The global talent visa of digital technology is open for talented and promising individuals with technical or business skills in the digital technology sector wishing to work in the UK.

This visa enables the brightest and best tech talent from around the world to come and work in the UK’s digital technology sector, contributing their cutting-edge expertise, creativity and innovation to maintaining the UK’s position at the forefront of the global digital economy.

If you are a talented or promising individual and want to work in the UK’s digital technology sector, this global talent visa in the field of digital technology is for you.

As a global talent visa holder, you can work for an employer, the director of a company, or be self-employed. If a company wishes to employ you, they do not have to hold a UK Sponsor Licence. You do not need to tell or update your visa status to change your jobs.

In order to qualify for a Global Talent visa for Digital Technology, you will need an endorsement letter issued by Tech Nation or have been awarded a prestigious Prized which is listed by Home Office.

What is Tech nation?

Tech Nation is the official Home Office designated endorsing body authorized to assess endorsement applications from individuals with expertise in digital technology and who want to come to the UK under the Global Talent visa.

Who is eligible?

Tech Nation’s criteria are designed for applicants with technical and business skills in the digital technology sector. In order to qualify for endorsement by Tech Nation in the field of Digital Technology you will either need to be:

A technical applicant (i.e. programmers) who can demonstrate proven technical expertise in building, using, deploying or exploiting a technology stack and building technical infrastructure. They can be from non-technical organizations.
A business applicant (non-technical applicants) who can demonstrate a proven commercial, investment, or product expertise in building digital products or leading investments in significant digital product businesses from technical organizations.
Non-technical applicants from non-technical organizations are generally not eligible.

What are the requirements for an endorsement?

Tech Nation accepts applications from applicants with technical and business skills in the digital technology sector. So, this basically applies to the applicants who showcase exceptional technical skills with a major focus on expertise in dealing with the latest technologies. Applicants should be practitioners who have varied skill sets, ranging from building to deploying to designing the technical infrastructure.

For business applicants, the criteria focus on exhibiting commercial as well as investment expertise while dealing with digital products (including leading investments).

There are two options for applicants applying for endorsement as a leader (called ‘exceptional talent’) or emerging leader (called ‘exceptional promise’). Exceptional promise applicants are likely to be earlier in their career, usually with less than 5 years of experience. The applicant must be able to prove their potential to be a leader through their skills and achievements.

An individual applying for an endorsement of exceptional talent

The applicant must show that they have been recognized as a leading talent in the digital technology sector; and provide evidence of 2 of the following:

The applicant should have a proven track record for innovation as a founder or senior executive of a product-led digital technology company or as an employee working on a new digital field or concept; or
The applicant must have proof of recognition for work beyond the applicant’s occupation that contributes to the advancement of the field; or
The applicant should have made significant technical, commercial or entrepreneurial contributions to the field as a founder, senior executive or employee of a product-led digital technology company; or
The applicant should have demonstrated exceptional ability in the field through academic contributions, through research published or endorsed by an expert

An individual applying for an endorsement of exceptional promise

The applicant should be able to provide evidence that they have been recognized as having the potential to be a leading talent in the digital technology field, and provide evidence of at least 2 of the following:

The applicant should have at least 2 examples of innovation as a founder of a product-led digital technology company or as an employee working on a new digital field or concept; or
The applicant should be able to provide proof of recognition for work beyond the applicant’s occupation that contributes to the advancement of the field; or
The applicant should have made significant technical, commercial or entrepreneurial contributions to the field as a founder or employee of a product-led digital technology company; or
The applicant should have at least 2 examples of exceptional ability in the field through academic contributions, or through research endorsed by an expert.

Recommendation letters

An applicant needs to provide 3 letters of recommendation in support of the endorsement application.

Each one of them duly attested by 3 high positioned members of 3 different well–established organizations acknowledged as experts in the digital technology field.

The signatories must be familiar with the applicant’s work and contribution to the digital technology sector. They must be a senior member of their organization. They will need to describe how they know the applicant, the applicant’s achievements in his or her specialist field, how the applicant exhibits exceptional talent or exceptional promise, the contribution the applicant will make to the UK digital technology sector, future plans, and the benefit the applicant would receive from living in the UK.

Family members

A Global Talent visa permits to bring dependant family members to the UK. Family members include a partner (spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner) and children under 18.

Visa Application

Once the Tech Nation endorsement is issued, the applicant should make a visa application within a period of three months from the date of the endorsement letter in the Global Talent category.

In addition, to submit an endorsement letter, the Home Office will assess the applicant’s character and immigration history to ensure that you do not fall under the general grounds for refusal.

There is no maintenance or English language requirement in the UK Global Talent visa category.

In order to make an application within the UK, your leave should be in the category to switch to a global talented visa. However, you do not have to go back to your home country to submit your application, because the application can be made from anywhere in the world.

Global talent visas do not require proof of English and maintenance funds.

Leave will be granted for up to 5 years.

Applicants in this field are recognised as "exceptionally talented" not "promising" and are eligible to settle in the UK within three years. However, if you need to travel often, you can apply for more than three years.

ARIS Lawyers helped professionals prepare for the successful approval of the Tech Nation and work reliably in the UK. We will guide you through complex immigration laws and policies and provide clear and reliable advice. Please contact us if any suitable advice is needed.