The Global Talent Visa supersedes the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa and serves as an immigration channel tailored for scientists, researchers, and eligible individuals from abroad to reside and work in the UK. This pathway offers an expedited route to obtaining permanent residency, making it a desirable option for qualified candidates.

The Global Talent Visa in the UK is a highly coveted immigration pathway tailored for foreign nationals aiming to work in specific industries within the country.

In most instances, applicants must secure an official endorsement from one of six designated endorsing organizations.

The British Academy, The Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) are responsible for endorsing eligible candidates in fields such as science, engineering, medicine, social sciences, humanities, and various academic and research roles.

For academics and researchers, there are four pathways to endorsement: academic and research appointments, individual fellowships, endorsed funders, and peer review.

Arts Council England and Tech Nation handle endorsements for applicants in non-academic fields such as arts, culture, and digital technology.

Securing an endorsement from an approved body marks the initial stage of the process. Subsequently, the applicant must submit their visa application and endorsement for review by the Home Office.

The application procedure for the Global Talent Visa can be intricate, underscoring the importance of meticulously completing endorsement and visa application forms to enhance the likelihood of a successful outcome.

The Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa enables applicants to apply to come to, or remain in, the UK intending to start a business or buy or join an already-existing business in which they intend to invest funds and run. Any kind of business is acceptable as long as it is realistic and credible.

The amount of fund varies depending on the circumstances of the application. A team of two people can combine their financial resources under a joint application.

The applicant(s) must fully invest the required level of funds and create at least two full-time jobs in the business. Tier 1 Entrepreneurs can potentially acquire indefinite leave to remain within five years or, if the business is exceptionally successful, within three years.

There is also an English language requirement for Tier 1 Entrepreneur applicants. On 6 April 2015, a new requirement for a business plan was also added.

APPLYING FOR A TIER 1 (ENTREPRENEUR) VISA

Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visas may be applied for where funds of £50,000 or £200,000 are available. The £50,000 route is restricted to investment funds originating from a Venture Capitalist Firm, Seed Funding Competition, or a UK Government Department.

It is permissible to use £50,000 when switching from the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route, though these investment funds cannot include your own money or any money from 3rd parties.

The majority of Entrepreneur Visa applications make use of £200,000 investment funds. The application can be made either from inside the UK (switching) or from outside (Entry Clearance). The application may also be made on behalf of an “Entrepreneurial Team,” where two people apply together, and each invests £100,000. It is also possible to bring dependents (i.e., spouse, children under 18) with you to the UK.

Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa rules were further tightened on 6 April 2015. Our firm has submitted numerous successful applications both inside and outside the UK.

New applicants are no longer eligible to apply for the Tier 1 Investor visa. Nevertheless, existing visa holders can still seek extensions, apply for indefinite leave to remain, or sponsor their family members to join them in the UK under their current visa.

The Tier 1 Investor visa enables wealthy applicants to apply to come to, or remain in, the UK where they intend to invest at least £2m in UK companies or UK Government bonds.

The funds may be held in either an overseas bank or a bank in the UK, and they may be held in either foreign currency or in pounds sterling, but the applicants must open a UK bank account before the application can be submitted.

If the funds are held outside the UK, they must be transferable to the UK.

Unlike other kinds of settlement visas, there is no English language requirement for Tier 1 Investor applicants. They only need to meet an English requirement at such time as they apply for indefinite leave to remain.

The length of time required being eligible to apply for settlement or Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK varies depending on the amount of investment:

• Investment of £2 million – the applicant is eligible to apply for ILR after 5 years

• Investment of £5 million – the applicant is eligible to apply for ILR after 3 years

• Investment of £10 million – the applicant is eligible to apply for settlement after 2 years

When applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain, the applicant must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in each qualifying year. Absences are a common problem for Tier 1 Investor applicants. There is a discretion that the Home Office can exercise, but they do so only in exceptional cases.

To be eligible to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen, the applicant must be resident in the UK for at least 5 years and must have held ILR for at least 12 months. There are further requirements for absences, residence, English language, etc.

Applications for extension and settlement under the Tier 1 Investor route can either be submitted by post or with a super-premium service. When using the super premium service, the applicant usually gets a decision within 24 hours once the documents and biometric details have been collected.