Work in the UK as a researcher or academic leader (Global Talent visa)

With a Global Talent visa you can work in the UK in academia or research, if you are a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:

• science
• medicine
• engineering
• humanities
• social science

What you can do with a Global Talent visa

With a Global Talent visa you can:

• choose how long your visa is for, up to 5 years
• be an employee, self-employed and a director of a company
• change or stop doing your job without telling the Home Office
• bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
• travel abroad and return to the UK

There are no language or minimum salary eligibility requirements.

If you want to stay longer in the UK, you can:

• renew your visa as many times as you like if you meet the eligibility criteria for extending your stay
• apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 3 years and meet the other eligibility requirements – any time you spend outside the UK doing research counts towards this time

You cannot:

• apply for most benefits (‘public funds’), or the State Pension
• work as a sportsperson

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Global Talent visa.

Eligibility

You may be eligible if you have any of the following:

• an eligible job offer as an academic or researcher
• an individual fellowship
• a research grant that is approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
• an eligible award

If you do not, you can apply by having your application peer reviewed, but your application will take longer.

How to apply

To get a Global Talent visa you need to apply for an ‘endorsement’, as well as for the visa itself.

Applying for an endorsement

You need to apply for an endorsement to prove you are a leader or potential leader in your field.

The Home Office will send your application to be reviewed by a UK organisation (‘endorsing body’) with expertise in your field.

How you apply depends on whether you:

• have an eligible job offer as an academic or researcher
• have an individual fellowship
• have a research grant that is approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
• are getting your application peer reviewed

You’ll usually get a decision about your endorsement within:

• 2 weeks, if you have an eligible academic or research job, individual fellowship or research grant – this is called ‘fast track’ endorsement
• 5 weeks, if you’re having your application peer reviewed

Applying for the visa

There’s a separate guide to applying for your Global Talent visa, including how your partner or child can apply.

You usually get a decision about your visa within:

• 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK
• 8 weeks if you’re inside the UK

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

When you can apply for the visa

You can apply for the Global Talent visa at the same time as you apply for endorsement, or after you have the endorsement confirmed.

If your permission to stay in the UK is about to expire, applying for the visa will extend it until you’ve been given a decision.

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you travel.

Fees

It costs £716 to apply.

If you’re applying based on an endorsement, you’ll pay the £716 in two parts:

• £524 when you apply for the endorsement
• £192 when you apply for the visa itself

If you’re applying based on an eligible award, you’ll pay the full £716 when you apply for the visa.

If you’re including your partner or children in your application, they’ll each need to pay £716.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application – this is usually £1,035 per year for each person applying.

Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

If your endorsement application is refused

If your application is turned down you can request an endorsement review.