Apply for the Global Talent visa
You can use a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if you’re a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:
• academia or research
• arts and culture
• digital technology
You can only apply for a Global Talent visa once you have successfully applied for an endorsement to prove that you are a leader or potential leader.
After you get your endorsement, the earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you travel.
ExampleYou can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.
You usually get a decision about your visa within:
• 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK
• 8 weeks if you’re inside the UK
You can apply for the Global Talent visa at the same time as you apply for endorsement, or after you have the endorsement confirmed. If your permission to stay in the UK is about to expire, applying for the visa will extend it.
If you apply for both at the same time and your endorsement is refused, your visa will be refused as well. This means you will lose the fees for both.
When you apply for your visa you’ll need to provide:
• a current passport or other valid travel identification
• your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
You need a blank page in your passport for your visa.
You need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.
You can use a valid endorsement given under the old Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa rules to apply for a Global Talent visa. You will not need to get a new endorsement under the Global Talent visa rules.
APPLY
Before you apply for the Global Talent visa, you need to prove that you are a leader or potential leader in your field. This is called applying for an endorsement.
If you apply for the visa before you have applied for an endorsement, your application may be refused and you may lose your fee.
You may be able to switch to this visa if you’re already in the UK. You can apply to extend your existing visa from inside or outside the UK.
You can apply to switch to a Global Talent visa if you’re already in the UK with any of these visa types:
• Tier 1
• Tier 2
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker – Government Authorised Exchange) on an exchange scheme for sponsored researchers
• a Start-up visa
• an Innovator visa
You can choose how long you want to apply for, up to a maximum of 5 years.
You must leave the UK and make your application from abroad if you’re in another category.
Eligibility
Before you can switch to the Global Talent visa, you need to prove you’re a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:
• academia or research
• arts and culture
• digital technology
You must apply within 3 months of receiving your letter of endorsement from the Home Office.
You can apply for the Global Talent visa at the same time as you apply for endorsement, or after you have the endorsement confirmed. If your permission to stay in the UK is about to expire, applying for the visa will extend it.
If you apply for both at the same time and your endorsement is refused, your visa will be refused as well. This means you will lose the fees for both.
You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.