Understanding UK Global Talent Visa Endorsement- The What, Why & How

What is the UK Global Talent Visa?

The UK Global Talent visa is an immigration route for exceptionally talented individuals who want to work, study, and live in the UK. This visa replaced the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa on February 20, 2020. This visa is designed to attract leaders or potential leaders in the fields of:

• Academia or research
• Arts and culture (including film and fashion)
• Digital Technology

But there is one step which comes first, you can’t just straight away apply for the visa, you need to be endorsed first. Read on further to know how you can get the endorsement for Global Talent visa UK. 

Why The Global Talent Visa Is An Innovative Immigration Route?

Let us tell you the perks of this visa. There are many Global Talent visa UK benefits that are not available with other types of visas. 

• You would not need a job offer.
• You would have the freedom to work, switch jobs, start your own business, or even freelance.
• Fast-track route to permanent residency, i.e., indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in 3 years (for exceptional talent) or 5 years (for exceptional promise). 
• This visa can also be a path to UK citizenship.
• You can also bring your family with you as dependents
• There is no minimum salary or sponsorship requirement
• If you qualify for this visa, it is the most flexible visa you can get.

Am I Eligible for the Global Talent Visa UK Endorsement?

This is the most important question you will need to ask yourself. To be eligible for the visa, you will need to meet certain criteria based on the field and the endorsing body. Here we are presenting a broad breakdown of the eligibility criteria:

For Academic and Research: The individuals in this field will be endorsed by the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society, and UK Research & Innovation (UKRI). The example of some of the eligible candidates for the endorsement for Global Talent visa UK are researchers, scientists, academics with significant publications, or grant winners. 

For Digital Technology: The individuals in this field will be endorsed by the Tech Nation. The examples of some of the eligible candidates for Global Talent endorsement UK are tech entrepreneurs, founders of innovative startups, product managers, developers, or engineers. 

For Arts and Culture: The individuals in this field will be endorsed by Arts Council England, which accepts applications on behalf of Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT), the British Fashion Council (BFC), and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The examples of some of the eligible candidates for the UK Global Talent endorsement are filmmakers, visual artists, writers, fashion designers, and musicians. 

Each endorsing body has its own set of Global Talent visa UK requirements, so make sure that you read the guidelines closely. 

Prestigious Prizes

You can skip the UK Global Talent visa endorsement process if you have held a prestigious prize recognized by the UK Home Office. Some examples of the prestigious prizes recognized by the Home Office are the Wolf Prize, the Nobel Prize, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, the Fashion Award, the ACM Prize in Computing, the Turing Award, the Tony Award, the Grammy Award, Booker Prize, Pritzker Prize, and Royal Gold Medal. You can see the full list of all the recognized prizes on the official website. 

How Do I Choose the Right Endorsement Body?

One of the most important steps when you are deciding to apply for Global Talent Endorsement- stage 1 is choosing the right endorsing body. 

• Consider which endorsing body would be most suitable to recognize your skills and achievements. 
• Check out the requirements of the endorsing body and whether you fulfill those requirements or not. 
• The endorsing body has a different set of criteria for exceptional talent and exceptional promise. 

For example, let’s take the endorsement criteria for academic and research by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI). To obtain an endorsement from them, you must:

Fast-track Routes

• Have accepted an offer of an academic or research appointment at an approved institution and have to submit a statement of guarantee from the organization that is employing you.
• Have held a fellowship currently or held within the last 5 years, and submit an award letter naming you. 
• Are or will be working on a research grant issued by UKRI or another endorsed funder, and submit a statement of guarantee from the organization that is employing or hosting you. 

Non-Fast-track Route

• Get a peer review of your work. You do not need to submit any job offer letter, only your CV and letters of recommendation.

What Documents Do I Need for Global Talent Visa Endorsement?

Here is the list of the Global Talent visa endorsement documents that you will need to submit at the time of application. 

• Personal Statement ( one of the most important written documents)
• CV or Resume
• Three to Five Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
• Portfolio or examples of your work
• Evidence of your achievements (awards, press, patents, GitHub repository, etc). 
• Proof of recognition in your field (media mentions, speaking engagements). 

Once you submit all these documents when applying for the endorsement, the endorsing body will assess your application and the documents. If you clear all the requirements, only then will you receive your Global Talent visa endorsement letter. 

