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This route supports fast-track endorsement for individuals who have secured an eligible academic or research position. It is designed to support internationally recognised and emerging talent who will:

• have responsibility for academic, research or innovation as a primary function of the role; or
• will be performing research or innovation as a primary function of the role

To be eligible, the position must normally require a PhD (or near-completion of a PhD) as an essential qualification, or equivalent research experience. Research or innovation must be a core component of the role, as outlined in the job description.

Applicants pursuing this route will need a letter called a ‘Statement of Guarantee’ from the Staff Immigration Team. This letter confirms that the role and recruitment process meet the requirements of the Global Talent Visa route. The Staff Immigration team will be happy to assess eligibility and issue the statement where the relevant criteria have been met.

This route is administered by the , and the , with endorsement decisions typically being provided within one to two weeks.

The Individual Fellowships route provides a fast-track endorsement for researchers and academics who have been awarded a prestigious individual fellowship recognised by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society on the following .

The fellowship must be held currently or within the last five years.

There is no requirement to obtain supporting documentation from the Staff Immigration team as part of the endorsement process. Instead, applicants can use their fellowship award letter as evidence of their eligibility when applying.

The Endorsed Funder route offers a fast-track endorsement for researchers and specialist staff whose role is directly linked to a successful research grant awarded by an approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

To apply through this route, applicants will need a letter called a ‘Statement of Guarantee’ from the Staff Immigration team. This document confirms that the role and funding arrangements meet the Global Talent visa requirements, including:

• The research grant has been awarded by an
• The employment contract exceeds one year in duration at the time of the endorsement, with at least one year remaining on a grant that is itself more than 24 months in duration
• The research grant has a value of more than £30,000

The Staff Immigration Team will assess eligibility and, where the requirements are met, issue the Statement of Guarantee to support the endorsement application.

UKRI typically aims to provide a decision on endorsement within approximately two weeks.

The Peer Review route provides endorsement for individuals who submit an application for peer review by the , or the .  Applicants can choose to be considered under 'exceptional talent' (for leaders in their field) or 'exceptional promise' (for potential leaders in their field).  Please take a look at the web pages for the relevant endorsement body for more information about the criteria and documents required for this route.

If you are unsure which endorsing body covers your area of research, you can refer to the published list of .

No documentation from the Staff Immigration team is required as part of the endorsement application. As the applicant, you are best placed to assess whether your professional achievements and career stage align with the requirements.

Under Route 4: Peer Review, stage 1 of the application process can take up to eight weeks from the date the Home Office receives the application.

The first stage is to obtain an endorsement from one of the six endorsing bodies.

Under Route 1: Academic and Research Appointments, Route 2: Individual Fellowships, and Route 3: Endorsed Funders, the endorsing bodies typically make endorsement decisions within approximately two weeks.

Endorsement under route 4: Peer Review can take up to eight weeks from the time the Home Office receives your application.

Once endorsement has been granted, applicants can proceed with their Global Talent visa application. While it is possible to submit Stage 1 (endorsement) and Stage 2 (visa application) applications at the same time, applicants should carefully consider doing so. If the endorsement application is unsuccessful, any fees already paid as part of the visa application may not be refundable. For this reason, many applicants choose to await their endorsement decision before submitting their visa application.

There are no English language or maintenance requirements as seen in other visa routes.

Some applicants will need to complete a tuberculosis (TB) test before applying for their visa. This applies if you are coming to the UK for more than 6 months and either:

• you live in any of these
• you have lived in any of these in the past 6 months

You must be tested at a clinic that has been approved by the Home Office. Following the test, you will receive a certificate which should be included as part of your visa application.

After submitting your online visa application, paying the application and health surcharge fees, and providing your biometric information (where required), standard processing times are typically:

• Up to 8 weeks for Global Talent visa applications made inside the UK. However, this can fluctuate and are published by the UKVI.
• Up to 3 weeks for Global Talent visa applications made from outside the UK.  However, this can fluctuate and are published by the UKVI.

Unlike many other immigration routes, the length of a Global Talent visa is not tied to the duration of your employment contract, fellowship, or research grant. Applicants can choose a visa length that best suits their personal and professional plans, from one to five years.

There is no limit on the number of extension applications, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met. The route also leads to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain).

We recognise that visa-related costs can represent a significant investment for international colleagues and are committed to providing financial support to help make the relocation process as accessible as possible.

Successful candidates may be eligible for support through our visa reimbursement scheme, which reimburses the cost of certain visa applications and health surcharge fees for the main applicant, which includes the Global Talent visa. This support is designed to help reduce the financial burden associated with moving to the UK and joining the University.

In addition, we offer an interest-free visa loan scheme for eligible employees. This scheme can help spread the cost of visa-related expenses that are not covered by the reimbursement scheme, including visa application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for dependants. By enabling costs to be repaid over time, the scheme can make it easier for employees and their families to manage relocation expenses.

Your partner and children can apply to join or stay in the UK as your 'dependents' if they are eligible.  There is more information about dependents on the .

It is possible to extend your Global Talent visa from inside the UK.  You can find more information and a link to the application form on the . There is no limit on the number of extension applications, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met.

Important: If you are planning to apply to extend your Global Talent visa, please be aware that the UKVI will grant your new leave to remain from the date they make their decision, not from your current visa's expiry date. This means that applying very early could result in a shorter visa than you need.

There are some occasions when you may become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 3 years if you were endorsed by the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society or UK Research and Innovation.

Further information about applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain if you hold a Global Talent visa can be found .

However, dependants require 5 years’ residency to be eligible.

It is possible for individuals who switch from Skilled Worker into Global Talent to combine the time spent under these visa routes to meet the qualifying period for .