British citizenship – Global Talent visa

The way you apply for a Global Talent visa depends on your circumstances.

• If you’ve won an eligible prestigious prize, you can apply for the visa
• If you’ve not won an eligible prestigious prize, you’ll need to get an endorsement first to prove that you’re a leader or potential leader in your

You can apply for the Global Talent visa without endorsement if you’ve won an eligible prestigious prize

• the prize must be named on the list - other prizes awarded by the same institutions are not eligible
• You must be the named winner of the prize

• If you have not won a prize which is named on the list, you’ll need to apply for an endorsement instead. You can apply for an endorsement if you work in one of the following fields:

  • academia or research (/global-talent-researcher-academic)
  • arts and culture (/global-talent-arts-culture)
  • digital technology (/global-talent-digital-technology)

You can live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time.

You may be able to get indefinite leave to remain so you can settle in the UK  after 3 or 5 years, depending on which field you work in and how you apply. This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

There’s no limit to how long you can stay in the UK in total, but you will need to renew (‘extend’) your visa when it expires. Each extension can last from 1 to 5 years - you choose how long you want the extension to be.

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK

8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

Your partner and children can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.

If your partner or child’s application is successful, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours. If a child’s parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child’s visa will end on the earlier date.

• you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
• you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
• you’ve been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you’re working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture
• If you’re not living together, you’ll need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, for example by providing evidence that you:
• communicate regularly with each other
• support each other financially
• care for any children you have together
• spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events

You can apply to extend your visa for up to 5 years at a time. You can renew your visa as many times as you like, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements