Whether you’re a high-achiever looking for new ceilings to break through or simply someone with a solid background of proven leadership experience, the United Kingdom has a vested interest in helping you relocate within its borders. The UK’s Global Talent visa is a route exclusive to leaders in select disciplines and is an excellent choice for many experienced professionals.
In this article, we will explain what the #UK Global Talent visa (GTV) is, which disciplines qualify, and how to find the information you need to improve your chances of being approved for this visa route.
 

A Quick Look at the UK Global Talent Visa
In February 2020, changes went into effect with the previous Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa, with everyone applying after February 20th, 2020, needing to follow the new rules.
The Global Talent Visa includes 2 categories of eligibility:
- Exceptional Talent: This visa is aimed at individuals with a proven track record in leadership roles within their given field.
- Exceptional Promise: This visa is designed to recognise emerging leaders that have demonstrated potential as leaders in their field.
 

This allows people that are considered as either leaders or emerging leaders in certain fields to enter the UK. 
One popular benefit of this visa programme, compared to the previous Tier 2 visa and Tier 2 Sponsor Licence programmes, is that you remain free to work for virtually any employer (or run your own business or be self-employed).
 

Who is the UK Global Talent Visa For?
The UK’s Global Talent visa (GTV) is aimed at providing a more streamlined experience for immigrating professionals from a number of crucial disciplines. While many people associate the GTV with Tech Nation, digital technology is only one of eight fields eligible for this route to residency.
Regardless of the work specialism, the applicant must first qualify for one of the two distinct categories related to the applicant’s professional experience, which are:
• Exceptional Talent
• Exceptional Promise
There are specific criteria set forth to help determine which of these two categories is right for your background. Generally, the Home Office looks at your leadership roles in international markets along with the length of your experience. Ultimately, however, the evidence you present in your application will need to meet these criteria followed by the endorsing body associated with your field.
 

Understanding Global Talent Visa Endorsement
In order to reside within the UK under the Global Talent visa, applicants must first receive an endorsement from one of the endorsing bodies that are officially recognised by the UK Home Office.
You can apply for the UK’s Global Talent visa route if you’re a proven Leader or Potential Leader in:
- Arts and Culture
- Architecture
- Digital Technology (including Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Fintech, Gaming, and Web Development)
- Fashion Design
- Film and Television (including Animation, Post Production, and Visual FX)
- Health and Medicine
- Research & Development/Academia
- Science and Engineering
 

You will also need an endorsement from the relevant endorsing body for your given discipline:
- Architecture
- Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
- Digital Tech
- Tech Nation
- Engineering
- The Royal Academy of Engineering
- Fashion & Design
- British Fashion Council
- Fine Arts & Culture
- Arts Council England
- Humanities
- British Academy
- Media (Film and TV)
- Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT)
- Research & Academia
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
- Science & Medicine
- The Royal Society

— Many who apply for a Global Talent visa see the endorsement stage as the main hurdle to a successful relocation.— 
The role of the endorsing body is to review all of the documentation that you provide in your application and make an endorsement decision based on the evidence that you present. 
If you are wondering why there are so many departments for an application to go, it’s mainly because each field must follow separate endorsement criteria that can be unique. 
Also, it is imperative that applications are reviewed by people with relevant experience in the field, as they are the most qualified in making accurate judgments about where an applicant fits into the industry.
 

Improving Your Chances
We mentioned earlier that the UK has a vested interest in attracting top talent. As the world grows more interconnected, leadership is expected to take the helm of larger and larger operations. Today, even small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can do business all over the globe, with hundreds of millions in capital involved.
As hundreds of millions in dollars and pounds get poured into the UK’s thriving startup ecosystem, these companies scale up and grow exponentially larger in a very short period of time.
Given that CEOs and investors both put high value into proven leadership experience, bringing international talent onboard translates into value not just for the company, but the national economy. 
Of course, if it was too easy, everyone would do it and anyone could.
That’s where consultants come in. Ideally, you’ll want a team of expert visa consultants with sample experience dealing with UK visa applications, including the Global Talent visa route. An experienced and knowledgeable consulting firm can review your documentary evidence for errors and analyze the documents and the impression they are making. This can provide opportunities to address potential issues before approaching an endorsing body or submitting official paperwork.
Those years of experience working with both the applicants and the various endorsers and sponsors helps consultants develop a more nuanced and relevant perspective on what endorsing bodies are looking for in an applicant. Consultants can provide as much or as little help as you need, and can greatly improve how a visa application represents the applicant.
 

Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope this clarifies the Global Talent visa and what sets it apart from other visa routes. Designed to provide experienced and emerging leadership in salient disciplines with an exclusive means of relocating to the UK, the Global Talent visa relies on endorsing bodies to affirm each applicant’s qualifications. Given the competition for these visas, it can be helpful to use the services of a consulting firm when ensuring eligibility and initially preparing documentation.