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Global Talent Eligible fields
The Global Talent visa is for exceptional individuals recognized as leaders or emerging leaders in these fields:
Academia or Research
Arts and Culture
Digital Technology
For guidance on applying, contact ZAR Immigration
Endorsing Bodies for the Global Talent visa
To apply for the Global Talent visa, you must either have won an eligible international prize or get endorsed by one of the six Home Office-approved endorsing bodies:
Arts Council England (ACBF) – arts and culture (including architecture, fashion design, film)
British Academy (BA) – humanities and social sciences
Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) – engineering
Royal Society (RS) – sciences
Tech Nation (TN) – digital technology
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – science, engineering, humanities, and medicine (with specific requirements)
Each body has its own endorsement criteria and document requirements. After endorsement, the Home Office makes the final visa decision.
For expert guidance, contact ZAR Immigration.
Exceptional Talent vs Exceptional promise
The Global Talent UK visa has two subcategories:
Exceptional Talent: For established leaders in their fields with higher criteria.
Exceptional Promise: For early-career individuals showing strong potential to become leaders. This has slightly lower requirements but usually requires 5 years before applying for ILR (compared to 3 years for Exceptional Talent).
Exceptional Promise applies across Research & Academia, Arts & Culture, and Digital Technology, but only for selected routes under the Global Talent scheme.
For tailored advice, contact ZAR Immigration
Exceptional Promise in Arts and Culture
Exceptional Promise in Arts and Culture
Arts Council England supports Exceptional Promise endorsements in:
Combined arts
Dance
Literature
Music
Theatre
Visual arts
Fashion design (British Fashion Council)
Architecture (RIBA)
Not available for:
Animation
Film
Post-production
Television
Visual effects
Exceptional Promise in Research and Academia
Early-career applicants can apply under Exceptional Promise through the individual fellowship or peer review routes, endorsed by:
British Academy
Royal Society
Royal Academy of Engineering
Note: UKRI’s Endorsed Funding and Academic Appointment routes require Exceptional Talent endorsements.
Unlike Arts Council or Tech Nation, Exceptional Promise in research does not extend the qualifying period for ILR.
For expert guidance, contact ZAR Immigration.
Two stage application process for the Global Talent visa
Unless you have won an eligible prize, applying for a Global Talent visa involves two stages:
Endorsement Application: Submit to an approved endorsing body in your field. Decision times vary from 7 days to 5 weeks depending on the route and endorsement type.
Immigration Application: Once endorsed, you have three months to apply for the visa.
You can also apply for both stages simultaneously—recommended if you are in the UK with a visa nearing expiry. While the immigration application protects your stay, endorsement application alone does not.
For expert assistance, contact ZAR Immigration.
Requirements for the immigration application
Global Talent Visa: Immigration Application Requirements
The immigration application (stage 2) is usually submitted after receiving endorsement from an approved body.
If you hold a prestigious Home Office–approved prize, you can apply directly without endorsement.
There is no English language requirement for this visa.
A job offer may or may not be required, depending on your endorsement route.
You must apply within 3 months of receiving your endorsement letter.
For extensions, you must prove UK earnings in your endorsed field and ensure your endorsement has not been withdrawn.
For expert guidance, contact ZAR Immigration.
Dependants of Global Talent applicants
You can bring your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and children under 18.
Spouses/civil partners must prove their marriage is legally recognised.
Unmarried partners must show cohabitation for at least two years.
Children over 16 must live with you and have no family of their own (unless at school or university).
Dependants apply separately and need your application reference (GWF or UAN) if applying from abroad. Inside the UK, they can apply simultaneously.
Requirements focus on proof of relationship and address; their application depends on the main applicant’s status.
Dependants can work (except as sportspersons/coaches), study, and travel freely in the UK. Children can attend state schools but pay international fees at university until ILR is granted.
Dependants become eligible for ILR after five years, aligned with the main applicant’s settlement.
For support, contact ZAR Immigration.
Global Talent UK visa application costs
The Global Talent visa fee is £623 per applicant, including dependants.
For endorsement-based applications, the fee is split:
£456 for the endorsement application
£167 for the immigration application
Additionally, the Immigration Health Surcharge applies:
£624 per year for adults
£470 per year for applicants under 18
For assistance, contact ZAR Immigration.
How long it takes to get a decision on a Global Talent application
Endorsement decisions typically take up to 3 weeks for fast-track and up to 8 weeks for standard applications.
The immigration application (Stage 2) takes about 3 weeks if applied from outside the UK, and up to 8 weeks if applied within the UK.
Priority service is available for the immigration application for an additional fee.
