Home Office
With a Global Talent visa you can work in the UK if you are a leader or potential leader in digital technology, for example in:
- financial technology (fintech)
- gaming
- cyber security
- artificial intelligence
You can also work in the UK on a Global Talent visa if youve won an eligible award.
What you can do with a Global Talent visa
With a Global Talent visa you can:
- choose how long your visa is for, up to 5 years
- be an employee, self-employed and a director of a company
- change or stop doing your job without telling the Home Office
- bring your partner and children with you as your dependants, if theyre eligible
- travel abroad and return to the UK
There are no language or minimum salary eligibility requirements.
If you want to stay longer in the UK, you can renew your visa as many times as you like - youll have to meet the eligibility criteria for extending your stay.
You can also apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as indefinite leave to remain) after:
- 3 years if youre applying as a leader
- 5 years if youre applying as a potential leader
You cannot:
- apply for most benefits (public funds)
- work as a sportsperson
If your application is successful, youll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Global Talent visa.
Eligibility
You do not need a job offer to get the visa. Your background can be either:
- technical, for example youre a developer, engineer or data scientist
- business, for example you have commercial, investment or digital product expertise in a technology company that creates software, hardware or that processes data
Check the full list of eligible digital technology roles.
You can also get the visa if youve won an eligible award.
If youre not eligible for a Global Talent visa, there are other ways to work in the UK - for example a Skilled work visa.
How to apply
To get a Global Talent visa you need to apply for an endorsement, as well as for the visa itself.
You do not need to apply for an endorsement if youve won an eligible award. You can apply for the visa straight away.
Applying for an endorsement
You need to apply for an endorsement to prove you are a leader or potential leader in your field.
The Home Office will send your application to be reviewed by Tech Nation.
You will usually get a decision about your endorsement within 5 to 8 weeks. If your application is considered to be fast track, youll get a decision in 3 weeks.
Tech Nation are continuing to process applications as normal. You can still apply for this visa.
Applying for the visa
Theres a separate guide to applying for your Global Talent visa, including how your partner or child can apply.
You usually get a decision about your visa within:
- 3 weeks if youre outside the UK
- 8 weeks if youre inside the UK
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.
When you can apply for the visa
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 until youve been given a decision.
The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you travel.
Example
You can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.
Fees
It costs 716 to apply.
If youre applying based on an endorsement, youll pay the 716 in two parts:
- 524 when you apply for the endorsement
- 192 when you apply for the visa itself
If youre applying based on an eligible award, youll pay the full 716 when you apply for the visa.
If youre including your partner or children in your application, theyll each need to pay 716.
Healthcare surcharge
Youll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application - this is usually 1,035 per year for each person applying.
Check how much youll have to pay before you apply.
If your endorsement application is refused
If your application is turned down you can request an endorsement review.