World Leader. No Sponsor Required.
The premier route for leaders and potential leaders in Arts, Sciences, and Digital Technology. Freedom to work, build, and live in the UK on your own terms.
The "Endorsement" Hurdle.
The Global Talent visa is unique because the Home Office does not decide your eligibility. Industry experts do.
Stage 1: Endorsement: We submit a portfolio of evidence to a specific Endorsing Body (e.g., Tech Nation, Arts Council). They judge if you are a 'Leader' (Exceptional Talent) or a 'Potential Leader' (Exceptional Promise).
Stage 2: Immigration: Once endorsed, the visa application is a formality. We handle the biometric and administrative filing to secure your entry.
The Three Streams (Select Your Path)
The Race to Settlement.
Your path to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) depends on your classification:
Exceptional Talent: Eligible for Settlement after just 3 years.
Exceptional Promise: Eligible for Settlement after 5 years.
Science/Research: Almost always 3 years.
Crucial Benefit: Unlike Skilled Workers, time spent abroad for research/work related to your talent does not break your continuous residence.
Global Talent FAQs
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A refusal at the Endorsement stage is not a visa refusal. It does not go on your immigration record. You have two options:
Endorsement Review: If the body made a mistake or missed evidence, we file a review within 28 days.
Re-Application: If the narrative was weak, we can re-work the portfolio and submit a fresh application immediately. There is no 'cooling off' period.
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Yes. This is the major advantage over Skilled Worker visas.
General Rule: Absences must not exceed 180 days in any 12-month period.
The Research Exemption: If you are endorsed by the Royal Society, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, or UKRI, time spent overseas for research purposes does not count towards the 180-day limit for settlement. You can effectively live abroad for huge chunks of time if the work requires it.
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No. You can be employed, self-employed, a director of your own company, or even unemployed (taking a break). You are not tied to any sponsor. However, when you extend or settle, you must show you have earned some money in your expert field during the visa period.
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Not directly. Global Talent is an individual route. Your business partners must qualify for their own visas (e.g., Global Talent or Skilled Worker). However, your spouse and children can join you as dependents and have full right to work in any job.
Do You Meet the Requirements?
The rules are rigid, but your strategy doesn't have to be. Use our free assessment to see if you qualify.