In the case of Global Talent visa endorsement documents, the types of documents to be submitted can also vary depending on the field and the endorsing body. For instance, if you are applying under the arts and culture, you have to submit:

• 3 letters of recommendation (2 letters from established organizations that are experts in their field, and one must be based in the UK; the third letter can be from an organization or a person, but they should be an expert in their field)
• 10 pieces of evidence that demonstrate your exceptional talent or promise from the last 5 years
• A copy of your CV
• At least 2 of the following evidence
• International media recognition (at least 2 works appearing in reviews and must be from at least 2 countries (exceptional talent) or one country (exceptional promise)
• International prizes
• International appearances or exhibitions

Role of Personal Statement In Your Endorsement

Think of the personal statement as your winning pitch; short, informative, and absolutely convincing. 

It needs to:

• Highlight your professional journey
• Show what made you decide to go to the UK
• Prove that you have significantly contributed to your field
• And outline what your future plans are in the UK

This is a very important document, and a generic statement would not leave any impression on the reader who will assess your endorsement eligibility. If you are someone who is not confident about your writing skills, then there is no harm in taking professional help. Professional writing services like Contentholic have a team of writers who are experts in their fields and can make your application shine. 

How to Apply for Endorsement for Global Talent Visa?

1. Go to the UK Home Office site and fill out the endorsement application of the appropriate endorsing body.
2. Upload the required documents
3. Pay the endorsement fee (GBP 561 at the time of writing).
4. Wait for the decision (it usually takes 3-8 weeks, but sometimes quicker if you apply for the fast-track).

After you receive the Global Talent visa endorsement letter, you can apply for the visa. You do not have to apply right away after receiving the endorsement letter, you can do it within 3 months of getting the endorsement. 

In case you are already working in the UK under this visa and want to extend it, you do not need to apply for Global Talent visa endorsement- stage 1 again. However, this is only possible if the endorsing body has not withdrawn its endorsement, and you have earned money (no minimum income requirement) in the UK while working in your field. 

Difference Between The Endorsement Application Stage and the Visa Application Stage

People often confuse the UK Global Talent endorsement stage and the visa application stage. However, there are two different stages to gain the UK Global Talent visa, and here are the key differences:

• You have to get a Global Talent visa endorsement letter before applying for the visa itself. 
• The endorsement stage is just to check the applicant’s achievements or potential as a leader and does not guarantee immigration to the UK. 
• Even if you get a UK Global Talent endorsement, there is no guarantee that you will also get the visa. 
• Only after getting a UK Global Talent visa, will you be allowed to enter the UK. 

Global Talent Visa UK Success Rate 

The Global Talent visa UK success rate is relatively high, often exceeding 75%, and some sources indicate an overall success rate of the visa application to be 90%. However, the success of your application will depend on the field and how strong your application is. 

Key factors that can boost your chances of success are:

• A strong personal statement
• Some solid recommendation letters
• Properly documented achievements
• All the pieces of evidence and documents adhering to the endorsing body’s criteria

How Contentholic Can Help You Get Endorsed?

Let us be real, applying for the UK Global Talent visa endorsement is easier said than done. There are criteria, documents, and deadlines. This is where visa consultancies like Contentholic can help. Here is how our team of visa consultants and professional writers can make a difference in your UK Global Talent endorsement application. 

Expert Guidance: The visa consultant can help you understand whether you should be applying as an exceptional talent or an exceptional promise. Additionally, they will also help you choose the right endorsing body. 

Custom Personal Statements: Our team of expert writers has years of experience in crafting personal statements for various purposes. Therefore, they can write your personal statement according to your profile, highlighting your achievements, career goals, and that you would be a great fit in your field in the UK.  

Document Review: Our team can also review other documents, such as your CV and letters of recommendation. 

Full Application Support: We don’t just write; we guide you through every step of the process. This includes selecting the appropriate evidence to submit the application online and on time. This helps maximize your chances of getting the endorsement for Global Talent visa UK. 

Conclusion

The UK Global Talent visa is a great opportunity for people who are highly talented in their field to get the best benefits by being part of the UK’s economy and society. The Global talent visa is more flexible than the previous Tier 1 visa, and hence it is one of the most popular immigration routes to the UK for those with exceptional skills and knowledge. Are you someone who comes under the exceptional talent or exceptional promise category, and considering applying for the endorsement for Global Talent visa UK? Then, do consider the eligibility requirements and application guidelines carefully. If you feel overwhelmed or scratching your head and thinking about how to start with the Global Talent endorsement UK process, it is better to seek the help of professionals. We, at Contentholic, have years of experience in assisting people with all kinds of visas, including the Global Talent visa. We conduct an eligibility assessment to check whether you meet the criteria of the endorsing body, and proceed further accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)