Academic or researcher

You can get fast track endorsement for the Global Talent visa if you have an eligible job offer: as an academic or researcher at an institution approved by the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering and British Academy - check the list of approved research institutions or the list of officially recognised universities and colleges If you cannot get endorsement for an eligible job, you may be able to apply another way, for example with an individual fellowship . Eligible jobs Your job offer will need to involve either: being responsible for academic, research or innovation leadership and development directing or leading an individual or team research or innovation project or programme of work Documents you need to provide You need to provide both: a full job description a letter from the director of human resources (or equivalent) at the organisation where you will work The letter needs to say all of the following: the name of the position and department where you will work how the job you’ve been offered is eligible for this visa that you’ve accepted the job offer that the position was advertised and the application process was an open competition (or if it was not, the reasons why) that you gave at least 2 references that at least 3 academic, research or innovation representatives interviewed you for the role that an expert in your field was among the interviewers or consulted about your appointment before you were offered the job Apply for endorsement Once you have the documents, you can apply for endorsement . To complete the form, you need to check which endorsing body approves your discipline . You’ll usually get a decision on your application within 1 week. Apply for the Global Talent 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. You’ll get a response within 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK, and 8 weeks if you’re inside the UK.

Individual fellowship

You can get fast track endorsement if you have held an eligible fellowship in the last 5 years. The fellowship needs to be approved by the following: Royal Society, for science and medicine British Academy, for humanities Royal Academy of Engineering Check if your fellowship is eligible . You can apply as either a: leader in your field (called ‘exceptional talent’) potential leader in your field (called ‘exceptional promise’) Which one you are depends on the fellowship you have. If your fellowship is not listed or you have another type of grant, you may be able to get endorsement from UK Research and Innovation . Apply for endorsement You need to provide a copy of your fellowship award letter. Once you have the letter, you can apply for endorsement . To complete the form, you need to check which endorsing body approves your discipline . You’ll usually get a decision on your application within 1 week. Apply for the Global Talent 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. You’ll get a response within 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK, and 8 weeks if you’re inside the UK.

UK Research and Innovation endorsement

You may be eligible for endorsement if you’re working on a research grant or award from a funder approved by UK Research and Innovation ( UKRI ). Eligibility Your grant must have been awarded by an organisation on the list of endorsed funders . The organisation employing or hosting you must be approved by UKRI . The organisation must be in the UK, but you can do research abroad. You must also: have at least 1 year left on your employment contract or hosting agreement spend at least half of your time working on the grant be working on a grant worth at least £30,000 that covers at least 2 years have either a one-off grant or award or a ‘renewable’ award with regular peer review If you’re a principal investigator or co-investigator you can work on more than one grant, as long as in total they make up at least half of your time. Along with your grant or award you must either: lead a unique research or innovation project contribute to research in developing new technology or methodology If you’re leading on research or a project If you’ll lead a unique research or innovation project either independently or under acceptable supervision, you must: have a PhD or equivalent research experience (including clinical and industrial research) have actively participated in your relevant field of research within a university, research institution or industrial setting You must also either: be named on the research grant application have your job title on the research grant application If you’re contributing to research If you will contribute to research in developing new technology or methodology you must have research experience within a university, research institution or industrial setting. You must also either: have a UK bachelor’s degree have an equivalent overseas research degree have equivalent research experience (including clinical and industrial research) If you’ve had a career break If you’ve recently taken time away from actively participating in your relevant field of research, for example a career break or parental leave, and you’ll be returning to your employment, you’ll still be eligible for the Global Talent visa. Documents you need to provide If your grant or award is on the list of UKRI approved award databases , you must provide a link to it in your endorsement application. The database must confirm the grant or award: is worth at least £30,000 and covers at least 2 years is either a one-off funding payment or a ‘renewable’ award with regular peer review If your grant or award is not included on the database, you’ll need a letter from your endorsed funder instead. You also need to provide a letter from the director of human resources (or equivalent) at the organisation where you’re working. This needs to say all of the following: the name of the position and department where you work that you have accepted the job offer or hosting agreement that you are essential to the grant that you will be spending at least half of your agreed working time on the grant details of the fair recruitment process, if you were not specifically named on the grant application You need to provide documents for all grants you’re using for your endorsement application. Apply for endorsement Once you have the documents, you can apply for endorsement . You’ll usually get a decision on your application within 2 weeks. Apply for the Global Talent 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. You’ll get a response within 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK, and 8 weeks if you’re inside the UK.

