Global Talent Visa

If application is successful, the length of leave is as requested by the applicant up to a maximum of 5 years. There is no maximum time limit in the category.

Can apply for settlement:

• 3 years with an exceptional talent visa
• 3 years with an exceptional talent endorsement in science
• 3 years with an endorsement under the UKRI endorsed funder scheme
• 5 years with an exceptional promise endorsement in either arts and culture or digital technology

Stage 1 costs £456 for the applicant

Stage 2 costs £152 for the applicant and £608 for any dependents.

An applicant can:

• Work for an employer as a director of a company or be self-employed;
• Change Jobs without telling the Home Office;
• Do voluntary work;
• Travel abroad and return to the UK.

Application usually takes 8 weeks (unless fast-track).

General Requirements

• Applicant must be at least 18 years old.
• Credibility assessment is not applicable.
• English language is not applicable.
• Maintenance funds are not applicable.
• Must pay health surcharge.
• Will need to provide current passport or other valid travel ID and a tuberculosis test if you’re from a relevant country.

Specific Requirements

Stage 1 – Endorsing Body Approval (N.B. both Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications can be submitted at the same time, if Stage 1 application is refused both applications will be refused)

Digital Technology Applicants (Tech Nation)

Desired Applicant – Technical Skills

• DevOps/SysOps engineers
• Principal software engineers/developers
• Experienced data scientists/data engineers
• Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning experts (AI, NLP, ML)
• Cybersecurity experts
• Hardware engineers
• Experienced front-end developers
• Operating systems engineers
• Experienced video game developers
• Experienced UX/UI designers
• Experienced Mobile App developers
• Experienced back end developers leading development of or contributing heavily to major new technologies or open source projects (e.g. blockchain, Scala, Golang, Elastic search etc)
• CTO or VP engineering experience managing teams of in-house employees at a growing digital business
• Virtual and augmented reality developers

Desired Applicant – Business Skills

• Experience of leading substantial VC investment over £25m GBP
• Experience as a commercial / business lead (P&L, growth, sales and distribution strategy) in a digital business
• Experience of expanding or growing a significant product-led digital technology business
• Sector-specific experience e.g. payment infrastructure in FinTech / international expansion in EdTech etc.
• Solution sales experts
• Experienced Product Manager
• SaaS or enterprise sales leadership for digital services
• Solution sales skills performed for a growing B2B digital business (i.e. not big-company experience)
• Performance marketing experts, performed in house for digital businesses
• Experienced and senior VC or PE analysts with track records of leading investments in digital businesses
• Experience as C Suite in a SMEs + (CEO, CMO, CIO) or head of operations for a digital business

Endorsement Criteria

(a) Applicant must either:

• satisfy 1 of the key “Exceptional Talent” criteria and 2 of the qualifying “Exceptional Talent” criteria; or
• satisfy one of the key “Exceptional Promise” criteria and 2 of the qualifying “Exceptional Promise” criteria.
• Exceptional Talent Key Criteria:
• Have a proven track record of innovation in the digital technology sector as a founder or director of a product-led digital technology company or an employee working in a new digital field or concept that must be clearly evidenced. Home Office provides that this can be proven by:
  • evidence of innovation/product development, proof of product in the market and associated traction through revenue;
  • o   evidence for each business should include your last set of audited accounts, projections for current financial year and articles of association;
  • o   evidence of domestic and/or international sales should show customer numbers for each country in which the company is operating, including a ranking of your distribution channels with a breakdown of when these sales were achieved for each channel; and
  • o   evidence of employment contract with salary information including any bonus and equity options and history of earnings.
• Proof of recognition for work outside the applicant’s immediate occupation that has contributed to the advancement of the sector (e.g. evidence that they have gone beyond their day-to-day profession to engage in an activity that contributes to the advancement of the sector). Examples of relevant evidence include:
  • evidence of contributions to an Open Source project;
  • GitHub profile demonstrating active participation in a collaborative project;
  • Your Stack Overview Profile showing significant contribution to discussions around code;
  • a link to one or more videos of talks or conferences that have had significant viewership;
  • an op-ed or news article that exemplifies thought leadership, evidence of mentorship; and
  • evidence of mentorship (i.e. the sharing or teaching of skills and knowledge).
  • Mentorship should have been done within an organised, structured and recognised mentoring scheme, which can be clearly demonstrated through evidence. Training a colleague or simply providing support or advice is not considered sufficient evidence for these criteria.

