Global Talent visa

The Global Talent visa route is available for talented and promising academics, researchers and specialists who are working in the fields of science, engineering, medicine, the social sciences or the humanities.

Overview

There are four different routes through which a Global Talent visa can be gained. All stages involves a two stage application process.

Stage 1: applying for, and obtaining endorsement from one of the six endorsing bodies

Stage 2: visa application

Further information about the Global Talent visa routes

You can find more information about each of the Global Talent visa routes below.

Route 1: Senior Academic and Research appointments

Fast-track endorsement for individuals who have accepted an academic role (examples may be Professor, Senior Lecturer, Lecturer) with responsibility for either academic, research or innovation leadership, or for directing or leading an individual or team research or innovation project or programme of work. This criteria must form a significant part of the role and be reflected in the job description for the role.

You will require a letter called a 'statement of guarantee' from Human Resources confirming specific requirements have been met during the recruitment process and in relation to the role itself. Human Resources are only able to provide the statement of guarantee following an assessment that these requirements have been met.

This route is administered by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society. They aim to provide a decision on endorsement within approximately one to two weeks.

Please note this route is not intended for postdoctoral researchers and it is unlikely a postdoctoral research role will meet the criteria for route 1: Senior Academic and Research appointments.

Route 2: Individual Fellowships

The Individual Fellowships route offers fast-track endorsement for individuals who have been awarded an individual fellowship on the list provided by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society.

The fellowship must be held currently or within the last five years.

You do not require any documentation from Human Resources to be able to apply under the individual fellowships route.

Route 3: Endorsed Funders

Under the Endorsed Funder route researchers and specialists whose job is specified in a successful grant application from an endorsed funder approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) can apply for fast-track endorsement.

In order to apply for Route 3: Endorsed Funders you will require a letter called a 'statement of guarantee' from Human Resources confirming specific requirements have been met including:

The grant award is from an endorsed funder approved by UKRI
The contract of employment is for more than one year duration at the point of application for endorsement
The grant is worth more than £30,000

Human Resources are only able to provide the statement of guarantee following an assessment that these requirements have been met.

UKRI aim to provide a decision on endorsement within approximately two weeks.

Route 4: Peer Review

The Peer Review route provides standard endorsement for individuals who submit an application for peer review by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or the Royal Society. Applicants can choose to be considered under 'exceptional talent' (for leaders in their field) or 'exceptional promise' (for potential leaders in their field). Please take a look at the web pages for the relevant endorsement body for more information about the criteria and documents required for this route.

If you are not sure which endorsing body covers your area of research you can find a full list of eligible disciplines and subdisciplines for each endorsing body.

You do not require any documentation from Human Resources to be able to apply under the Peer Review route and as the applicant yourself, you will be best able to assess whether the Peer Review route is right for you.

Under Route 4: Peer Review, stage 1 of the application process can take up to eight weeks from the time the Home Office receives you application.

What happens if I am successful in a job application and need a visa to work in the UK?

If you are successful in a job which is eligible for the Global Talent visa under route 1: Senior Academic and Research Appointments or route 3: Endorsed Funders, Human Resources will provide the statement of guarantee which you will need to apply for endorsement.

Routes 2: Individual Fellowships and route 4: Peer Review are routes that you apply for independently and do not require any documentation from Human Resources. If you are successful in a role, please let Human Resources know if you intend to apply for a Global Talent visa under route 2 or 4.

Global Talent visa timeline

The length of time it can take to obtain a Global Talent visa can vary depending on a number of factors.

Stage 1: Endorsement

The first stage is to apply for, and obtain endorsement from one of the six endorsing bodies.

Under route 1: Senior Academic and Research Appointments, Route 2: Individual Fellowships and Route 3: Endorsed Funders the endorsing bodies aim to endorse applications within approximately 2 weeks.

Endorsement under route 4: Peer Review can take up to eight weeks from the time the Home Office receives your application.

Stage 2: Visa application

Tuberculosis test (if applicable)

You will need to take a tuberculosis (TB) test if you are coming to the UK for more than 6 months and either:

you live in any of these listed countries
you have lived in any of these listed countries in the past 6 months

You muse be tested at a clinic that has been approved by the Home Office. The clinic will give you a certificate which you will need to include with your visa application.

Visa application

Once you have received your endorsement and completed your visa application, including online application, payment of fee and registering biometric details average processing times are normally:

8 weeks for Global Talent visa applications made in the UK. However, this can fluctuate and up to date visa processing times for inside the UK are published by the UKVI.
3 weeks for Global Talent visa applications made from outside the UK. However, this can fluctuate and up to date visa processing times for outside the UK are published by the UKVI.

Visa reimbursement and visa loan schemes

We provide financial support to successful candidates in the form of our visa reimbursement scheme that will reimburse the costs of certain visas and costs for the main applicant, including the Global Talent visa.

We also have an interest-free loan scheme to help reduce the financial impact for certain visa costs, including the Global Talent visa, that are not covered by the visa reimbursement scheme. The loan can be used to help spread the impact of visa application and immigration health surcharge costs for dependents.

Dependents

Your partner and children can apply to join or stay in the UK as your 'dependents' if they are eligible. There is more information about dependents on the UKVI Global Talent web pages.

Extending your Global Talent visa

It is possible to extend your Global Talent visa from inside the UK. You can find more information and a link to the applicaiton form on the UKVI's web pages.

Important: If you are planning to apply to extend your Global Talent visa, please be aware that the UKVI will grant your new leave to remain from the date they make their decision, not from your current visa's expiry date. This means that applying very early could result in a shorter visa than you need.

There are some ocassions when you may become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 3 years if you were endorsed by the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society or UK Research and Innovation. Further information about applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain if you hold a Global Talent visa can be found here.