Focus on visas - Global Talent Visa

The Global Talent Visa (GTV) is an immigration route for talented and promising individuals in specific sectors wishing to work in the UK. It replaced the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa in February 2020.

There are two application stages, and full guidance on each is available as follows:

Endorsement: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/global-talent-visa/

Visa: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent 

Endorsement

Within the GTV route, there are five possible 'paths' to endorsement:

  1. Academic and research appointments
  2. Individual fellowships
  3. Endorsed funders
  4. Peer review
  5. Prestigious prizes

Each path has its own requirements and criteria. To help you to decide which path is right for you (or, if you already know, the allow the University to provide the supporting documents you need), please complete the checklist. If you are not sure which path is right for you, please start with 'Academic and research appointments' - you will have the opportunity to check other paths.

You will normally receive a decision on your endorsement application:

  • within 1 week if you are applying under path 1, 2 or 3. 
  • within 8 weeks if you are applying under path 4.

Note: holders of certain prestigious prizes can apply for a visa without going through the initial endorsement stage. The list of eligible awards and further information is available on gov.uk.

Endorsement applications for academic and research roles are decided as follows:

  • The British Academy: humanities and social sciences
  • Royal Academy of Engineering: engineering
  • The Royal Society: natural and medical sciences
  • UK Research and Innovation: all endorsement applications submitted under the 'Endorsed funders' path

The full list of eligible disciplines and sub-disciplines per endorsing body is available on gov.uk.

The cost of endorsement is £456 (May 2021). 

Once you receive your endorsement confirmation, you must apply for your visa within 3 months. 

Visa

Ordinarily you will apply for a visa once your endorsement application has been granted. However, if your existing UK visa is expiring soon, you can apply for endorsement and visa at the same time.

If you are outside the UK, you should submit your visa application within 3 months of your expected date of travel to the UK.  If you are already in the UK on another visa type, or extending your existing Global Talent visa, you should apply within 3 months of your current visa's expiry date.

You will usually receive a decision on your visa application:

  • within 3 weeks if you are applying outside the UK
  • within 8 weeks if you are applying inside the UK

You may be able to pay for a faster decision (see "Visa" link above).

You can choose how long your visa will be valid for - 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years. This can be extended on an ongoing basis. The cost of the visa application is £152 (May 2021). 

Visa applications are decided by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), a department within the UK Home Office. The University has no influence over decision-making by the endorsing bodies or by UKVI.

Family members

You can bring family (spouse, partner, children) to the UK as your dependents - they can quote your visa application reference number on their own application, and do not need to apply for endorsement first.

The cost of a Global Talent dependent visa is £608 (May 2021).

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

When you and your family apply for a Global Talent visa, you will also need to pay the IHS which will allow you to access the UK's National Health Service (NHS). The total cost will depend on the length of visa, and is £624 per year (May 2021), or £470 per year (May 2021) for children under 18. You can calculate how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

If you have any queries, please speak to your local HR hub.