Exceptional Talent Qualifying Criteria:

• Have made significant technical, commercial, or entrepreneurial contributions in the digital technology sector as either a founder, entrepreneur or employee of a product-led digital technology company. Technical examples of “significant contribution” include:
  • having led in the development of high-impact digital products or services;
  • starting or contributing to open source projects in a way that has been acknowledged by peers as advancing the field;
  • having worked as a key engineer in the core product of a start-up, showing evidence as to how you have contributed to success.

Documentary evidence:

• Employment contract with salary information including bonus and equity options;
• Letter from an employer (in addition to required letters of endorsement);
• Documentation on product designs or architecture diagram showing contribution (no more than 2 A4 pages demonstrating personal work);
• GitHub account that contains lines of code clearly showing your contribution.

Business examples of a “significant contribution”:

• Having led or played a key role in growth of a product-led digital technology company such as influencing investment and strategy or delivering major products or releases;
• Having founded a successful product-led digital technology company or other organisation and leading it.

Documentary evidence:

• Employment contract containing salary information including bonus and equity options;
• Letter from an employer (in addition to letters of endorsement);
• Documents detailing significant contribution towards commercial success (e.g.
• evidence of sales pipeline built and delivered, growth generated, leads generated, processes developed and implemented)

Have been recognised as a leading talent in the digital technology sector. Evidence includes:

• Authored a well-reviewed book on digital technology or on programming or published material in a professional or major trade publication (title, date and evidence of authorship required); and
• A letter from leading industry expert describing your work, evidence from news clippings, lines of code or similar (LinkedIn not a sufficient trade publication).

Have undergone continuous learning (consistent and frequent pattern of study, each course should have required at least 20 hours) /mastery of new digital skills (commercial or technical) throughout their career. Relevant evidence includes:

• Evidence of having continuously updated technical or commercial skills showing clear progression and achievement. This can be in the form of various projects or courses completed (whether at university or independently), which demonstrate a clear progression either in depth or breadth;
• Evidence of learning processes or tool such as Agile or Scrum or experimenting with new technologies, coding libraries or languages, or tools, as evidenced for example on your GitHub or Stack Overflow profile;
• Evidence of expertise and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of your sector trends, as shown for example by a relevant qualification, or by a talk in a prestigious conference (you should provide conference details and number of actual attendees, not registrants).

Have demonstrated exceptional ability in the field by making academic contributions through research published or otherwise endorsed by a research supervisor or other expert). Relevant evidence includes:

• Evidence of at least one significant contribution to the field in the form of a paper published in a top-tier peer-reviewed journal. Research undertaken as part of an undergraduate or MSc thesis does not qualify for this criterion;
• Evidence of awards received for outstanding applied work, supported by excellent academic achievement (a first-class degree or distinction);
• A letter of support from a research supervisor or other expert in your area of expertise affirming their potential world-class standard. This is in addition to the required letters of recommendation and must be written by another individual;
• Evidence of an award that has been granted by an organisation of a similar standing and distinction to the Royal Society in the UK, as well as the selection criteria for this award.

Exceptional Promise Key Criteria:

• Provide more than 1 example of innovation in the digital technology sector as a founder of a product-led digital technology company or an employee working in a new digital field or concept that must be clearly evidenced.
• Proof of recognition for work outside the applicant’s immediate occupation that has contributed to the advancement of the sector (e.g. evidence that they have gone beyond their day to day profession to engage in an activity that contributes to the advancement of the sector)

Exceptional Promise Qualifying Criteria:

• Have made significant technical, commercial, or entrepreneurial contributions in the digital technology sector as either a founder, entrepreneur or employee of a product-led digital technology company.
• Have been recognised as having the potential to be a leading talent in the digital technology sector.
• Have undergone continuous learning / mastery of new digital skills (commercial or technical) throughout their career.
• Provide more than 1 example of innovation in the field by making academic contributions through research endorsed by a research supervisor or other expert.

(b) Applicants must provide all of the following documents:

• A completed Tech Nation Global Talent application form.
• A CV outlining their career and publication history.
• 3 dated letters of recommendation signed by 3 different senior members of different established organisations in the digital technology sector. The signatories must be familiar with the applicant’s work and their contribution to the digital technology sector, and be qualified to assess the applicant’s claim to be a leader or potential leader in this field.

Each letter must:

• be written and signed by an authorised member of the organisation they represent, such as the Chief Executive, Chief Operating Officer, Finance Director or Head of Course;
• include details of the author’s credentials (for example, a curriculum vitae);
• include details of how the recognised expert knows the applicant;
• include the applicant’s achievements in the specialist field, and how, in the opinion of the recognised expert, the applicant exhibits exceptional talent or exceptional promise;
• include how the applicant would benefit from living in the UK and the contribution they would make to the UK digital technology sector; and
• include details of any future professional engagements the applicant has in the UK, where applicable.

