter by the British Fashion Council (BFC) or have been awarded a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes;
• Your application does not fall under the general grounds for refusal;
• You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required.

Requirements for Endorsement by the British Fashion Council (BFC)

In order to qualify for endorsement by the British Fashion Council in the field of fashion design you will need to have a leading design role in the fashion business and be able to show regular professional engagement in the fashion design industry in the last 5 years.

You will also need to demonstrate professional engagement in producing outstanding work that has been sold or exhibited internationally through catwalk or other exhibitions and a substantial track record in more than 1 country (if applying under Exceptional Talent criteria) or a developing track record in 1 or more countries and professional engagement in producing outstanding work that has been recognised by leading industry players (if applying under Exceptional Promise criteria).

UK Global Talent Visa: Digital Technology

The UK Global Talent visa route is open to talented and promising individuals with technical or business skills in the digital technology sector wishing to work in the UK. 

Applicants will be leaders in their field, or have the potential to be leaders, as determined by Tech Nation.

There is no cap on the number of applicants that can be endorsed in the Digital Technology sub-category of the UK Global Talent route.

UK Global Talent Visa Digital Technology Requirements

In order to qualify for a UK Global Talent visa in the field of Digital Technology, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You are aged 18 or over;
• You have been issued with an endorsement letter by Tech Nation or have been awarded a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes;
• Your application does not fall under the general grounds for refusal;
• You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required.

Requirements for Endorsement by Tech Nation

In order to qualify for endorsement by Tech Nation in the field of Digital Technology you will either need to be:

1. A technical applicant who can demonstrate proven technical expertise in building, using, deploying or exploiting a technology stack and building technical infrastructure; or
2. A business applicant who can demonstrate proven commercial, investment, or product expertise in building digital products or leading investments in significant digital product businesses.

UK Global Talent Visa: Science, Engineering, Humanities and Medicine

The UK Global Talent visa route is open to talented and promising individuals who are active researchers in academic, industry or government research institutions, in a range of disciplines in the areas of science, engineering, humanities and medicine.  

Applicants will be leaders in their field, or have the potential to be leaders, as determined by the Royal Society (for natural and medical science applications), the Royal Academy of Engineering (for engineering applications), the British Academy (for humanities and social science applications) or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) (for science and research applications).

There is no cap on the number of applicants that can be endorsed in the Science, Engineering, Humanities and Medicine sub-category of the Global Talent route.

UK Global Talent Visa Science, Engineering, Humanities and Medicine Requirements

In order to qualify for a UK Global Talent visa in the field of Science, Engineering, Humanities and Medicine, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You are aged 18 or over;
• You have been issued with an endorsement letter by the Royal Society (for natural and medical science applications), the Royal Academy of Engineering (for engineering applications), the British Academy (for humanities and social science applications) or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) (for science and research applications) or have been awarded a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes;
• Your application does not fall under the general grounds for refusal;
• You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required.

Requirements for Endorsement by the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Academy and UK Research and Innovation

The criteria you will need to meet for endorsement depend on whether you are applying on the basis of Fast Track or Full Peer Review.

Fast Track Endorsement Criteria

In order to satisfy the fast track endorsement criteria, you will need to satisfy at least one of the following three criteria:

Peer-reviewed research fellowship or award: You hold, or have held within the 5 years before the date of application, a peer-reviewed research fellowship or award named on the list published by the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering or the British Academy; or

Academic or research position: You have been appointed to an eligible academic or research position at an approved UK Higher Education Institution or research institute named on the list published by the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering or the British Academy; or

Hosted or employed in a UK research organisation: You will be hosted or employed in a UK research organisation named on the UKRI published list and will provide critical contributions to work supported by a substantial research grant or award from an endorsed funder named on the list published by UKRI.

In order to qualify for endorsement on the basis that you will be hosted or employed in a UK research organisation named on the UKRI published list you must either:

1. Direct independently, or under the supervision of a Principal Investigator, a unique research or innovation project and have a PhD qualification or equivalent research experience (including industrial or clinical research), actively participate in a relevant field in a University, research institute or industry and have your name or post listed on the grant or award as the Principal or co-investigator, Researcher Co-investigator, Post-doctoral researcher or Research Assistant, or an equivalent position acceptable to UKRI; or
2. Make critical contributions to research by providing core technical or domain excellence or in developing new technologies and methodologies and have a UK bachelor’s degree or equivalent overseas research degree or equivalent research experience (including industrial or clinical research) and have research experience within a University, Research Institute or Industry.

Full Peer Review Endorsement Criteria

Full peer review applications are considered by either The Royal Society, The Royal Academy of Engineering or The British Academy. UKRI do not consider full peer review applications.

In order to be endorsed on the basis of “Exceptional Talent” under full peer review you will need to show that you have been recognised as a leading talent in the field of science, engineering, humanities or medicine and be an active researcher in a relevant field, typically within a university, research institute or within industry.  You will also have a PhD or equivalent research experience (including industrial or clinical research) and either (i) be a member of your national academy or a foreign member of an academy of another country; or (ii) have been awarded a prestigious internationally recognised prize; or (iii) provide a letter of recommendation from a senior member of a reputable UK organisation concerned with research in your field.

In order to be endorsed on the basis of “Exceptional Promise” under full peer review you will need to show that you have been recognised as having potential to be a leading talent in the field of science, engineering, humanities or medicine and be an active researcher in a relevant field, typically within a university, research institute or within industry.  You will also need to have a PhD or equivalent research experience (including industrial or clinical research) and be at an early stage in your career.  You will also need to have been awarded, or have held in the last 5 years, a prestigious UK based research fellowship, or an international fellowship or an advanced post judged by the endorsing body to be of equivalent to such a fellowship.

If you require any further information on our services please contact our team on 020 7822 4000 or email immigration@healys.old-website.shout-loud.co.uk.