Global Talent visa

Flexibility 

The Global Talent visa allows flexibility to:

• work in the UK without restrictions, for example there are no restrictions on the hours, salary or place of work (but cannot take employment as a doctor or dentist in training unless specified or a professional sports person). 

• take periods of unpaid leave, sabbatical, change employment or take up secondary work, consultancy, or collaborations. 

Visa duration

The visa duration is not tied to the contract of employment, fellowship or grant length. At Stage 2 (visa application) you choose the length of the visa: 1 – 5 year visa duration.

You can apply to extend your visa for up to 5 years at a time. You can renew your visa as many times as you like, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements:

• the organisation that endorsed you has not withdrawn its approval
• you earned money in your expert field during your last period of leave in the UK
• the visa holder submits their visa application before their current visa expires.

An extension application can be submitted from within the UK or overseas.

Route to settlement

The Global Talent Visa route leads to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain).

You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) so you can settle in the UK after 3 or 5 years – depending on which field you work in and how you apply. This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

If you apply via the academic and research endorsement routes you may be eligible to apply for ILR after 3 years – although dependents require 5 years residency to be eligible.

If you have switched from a Skilled Worker visa (previously Tier 2) into Global Talent, you may be able to combine the time spent under these visa routes to meet the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain. 

Check your eligibility to apply for ILR.

ATAS

You will not be required to apply for ATAS clearance under this route.

English Language

You will not be required to prove your level of English language.

Stage 1: You must apply for and obtain endorsement from one of six endorsing bodies engaged by the Home Office.  

Stage 2: Once received, you must apply for your visa.   

There are five ways to obtain Stage 1 endorsement. Once submitted a decision is normally received within 1 week for fast track applications and 5 weeks for standard. 

• Academic and research appointments (fast-track) – You can obtain endorsement via this route if you have accepted a job at the University of Surrey in which you will have responsibility for academic, research or innovation leadership, or are an emerging leader. This includes but is not limited to Professor, Associate Professor and Senior Group Leaders appointments. Certain recruitment requirements must also be met. This route is administered by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society.  

• Individual fellowships (fast-track) – This route is available if you have been awarded an individual fellowship from the list approved by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society. The fellowship must be held currently or within the last 5 years.  

• Endorsed funders (fast-track) – This route is available if you are a named researcher on a grant application from an endorsed funder approved by UKRI. See the list of endorsed funders. 

• Peer-reviewed application (standard) – you may submit an endorsement application for peer review it you meet all eligibility criteria and demonstrate that you are a proven leader within your field of expertise (Exceptional Talent) or have the potential to become a leader within your field of expertise (Exceptional Promise). Your application is assessed by fellows at the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or Royal Society. 

• Hold a named prize (stage 2 visa application only) – Individuals who hold a prestigious prize are eligible to apply for a Global Talent visa without the need to obtain the Stage 1 endorsement. 

If you are unsure which route applies to you, the Royal Academy applicant decision tree is helpful.

1. Academic and research appointments (Fast Track)  

 This criteria supports a fast track endorsement if you are appointed to 

• a professorship, associate professorship or other senior position responsible for academic, research or innovation leadership  

• a position directing an individual or team in a research or innovation programme of work, who is an emerging leader. 

The following requirements must have been met during the recruitment process 

• the position was advertised and an open competition was held 

• at least two references were required and received 

• at least three academic, research or innovation representatives were present on the interview panel 

• at least one expert in the applicant's field was present on the interview panel. This could be one of the academic or research representatives, or at least one relevant expert, independent of the employing institution, was consulted before the job offer was made 

• the job offer has been made and accepted.

The University will supply you with a letter of support to confirm that the above criteria have been met.  

To apply for your endorsement, you must select the relevant fast track option on the Stage 1 endorsement application form and provide:  

• your job description setting out the duties and responsibilities held

• The statement of guarantee letter from the Chief People Officer.  

Stage 1 application form.

2. Holder of recognised individual fellowship track

If you hold, or have held in the last 5 years, a listed individual fellowship, you may be eligible for Route 2 of the Global Talent visa. This list does change and it is important to check this carefully before applying.  

To apply you must select the relevant fast track option on the Stage 1 application form.

3. Endorsed funders 

If you are you working on a research grant issued by an endorsed funder on the list approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and your name or role is named in a successful grant application from an endorsed funder you will need to submit both the award letter and a statement of guarantee from the University. If not, proceed to Route 4. If yes, then if you as an individual or your role is named in a successful grant application from an endorsed funder, you need to submit both the award letter and a statement of guarantee from the employing or host institution as part of your application for a fast-track visa. The funder and the institution must both be on UKRI’s approved lists.

Under the endorsed funder route, eligibility extends to the principal investigator (P.I.), co-investigators (Co I.) and team roles stated in the grant application at graduate level and above – for example, postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, technologists and methodologists. Eligible individuals must spend at least 50% of their work time on fulfilling the grant conditions (principal investigators or co-investigators holding multiple grants may demonstrate 50% in aggregate). A minimum award threshold of £30,000 applies and the minimum grant duration is 24 months. Individuals must have at least one year left on their employment contract to be eligible. 

To apply you must select the relevant fast track option on the Stage 1 application form.

You must provide:  

1. a copy of the grant award letters that support your work. The letter must confirm that: 

• the grant or award is worth a minimum of £30,000 

• the grant award covers a minimum period of 2 years.  

