The UK Global Talent Visa is a special visa that allows highly skilled tech people in the digital technology sector the right to live and work in the UK for up to five years. It is a two stage process where an applicant must be endorsed with Exceptional Talent (as a leader in tech) or Exceptional Promise (as an emerging leader in tech) by Tech Nation before they can apply for the visa.
Once an applicant receives their endorsement and visa, it allows them
- The freedom and flexibility to live and work in the UK tech sector
- Apply for Indefinite leave to remain and British citizenship
- Bring their dependents with them
- Start a UK Ltd company if theywant to
- Is attached to them and not reliant on their employer to offer sponsorship
In 2016, I was endorsed with Exceptional Talent and went on to receive my UK Global Talent Visa in Digital Technologies. Since then, I have helped over 500 people with their own applications through being a Tech Nation Visa Ambassador and now coach applicants with their Stage 1 endorsement applications.
The Global Talent Visa is a two stage process where an applicant must be endorsed by Tech Nation with exceptional talent or exceptional promise, before they can apply for the visa.
The difference between exceptional talent and exceptional promise categories is that if an applicant has more than 5 years experience, they should apply under the exceptional talent category. If they have less than five years experience, they should apply for an exceptional promise category. It means that they will be deemed as a leader or emerging leader in tech so they can apply for the Global Talent Visa.
The aim of the Global Talent Visa in Digital Technologies is to have the best and brightest tech talent from across the world.
It started in 2014 where less than 100 applied with a 200 cap limit. Over the years, more and more people applied each year, with the cap being abolished in 2020. Now, anyone who meets the strict criteria could potentially be endorsed as an exceptional or emerging leader in tech. There is a 54% endorsement rate, in other words, one in two applicants get through.
The reason for this low success rate is because the strict criteria means that an applicant must fulfil each of the 3 out of 5 criteria. This includes 10 documents to show they are leaders or emerging leaders in tech, show their innovation, volunteer work in the tech sector, significant contributions or academic contribution with significant impact in the tech sector.
In addition, they must provide 3 letters of recommendations by experts in their field, a CV and a strong personal statement that explains why they should be endorsed and what their future plans in the UK are.
Learn more about the UK Global Talent Visa here.
The new April 2022 changes to the guidelines for the Global Talent Visa in Digital Technologies include
DOCUMENT CHECKLIST – LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Each letter must:
- Be about your Global Talent application – you cannot use a letter that was written for another reason
- Explain how the author knows the applicant; and
- Knows the applicant’s achievements in the relevant field; and
- how the author considers the applicant shows exceptional talent or promise; and
- the contribution the applicant would make to the UK digital economy
The main change here is that the experts in the letters of recommendation no longer have to state what your future plans in the UK are.
EXCEPTIONAL TALENT
Added ‘within the last 5 years to ‘show that they have been recognised as a leading talent in the digital technology sector’
EXCEPTIONAL PROMISE
Added ‘within the last 5 years to ‘show that they have been recognised as a leading talent in the digital technology field’
Added requirement: ‘Be at an early stage in their career’ to evidence required
Changes to the Stage 1 endorsement application guidelines go through a series of amendments a few times a year. This means that applicants must check the guidelines before they submit to ensure their applications are not affected by the changes when they submit their applications. My advice is to continually check the guidelines while preparing your application and before you submit.
Book a free Discovery Call here if you’d like me to help you with your application for the UK Global Talent Visa endorsement.