Evidence of any active businesses established or businesses that have been dissolved in the last 5 years in which the applicant has been a director, founder or entrepreneur, or evidence of share ownership through business in a digital technology sector company.

Evidence in relation to the relevant key and qualifying criteria listed above. This evidence must consist of no more than 10 documents in total, and must be submitted via the Tech Nation (Global Talent) online form. Each document must be no more than 2 A4 sides in length. (N.B. the evidence in the bullet point above is included within this limit of 10 documents).

(c) Endorsing body will take into consideration all of the following:

• The applicant’s track record/career history (including their international standing, the significance of their work and the impact of their activity in a company or as an individual).
• The strength of the supporting statements in the letter of personal recommendation, and evidence in relation to qualifying criteria.
• The expected benefits of the applicant’s presence in the UK in terms of the contribution to the UK digital technology sector.
• Factors including but not limited to, the applicant’s academic track record and salary level if employed, the company the applicant is being hired by if an employee, the amount of money raised if an entrepreneur.
• The commercial impact of the applicant’s previous work, achievements and experiences.

Fast Track Option – Digital Nation

This route is 1-2 weeks faster (estimated). Fast track is at discretion of Tech Nation and qualifying criteria are the same as for standard consideration (above).

If you can provide evidence that you have been accepted onto one of the recognised eligible UK accelerator programs, Tech Nation will fast-track the endorsement application. These are:

• Barclays Accelerator
• Bethnal Green Ventures (BGV)
• Collider
• CyLon
• Entrepreneur First (EF)
• Founders Academy
• Founders Factory
• Ignite Accelerator
• Microsoft for Startups
• SETsquared
• Startupbootcamp
• TechStars
• Wayra (all programmes)
• Zinc

Engineering

Endorsing bodies are either The Royal Academy of Engineering and The Royal Society. There is also the endorsed funder route managed by UKRI.

Endorsement Criteria

(a) They must currently hold, or have held within the 12 months before the date of application, a specific peer-reviewed research fellowship or award named on the list published by The Royal Society, The Royal Academy of Engineering or The British Academy. The applicant must provide written confirmation of the fellowship or award from the body that issued it; and/or

(b) They must have been appointed to an eligible senior 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; and/or

(c) They will be hosted or employed in a UKRI-approved UK research organisation as listed in Annex 2 and will provide critical contributions to work supported by a substantial research grant or award. The grant or award must be from an endorsed funder named on the list published by UKRI.

Peer Review

(a) Applicant must meet one of the following:

• They satisfy all of the mandatory “Exceptional Talent” criteria, and at least one of the qualifying criteria.
• They satisfy all of the “Exceptional Promise” criteria.

Exceptional Talent (leader in relevant field) – Mandatory Criteria:

• The applicant must be an active researcher in a relevant field, typically within a university, research institute or within industry.
• The applicant must have a PhD or equivalent research experience.
• The applicant must provide a letter of personal recommendation from an eminent person resident in the UK supporting the Global Talent application.
• The applicant must meet 1 or more of the following Qualifying Criteria.

Exceptional Talent (leader in relevant field) – Qualifying Criteria:

• The applicant must be a member of their national academy or a foreign member of academies of other countries (in particular any of the UK national academies).
• The applicant must have been awarded a prestigious internationally recognised prize.
• The applicant must provide a letter of recommendation from a reputable UK organisation concerned with research in the applicant’s field. The letter must be written by an authorised senior member of the organisation, such as a Chief Executive, Vice-Chancellor or similar.

Exceptional Promise Mandatory Criteria:

• The applicant must be an active researcher in a relevant field, typically within a university, research institute or within industry.
• The applicant must have a PhD or equivalent research experience (including industrial research).
• The applicant must provide a letter of personal recommendation from an eminent person resident in the UK supporting the Global Talent application.
• The applicant must be at an early stage in their career.
• The applicant must have been awarded, hold, or have held in the past 5 years, a prestigious UK based Research Fellowship, or an international Fellowship or advanced research post judged by the endorsing bodies to be of equivalent standing.

(b) applicants who are applying must provide all of the following:

• CV with career and publication history;
• letter of recommendation written in support of the application from an eminent person resident in the UK. The person must be familiar with the applicant’s work and their contribution to their field, and be qualified to assess the applicant’s claim to be a leader or a potential leader in their field. This letter must include all of the following:
  • how the eminent person knows the applicant;
  • the applicant’s achievements in the specialist field, and how in the opinion of the eminent person the applicant exhibits exceptional talent or promise;
  • how the applicant would benefit from living in the UK;
  • the contribution the applicant would make to UK research excellence and to wider society.
• Additional evidence in relation to at least one of the qualifying criteria above.