For guidance, contact ZAR Immigratio
Period of grant of the Global Talent UK visa
The Global Talent visa can be granted for 1 to 5 years, based on your needs. You can extend it as many times as required.
Dependants receive leave matching the main applicant’s visa length but can extend their stay further if the main applicant settles after 3 years.
For assistance, contact ZAR Immigration.
Permitted Activities on the Global Talent Visa
The Global Talent visa offers great flexibility: you can work employed or self-employed, or start a business. You can also study in the UK (ATAS clearance may be required).
You may travel abroad without affecting your visa. However, spending over 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period may impact your eligibility for ILR and require a visa extension.
You are not allowed to access public funds or work as a professional sportsperson or coach.
For guidance, contact ZAR Immigration.
Eligibility for ILR and British Citizenship
To qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), you must:
Maintain your endorsement (if your initial visa was endorsement-based), and
Have earned income in the UK related to your endorsed field during your last visa period.
Settlement timelines:
3 years (accelerated) if you:
Won a qualifying prize/award, or
Were endorsed in academia/research by any endorsing body (exceptional talent or promise), or
Were endorsed as exceptional talent by Arts Council England or Tech Nation.
5 years if endorsed as exceptional promise by Arts Council England or Tech Nation.
For expert advice, contact ZAR Immigration.
Continuous Residence Requirement
To qualify for ILR, you must show continuous residence in the UK, with no absences exceeding 180 days in any 12-month period. Exceptions include:
Absences for compelling compassionate reasons, such as a life-threatening illness of a close family member, which are disregarded.
For winners of prestigious science prizes or those endorsed in academia and research, time spent abroad for research does not count towards the 180-day limit.
For tailored guidance, contact ZAR Immigration.
Combining Time Across Immigration Routes
our continuous residence for ILR can combine time spent in the UK under these routes:
Global Talent
Innovator Founder
Skilled Worker
T2 Minister of Religion
T2 Sportsperson
Tier 1 Migrant (excluding Graduate Entrepreneur)
Scale-up Worker
Representative of an Overseas Business
If you have completed 3 years in any eligible route before switching to Global Talent, you may qualify for ILR immediately after your Global Talent visa is approved.
For expert advice, contact ZAR Immigration.
English Language and Life in the UK Requirements for ILR
While not required for the initial Global Talent visa, you must meet the following for ILR:
English Language at B1 level (speaking and listening)
Life in the UK Test pass
You can meet the language requirement with:
A UK degree, or
An overseas degree taught in English, verified by Ecctis.
For guidance, reach out to ZAR Immigration.
Endorsement Review – Global Talent Visa
If your endorsement under the Global Talent visa route is refused and you believe an error was made, you may request a review.
Deadline: Submit the endorsement review within 28 calendar days of receiving the refusal.
How: Use the designated endorsement review form.
Process: The Home Office will refer your case to the endorsing body for reassessment.
Timeline: Reviews are typically decided within 28 days, and the outcome is final.
Important: You cannot submit new evidence during the review. If new information arises, a new application is required.
For guidance with your endorsement review, contact ZAR Immigration
Global Talent UK FAQs
What is an Endorsement?
An endorsement is official confirmation that you meet the eligibility criteria for a Global Talent visa. It is issued by a designated endorsing body appointed by the Home Office, based on your achievements and potential in your field
Is there a limit on the number of Global Talent visas issued annually in the UK?
No, there is no cap on the number of Global Talent visas the UK can issue each year. As long as you meet the eligibility criteria, your application can be successful.
Is the Global Talent visa open to all nationalities?
Yes, the Global Talent visa is open to applicants of all nationalities. However, while nationality is not a barrier, the endorsement criteria are strict and may be more challenging for some applicants depending on their background and field.
Can I travel while my Global Talent visa application is under consideration?
Stage 1 (Endorsement Application): Yes, you can travel while waiting for a decision on your endorsement.
Stage 2 (Immigration Application from within the UK): No, you cannot travel outside the UK. Doing so will result in your application being automatically withdrawn, even if you retain your passport.
Stage 2 (Application from outside the UK): Your passport is usually submitted with the application. If your visa application centre offers a keep-my-passport service, you may travel with it. Alternatively, you can use a second passport for travel, if available.
When can your Global Talent endorsement be withdrawn?
While there’s no dedicated guidance on endorsement withdrawal, it can happen under the following circumstances:
Error or False Representation: If the endorsing body discovers the endorsement was granted by mistake or based on misleading or false information, they can withdraw it.
Change in Circumstances:
If your endorsement was based on an eligible job offer (e.g. an academic role), and you decline the offer or the offer is withdrawn.
If the endorsement was based on a qualifying grant, and the grant is returned or cancelled, the endorsement may be revoked.