Global Talent visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Global Talent visa
Stay duration	Up to 5 years per application
Visa fee	£766 per applicant
Endorsement fee split	£561 endorsement, £205 visa
Healthcare surcharge	Usually £1,035 per person per year
Minimum age	At least 18 years old
Processing time (outside UK)	Usually within 3 weeks
Processing time (inside UK)	Usually within 8 weeks
Settlement eligibility (ILR)	Eligible after 3 or 5 years
Family sponsorship	Eligible partners and children can apply
Dependant work rights	Permitted (except sportsperson or coach)
Dependant study rights	Permitted
Public funds access	No access to most public funds
Travel restrictions during processing	Do not leave Common Travel Area

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Purpose

The Global Talent visa allows recognised leaders or potential leaders in specific fields to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time. Eligible fields comprise:

• Academia or research
• Arts and culture
• Digital technology

Eligibility

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and qualify through one of two pathways:

1. Eligible Prestigious Prize

• You can apply directly without an endorsement if you are the named winner of an award on the eligible prestigious prize list.
• Other prizes from the same awarding institutions are not eligible.

2. Endorsement Route

• If you have not won an eligible prize, you must obtain an endorsement from a Home Office-approved endorsing body in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology.
• You must apply for the visa within 3 months of receiving your endorsement letter.
• The endorsing organisation must not have withdrawn its approval.

Switching from Another UK Visa

You can apply to switch inside the UK unless you currently hold permission:

• On a visit visa
• On a short-term student visa
• On a Parent of a Child Student visa
• On a seasonal worker visa
• On a domestic worker in a private household visa
• On immigration bail
• Outside the immigration rules (for example, on compassionate grounds)

Note for Student visa holders: You can only switch if you have completed the course you were sponsored to study or have completed at least 24 months of full-time PhD study.

Extensions

To extend, your endorsing body or qualifying prize must not have withdrawn approval, and you must prove you earned money in your expert field during your time in the UK. Holders of Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visas can also extend under this category.

Stay and Settlement

• Duration: Granted for up to 5 years at a time (chosen by the applicant).
• Extensions: There is no maximum limit on the total time you can stay in the UK. Extensions can last between 1 and 5 years.
• Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain): You may apply to settle permanently after 3 or 5 years, depending on your field and application pathway.

Fees

• Main applicant and dependants: £766 per person.
  • Endorsement route applicants: Pay £561 at the endorsement stage and £205 when applying for the visa.
  • Prestigious prize route applicants: Pay the full £766 at the visa application stage.
• Healthcare Surcharge: Usually £1,035 per person per year.
• Biometrics: Free of charge (appointments required).

Partner and Children (Dependants)

Your partner and children under 18 (or over 18 if already UK dependants) can apply to join or stay with you.

Partner Requirements

Must show recognition of marriage/civil partnership, 2 years of cohabitation, or a 2-year relationship with ongoing commitment if living apart due to study, work, or cultural reasons.

Dependant Rights and Conditions

• Work: Allowed to work (except as a professional sportsperson or coach).
• Study: Permitted.
• Public Funds: No access to most benefits or the State Pension.
• Settlement: Can apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years of UK residence.
• Children Born in the UK: Do not automatically acquire British citizenship; a dependant visa must be obtained for international travel.

Required Documents

• Valid passport or travel document confirming identity and nationality.
• Tuberculosis test results (if from a country where testing is mandatory).
• Official written consent from the granting agency/government if you received an award or scholarship covering UK study within the past 12 months.
• Certified English or Welsh translations for any documents not in those languages.
• Evidence of UK earnings in your field (for visa extensions).

How to Apply

1. Endorsement / Prize Confirmation: Secure an endorsement or verify your prize on the official list.
2. Online Application: Submit your application online:
   • Apply from outside the UK
   • Extend inside the UK
   • Switch inside the UK
3. Identity Verification: Use the "UK Immigration: ID Check" smartphone app or book an appointment at a visa application centre or UKVCAS service point to provide fingerprints and a photo.

Processing Times

• Outside the UK: Usually within 3 weeks.
• Inside the UK (extending or switching): Usually within 8 weeks.
• Priority processing may be available for an extra fee.

Important Warnings

• Travel Restrictions: If applying from within the UK, you must not travel outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man) while your application is pending. Leaving will cause your application to be withdrawn.
• Fee Refunds: If you cancel an application, fees are only refunded if UKVI has not started processing the application.