You can apply for a Global Talent visa if you are endorsed as a leader or potential leader. An endorsement is not needed if you’ve won an eligible award.

Eligible Fields

• Academia or researchLink opens in a new window
• Arts and cultureLink opens in a new window
• Digital technologyLink opens in a new window

Background Requirements

• Technical: Developer, engineer, or data scientist.
• Business: Commercial, investment, or digital product expertise in a tech company.

Check the full list of eligible digital technology rolesLink opens in a new window.

You do not need a job offer to apply.

Stage One

Applicants must be endorsed by a recognised UK body, as approved by the Home Office.

There are four ways to gain endorsement. These are:

1. The Academic and Research Appointments Route.

Under this route you will either:

a) direct or lead an individual or team research/innovation project or programme of work independently without supervision and it is a significant function of the role OR

b) have responsibility for academic, research or innovation leadership and development in a senior position e.g., Dean, HoD, RI Director, VC, Pro VC.

Endorsement is from one of the national academies:

• The Royal Society, for science and medicine
• The Royal Academy of Engineering, for engineering
• The British Academy, for humanities

2. The Individual Fellowship route.

If you have been awarded an individual fellowship on the list approvedLink opens in a new window by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Society.

3. The UKRI Endorsed Funders route.

If your job title is specified in a successful grant application from an endorsed funder approved by UK Research and Innovation.

4. The Peer Review Route.

You can request endorsement by peer review by the endorsing body if you meet the criteria set out for this route.

• The Royal Society, for science and medicine
• The Royal Academy of Engineering, for engineering
• The British Academy, for humanities
• UK Research and Innovation, for science and research
• Tech Nation, for digital technology
• Arts Council England, for arts and culture.

Stage Two

Once endorsed, subject to criminality and immigration checks, the applicant applies for the visa.

Once granted, the visa holder will be given a highly flexible permission, enabling them to:

• work for employers or be self-employed;
• change jobs without informing the Home Office;
• travel abroad and return to the UK for research purposes
• bring dependants with them.

Top scientists and researchers will benefit from a quicker endorsement process as part of a fast track STEM scheme.

To benefit from this offer, applicants must be:

• in receipt of a named award or fellowship
• in a senior academic position, such as a Professor or Associate Professor, within an eligible Higher Education Institution, research organisation or institute
• part of a publicly funded research team which is in receipt of prestigious funding or awards

You can apply either as:

• a leader (called ‘exceptional talent’)
• an emerging leader (called ‘exceptional promise’)

Exceptional promise applicants are likely to be earlier in their career, usually with less than 5 years of experience. You must be able to prove your potential to be a leader through your skills and achievements.

Tech Nation will assess your endorsement application and decide whether you meet the criteria to apply for the Global Talent visa.

You can also apply without an endorsement if you’ve won an eligible awardLink opens in a new window.

Exceptional talent

You need to show you’ve been recognised by others as being a leading talent in the digital technology field. At least 2 of the following must also be true:

• You have a record of innovation where you’ve set up or had a senior position in a product-led digital technology company
• You have a record of innovation where you’ve worked in a new digital field or concept as an employee
• You’ve contributed to the digital technology sector outside of work, for example, mentoring or collaborative projects
• You’ve set up or worked in a product-led digital technology company, and have made technical, commercial, or entrepreneurial contributions in the digital technology sector
• You’ve had research published or endorsed by an expert

Exceptional promise

You need to show you’ve been recognised by others as being a potential talent in the digital technology field. At least 2 of the following must also be true:

• You can show at least 2 examples of innovation where you’ve set up a product-led digital technology company
• You can show at least 2 examples of innovation where you’ve worked in a new digital field or concept
• You’ve contributed to the digital technology sector outside of work, for example, mentoring or collaborative projects
• You’ve set up or worked in a product-led digital technology company, and have made significant technical, commercial, or entrepreneurial contributions in the digital technology sector
• You have at least 2 examples of research published or endorsed by an expert

You can apply for an Innovator Founder visa if:

• You want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK. The business must be unique and different from anything else on the market.
• Your business or business idea has been endorsed by an approved endorsing body.
• You meet the other eligibility requirements.

You must be able to show that your business idea is:

• New: You cannot join a business that is already trading.
• Innovative: Your business idea must be original and different from anything else on the market.
• Viable: The business must have potential for growth.
• Scalable: You must provide evidence of planning that includes creating jobs and expanding into national and international markets.

You’ll need to get an endorsing body to assess and confirm that your business idea meets these requirements.

Start your entrepreneurial journey and unleash your potential with support, advice and guidance with Warwick EnterpriseLink opens in a new window.