Purpose
This visa route is designed for individuals who are recognised or emerging leaders in digital technology and who wish to work in the UK. Successful applicants will be granted up to five years’ leave in the UK and can apply to extend their visa as many times as they like.
Endorsement requirements
Tech Nation will assess and decide whether you meet the criteria for endorsement as either a recognised leader (‘Exceptional Talent’) or an emerging leader if you are earlier in your career (‘Exceptional Promise’).
Applicants must demonstrate at least one of the key criteria and two of the qualifying criteria from the table below.
Exceptional Talent
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Key criteria
At least one of: |
A proven track record or examples of innovation in the digital technology sector as a founder or senior executive of a product-led digital technology company or an employee working in a new digital field or concept that must be clearly evidenced. |
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Proof of recognition for work outside your immediate occupation that has contributed to the advancement of the sector. |
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Qualifying criteria
At least two of: |
Significant technical, commercial or entrepreneurial contributions in the digital technology sector as either a founder, senior executive or employee of a product-led digital technology company. |
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Recognition as a leading talent in the digital technology sector. |
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Continuous learning/mastery of new digital skills (commercial or technical) throughout your career. |
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Exceptional ability in the field by making academic contributions through research published or otherwise endorsed by a research supervisor or other expert |
Exceptional Promise
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Key criteria
At least one of: |
More than one example of innovation in the digital technology sector as a founder of a product-led digital technology sector company or an employee working in a new digital field or concept that must be clearly evidenced. |
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Proof of recognition for work outside your immediate occupation that has contributed to the advancement of the sector. |
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Qualifying criteria
At least two of: |
Significant technical, commercial or entrepreneurial contributions in the digital technology sector as either a founder or employee of a product-led digital technology company. |
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Recognition as having the potential to be a leading talent in the digital technology sector. |
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Continuous learning/mastery of new digital skills (commercial or technical) throughout your career. |
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Providing two or more examples of innovation in the field by making academic contributions through research published or otherwise endorsed by a research supervisor or other expert. |
Other requirements
Tech Nation will consider applicants with both technical and business skills in the digital technology sector. A wide range of technical applicants are considered, including AI and Machine Learning experts, back-end developers and cybersecurity experts. Please note that for business skills-based applications, these are set at a very high level eg leading substantial VC investment over £25m or experience as C Suite in an SME (CEO, CMO, CIO) or head of operations for a digital business.
Please note that the following specialisms are not considered appropriate. Therefore, if you were seeking to rely on these, they would not deem you eligible for endorsement.
- Service delivery, process delivery, outsourcing, consultancy/ERP consultancy, systems admin and all related fields.
- Corporate roles or experience of managing large corporate teams.
- Junior investors/analysts.
Tech Nation considers that business skills apply to in-house work within product-led digital technology companies, not tech-enabled or service companies such as agencies, outsourcers or marketing firms and the like.
Settlement
Individuals who are endorsed under the Exceptional Talent requirements will become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after three years. Those who are endorsed under the Exceptional Promise criteria will become eligible after five years.
Application procedure
1. Endorsement - After submitting your application for endorsement, Tech Nation’s panel of independent experts will decide whether your skills and achievements meet the criteria above and whether you should be endorsed for Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise. Current processing times for endorsement applications are up to eight weeks, with fast-track options available in some circumstances.
2. Visa - You will need to apply for the Global Talent visa within three months of gaining your endorsement.
How can we help
We are a full service, highly ranked and recognised law firm with commended immigration specialist lawyers who have a breadth of experience with tech clients in particular. We will give you unbiased and helpful advice on the best route forward for you. If the Global Talent visa is the right route for you, we can help you to prepare the most persuasive application possible based on your circumstances and focussed on the endorsement criteria. We build long-term relationships with our clients to help them with all their legal needs throughout the life of their immigration journey in the UK.