1. A statement of guarantee from the Chief People Officer. This should be on header paper and dated to confirm in detail that:  

• the University is on the list of eligible organisations available on GOV.UK 

• the applicant‘s role meets the eligibility criteria set out in Immigration Rules Appendix Global Talent.

4. Peer review 

This route is for individuals who wish to be considered for endorsement by peer review undertaken by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or the Royal Society. 

Applicants can choose to be considered under the exceptional talent (for leaders in their field) or exceptional promise (for potential leaders in their field). This route is not fast track. You can apply without a job offer.  

The British Academy reviews applications from the humanities and social sciences, the Royal Academy of Engineering covers engineering, and the Royal Society covers the natural and medical sciences. The full list of eligible disciplines and sub-disciplines per endorsing body is available on GOV.UK. 

Full guidance on the requirements and application process. 

Please be aware that meeting the qualifying criteria does not guarantee endorsement. 

Once you have received your endorsement you can proceed with your visa application.  

The visa application must be submitted within 3 months from the date of the endorsement decision date. After three months, the endorsement will expire and a new stage 1 endorsement application will need to be submitted. 

Generally the Stage 2 visa application is straight forward to complete. There is no English language or maintenance requirements as seen in other visa routes.

Outside of the UK

If you are outside of the UK you will need to submit your application in your home country or a country where you have the right to reside for 6 months or more.

More information and to apply

Switching to Global Talent within the UK:

You may switch to a Global Talent visa from within the UK as long as you don’t hold permission to stay in the UK under:

• Visitor visa
• Short term student
• Parent of a child student
• Seasonal worker
• Domestic worker.

It is recommended that you apply at least 12 weeks before your current visa expires.

More information and to apply

If you are from the EU / EEA / Switzerland

You will be granted a digital status, linked to your passport, which will facilitate your entry to the UK.

You should not enter the UK before the start date on your digital status – if you arrive as a visitor before the start date of your digital status, you should leave and reenter the UK from outside of the Common Travel Area within the validity period of your digital status.

On or before your first day of employment, you will be required to generate a share code to prove your right to work status.

Non EU / EEA / Swiss Nationals

If you applied for your Global Talent visa from overseas, you will receive a vignette (sticker) in your passport which will normally be valid for 90 days.

You must enter the UK within the validity period of your vignette. 

If you provided your biometric details when an out-of-country Global Talent visa application is granted, a vignette (visa sticker) will be placed in your passport.

Those applying for a Global Talent visa usually receive a 30 day vignette which is used to enter the UK.

You will be instructed when and where to collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) after you arrive in the UK. The BRP is a plastic credit-card sized visa valid for the full length of your stay.

EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland nationals, who have a biometric passport and used the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app will not receive a vignette or BRP and instead have a digital immigration status.

The Home Office strongly recommends against booking travel to the UK before a visa is issued.

Global Talent visa holders must travel to the UK as soon as possible after the start date of their Global Talent vignette. If you have been issued a vignette valid for 30 days, you must travel to the UK within this period. If you do not, you will have to apply, and pay, for a replacement vignette before entering the UK.

Please note that once you have submitted your Global Talent visa application, or after your Global Talent visa has been granted, you must not enter the UK as a visitor (e.g. as a tourist). If you do, you Global Talent visa will no longer be valid, and you will not be able to start your employment.

When you enter the UK on a Global Talent visa, you and any dependents will normally have your vignettes checked and date stamped by a Home Office Immigration Officer.

If you are nationals of an EU Country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA and you hold a biometric passport, you will instead be able to enter through 'eGates' without having to speak to an Immigration Officer. If you are travelling with children under 12 years old, however, you cannot use the 'eGates' and will need to see an Immigration Officer.

If you enter through an 'eGate', you will not receive a date stamp in your passport and will need to retain your boarding pass, travel itinerary, or other evidence of when you entered the UK, in order to be able to show the date you entered the UK when applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Collecting BRPs

You must collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 10 days of arriving in the UK, or before your vignette expires, whichever is sooner. The Home Office letter that confirmed your application had been granted will list when and where you will need to collect your BRP.

Occasionally a BRP is not ready for collection on the stated date and you will need to return a day or two later to collect your BRP. If a BRP is still not available for collection you should report this to the Home Office. Please also make sure HR are informed via: HROperations@surrey.ac.uk.

You should check the details on your BRP immediately. Any errors in details or dates will need to be corrected. If there are errors on a BRP please inform HROperations@surrey.ac.uk as soon as possible.

Visit the GOV UK for more details on BRPs.

Evidence Right to Work before any work starts

On your first day, you will be required to meet with HR (either online or in-person depending on whether you have a vignette or an eVisa) to allow us to conduct a full right to work check.

If you have a vignette, we will take copies of the vignette and your passport.

You must also collect and present your BRP to HR before your vignette stamp expires or within ten days of arriving in the UK – whichever date is the earliest.

You will receive instructions from the Home Office about how / where to collect your BRP. If you do not collect this within the time frame stated, you may be fined by UK Visas and Immigration.

It is preferable that you collect your BRP before you start work, however, you may present this later if you are starting very soon after you arrive in the UK but you must return to HR to present your card once you have collected it so that we may take a copy.

As part of your right to work check, you must provide HR with a share code. You will need to request a code. HR will conduct a right to work check, confirm the photograph is a true likeness and any restrictions stated on your visa.

If you have an eVisa, you will be required to present us with a share code to allow us to conduct your right to work check. You will not receive a vignette sticker or a BRP. You will therefore be required to evidence your date of arrival.