(c) criteria listed in the table above

(c) When assessing applicants, the endorsing body will take into consideration all of the following:

• The applicant’s track record/career history (including their international standing, the significance of their publications, prizes and research funding awarded, patents, and the impact of past innovation activity, in a company, academia or as an individual)
• The strength of the supporting statements in the letter of personal recommendation, and evidence in relation to qualifying criteria, including a written recommendation from a reputable UK organisation concerned with research in the applicant’s field (if relevant)
• The expected benefits of the applicant’s presence in the UK in terms of the contribution to UK research excellence and to wider society, including potential economic benefits from exploitation of intellectual capital
• Additional factors:
  • Exceptional Talent – Whether the applicant is the winner of a prestigious prize or award and whether the applicant has secured significant funding for their work in the past 10 years.
  • Exceptional Promise – Whether the applicant has provided evidence sufficient to demonstrate that they have the potential to be a future leader in their field.

The level of additional funding secured during, or following tenure of, a relevant fellowship. Whether the applicant can provide evidence of a relevant prize or award for early career researchers. The significance of the applicant’s contribution to their field relative to their career stage.

Eligible Senior Research Position

Applicant must confirm:

• The job was advertised and an open competition was held for the position, or, where there was not an open competition, an explanation is provided for that decision which the endorsing body considers reasonable
• The applicant has accepted a job offer of an eligible senior academic or research position at the employing institution
• The name of the position and the department in which the applicant will be based.
• At least 3 references in respect of the appointment were required and received.
• At least 4 senior academic representatives from the employing institution were present on the interview panel.
• At least one senior external expert in a relevant field, who is not employed by the employing institution, was consulted during the recruitment process (either participating in the interview or providing written input).

Hosted or employed in a UKRI-approved UK research organisation

Applicant must provide:

• Confirmation of the award from the endorsed funder that confirms that the grant or award is worth a minimum of £30,000 and covers a minimum period of 2 years.
• A declaration from the Director of Human Resources (or equivalent) of the UKRI-approved UK research organisation. The Declaration must confirm:
  • The applicant is essential to the execution of the grant or award and the applicants role meets the eligibility criteria;
  • The applicant’s time is at least 50% attributable to the grant or award;
  • The applicant has accepted the job offer or hosting agreement;
  • The name of the position and the department or group in which the applicant will be based; and
  • Where the individual was not specifically named on the grant application, details of the recruitment process.

• The applicant must be an academic, researcher, scientist, research engineer or other skilled research technology/methodology specialist.
• The applicant must be hosted or employed in at an approved UK research organisation.
• The applicant must provide critical contributions to work supported by a research grant or award from an endorsed funder.
• At least 50% of an applicant’s time must be on the grant or award from an endorsed funder. The work must meet at least one of the following:
  • It must be funded by a one-off grant or award that has been won in open competition
  • It must be attributed to a large institutional, renewable award that is subject to periodic, robust peer review.
• The employment contract or hosting agreement of the applicant must have at least 2 years remaining at the time of the application for endorsement.
• The applicant must meet one of the following:
  • They must independently direct, or direct under the supervision of a Principal Investigator, a unique research or innovation project. The project may be a part of a wider programme of work. The applicant must meet all of the following:
    • The applicant must have a PhD qualification or equivalent.
    • The applicant must actively participate in a relevant field within a university, research institute or industry.
    • The applicant must have their name or post listed on the grant/award as the Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, Researcher Co-Investigator, Post-doctoral Researcher, Research Assistant.
  • They must make critical contributions to research through the provision of core technical or domain excellence, or in developing new technologies and methodologies. The applicant will be typically named, or their post listed, on the grant/award under ‘directly incurred’ costs. They must meet both of the following:
    • The applicant must hold a UK Bachelors degree (or equivalent overseas research degree or research experience deemed acceptable by UKRI).
    • The applicant must have research experience, typically within a university, research institute or industry.

Stage 2 – Home Office Approval

Applicant must meet all of the following:

• They have been endorsed in this category by a Global Talent endorsing body;
• The date of application for entry clearance or leave to remain must be no later than 3 months after the date of issue on the endorsement letter.
• The endorsement must not have been withdrawn by the endorsing body.

Applicant must provide their valid endorsement letter.