There are a number of ways that you can get into the United Kingdom And one of them is through the United Kingdom global talent visa. This visa is an immigration category created for talented and promising individuals and specific sectors wishing to work in the United Kingdom. The Global Talent Visa replaced the Tier 1 Exceptional Visa in 2020.
To qualify to apply for the Global Talent Visa, you have to be a leader or at least a potential leader in any of the following fields;
- Digital Technology
- Academia or Research
- Arts and Culture
For the application of your Global Talent Visa, you need to have successfully applied for endorsement from any of the six endorsing bodies that are engaged by the United Kingdom Home Office.
If you’ve won an eligible award, this gives you the space to apply for the visa without an endorsement.
For the Architecture Prizes, accepted awards are;Â
The Global Talent Architecture Prizes, The Awards Accepted Are;Â
The Royal Gold Medal From The Royal Institute Of British Architects,
Pritzker Prize From The Hyatt Foundation
For The Arts And Culture prizes, the awards accepted are;
Bessie – Outstanding Performer From The New York Dance And Performance Awards (The Bessie Awards)
Booker Prize From The Booker PrizesÂ
 Brit Awards – International Male From The British Phonographic IndustryÂ
 Brit Award – International Female From The British Phonographic IndustryÂ
 WOMEX – Artist Award From The World Music Expo Award (WOMEX)
Tony Award – Best Choreography From The American Theatre Wing And The Broadway LeagueÂ
Tony Award – Best Play Author From The American Theatre Wing And The Broadway LeagueÂ
 Tony Award – Best Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Musical From The American Theatre Wing And The Broadway LeagueÂ
Tony Award – Best Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role In A Musical From The American Theatre Wing And The Broadway LeagueÂ
Tony Award-Best Best Performance By An Actor In The Leading Role In A Play From The American Theatre Wing And The Broadway LeagueÂ
Tony Award – Best Direction Of A Play From The American Theatre Wing And The Broadway LeagueÂ
And so on. You can find the complete list here.Â
For the Digital Technology, prizes, the awards that are accepted are;
The Acm Price In Computing From The Association For Computing Machinery (ACM)
Turing Award From The Association For Computing Machinery (ACM)
For the Fashion Design Industry prizes, the awards that are accepted are;Â
Fashion Award – BFC Foundation Award From The Fashion Awards – British Fashion Council
Fashion Award – Outstanding Achievement From The Fashion Awards – British Fashion Council
Fashion Award – Accessories Designer Of The Year From The Fashion Awards – British Fashion Council
Fashion Awards – Designer Of The Year From The Fashion Awards – British Fashion CouncilÂ
For Film And Television prizes, the awards that are accepted are;Â
Academia Awards – Writing (Adapted Screenplay) From The Academy Of Motion Picture Art And SciencesÂ
 Academy Awards – Cinematography From The Academia Of Motion Picture Art And Sciences
BAFTA- Best Actor In A Supporting Role From The British Academy Of Film And Television Arts
BAFTA – Best Film Actor From The British Academic Of Film And Television Arts
The list for the rest of the awards can be found here.Â
 And for the Science, Engineering, Humanities And Medicine prizes, the awards that are accepted are;Â
Blue Planet Prize From The Asahi Glass FoundationÂ
Copley Medal From The Royal SocietyÂ
Davis Medal from IChemE
Abel Prize from the Norwegian Academy of Science and LettersÂ
The list for the rest of the awards can be found hereÂ
The endorsing bodies for the three fields of the Global Talent Visa (Arts And Culture, Digital Technology And Academia Or Research) are the British Academy, Royal Academy Of Engineering, Royal Society Or UK Research And Innovation. If you’re in the fields of Science, Engineering, Medicine, The Social Sciences or the Humanities.
If you’re in the fields of Art and Culture And Digital Technology then the body for this is the Art Council England Or Tech Nation which follows separate endorsement criteria.
For Research and Academia, there are four ways for them to obtain endorsement for the Global Talents Visa and those ways are;
1 Individual Fellowship
You can get an endorsement if you have been awarded an individual fellowship from the list approved by the Royal Academy Of Engineering And The Royal Society Or The British Academy. The fellowship must be held currently or at least held within the last 5 years.
2 Peer Review
You get the standard endorsement if you submit an application for full peer review by the Royal Academy Of Engineering, Royal Society Or The British Academy.Â
3 Academic And Research AppointmentsÂ
 You can also get an endorsement if you have accepted an eligible position at an approved United Kingdom higher education institution or a research institute with responsibility for either academic research or innovation leadership and development. This is also given by the Royal Academy Of Engineering, The Royal Society And The British Academy.Â
 4 Endorsed Funders
You can also get endorsed if you are a researcher that is employed or hosted by a UKRI-approved eligible institution. As a researcher or specialist whose name or job title is specified in a successful grant application from an endorsed funder approved by UKRI, you’re also able to get an endorsement.
Benefits of the Global Talent VisaÂ
1 The Global Talent Visa gives you the opportunity to be able to travel anywhere in the world for research purposes without it counting towards the maximum time period for absences from the UK if you choose to apply for settlementÂ
2 You usually get your feedback and endorsement within 14 daysÂ
3 The Global Talent Visa allows you to switch jobs and grow your career. You have the flexibility to change employers or switch roles, also you get a chance to become self-employed and also earn money from other sources like consultancy without having to go seek approval from the home office and this is unlike the United kingdom’s main Skilled Worker Visa.
4 You enjoy lower visa feesÂ
The fee for a 5-year Global Talent Visa is £623 and when compared to the almost £1,500 visa fee of the Skilled Worker Visa, it sounds like a steal. Apart from the UK immigration health surcharge you’re not really paying much in terms of fees.
Required Document For The Application Of Your Global Talent VisaÂ
- Tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you need to take the test and Nigeria is one of those countriesÂ
- Documents that show your identity and nationalityÂ
- Â International passportÂ
Other important information to note
Your children and spouse can travel with you although they will need to apply separately and use your application number and their application to travel with you or join you in the UK if they are eligible.Â
You must apply within 3 months of receiving your endorsement letter.Â
You’ll usually get a response to your application within 3 weeks.Â
To begin the application for your UK Global Talent Visa, click here