If you’re not eligible for another route, you may be able to get endorsement by having your application peer reviewed. You can apply for endorsement as either: a leader in your field (called ‘exceptional talent’) a potential leader in your field (called ‘exceptional promise’) Peer review is done by the: Royal Society, for science and medicine British Academy, for humanities and social science Royal Academy of Engineering, for engineering and technology Eligibility You need to: work in an approved research discipline be an active researcher - for example in a university, research institute or business have a PhD or equivalent research experience, including industrial or clinical research You do not need a job offer to apply. To apply through exceptional promise you must also be at an early stage of your career. If you’re not eligible for peer review If you’re not eligible for peer review, you may be able to work in the UK another way, for example with a Skilled Worker visa . Documents you need to provide You need to provide a copy of your CV. It must: outline your career and any publication history, if applicable be typed be up to 3 single sides of A4 paper You must include a letter of recommendation from an ‘eminent person’ living in the UK who knows you and your work. The endorsing body must judge that the person has ‘internationally recognised expertise’ in your field. The letter must be about your Global Talent application, you cannot use a letter that was written for another reason. It must say how: the eminent person knows you they think you show exceptional talent or promise you would benefit from being in the UK you would contribute to the UK It must also explain what plans you have for work in the future. The letter must: be typed and dated be up to 3 single sides of A4 paper, excluding the author’s credentials and contact details be signed by the author, or by someone on behalf of the organisation recommending you include a telephone number and email address, and the organisation’s logo and registered address, if applicable come with the author’s CV (or other proof of their credentials that the endorsing body will accept) Exceptional talent If you’re applying through exceptional talent, you must also include a letter from an eminent person who is a senior member of a UK organisation. This must be someone who can give an objective assessment of your work based on their expert knowledge. They do not need to know you personally. The letter must be about your Global Talent application, you cannot use a letter that was written for another reason. It must: say how they think your work shows exceptional talent say how you would contribute to research and innovation in the UK include a statement saying which organisation they’re a senior member of The letter must: be written by a different person to the one who wrote your letter of recommendation be typed and dated be up to 3 sides of A4 paper, excluding the author’s credentials and contact details be signed by the author include a telephone number and email address come with the author’s CV (or other proof of their credentials that the endorsing body will accept) include a statement saying it’s not influenced by any personal knowledge of you, although the author can be someone who knows you How your application will be assessed When making a decision on your application, the endorsing body will assess that you meet the eligibility criteria. It will also consider the following factors: your career history - for example the international reputation and impact of your work the strength of the statements in your recommendation letter and of the evidence in support of your application how you’ll contribute to UK research excellence and to wider society, including to the economy, by being based in the UK There are other factors they’ll consider, depending on if you’re applying through exceptional promise or exceptional talent. Exceptional promise The endorsing body will consider: whether you’ve given enough evidence to show you have the potential to be a future leader in your field how much extra funding you’ve secured during, or after, a relevant fellowship whether you can give evidence of a relevant prize or award for early career researchers how significant your contribution to your field is, in relation to the career stage you’re in Exceptional talent The endorsing body will consider: whether you’ve won what they consider to be a ‘prestigious’ prize or award whether you’ve secured significant funding for your work in the past 10 years whether you’re regarded to be a leader in your field Apply for endorsement Once you have the documents, you can apply for endorsement . To complete the form, you need to check which endorsing body approves your discipline . Peer review endorsement applications usually take 5 weeks. Apply for the Global Talent 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. You’ll get a response within 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK, and 8 weeks if you’re inside the UK.

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

Overview

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

You can also work in the UK on a Global Talent visa if you’ve won an eligible award.

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’)
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.

If you’re not eligible for a Global Talent visa, there are other ways to work in the UK - for example a skilled work visa.

How to apply

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

You do not need to apply for an endorsement if you’ve won an eligible award. You can apply for the visa straight away.

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.

Example

You can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.

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.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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

Overview

What you can do with a Global Talent visa

Eligibility

How to apply

Applying for an endorsement

Applying for the visa

When you can apply for the visa

Fees

Healthcare surcharge

If your endorsement application is refused

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

Overview

What you can do with a Global Talent visa

Eligibility

How to apply

Applying for an endorsement

Applying for the visa

When you can apply for the visa

Fees

Healthcare surcharge

If your endorsement application is refused

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