Global Talent Visa UK - Trusted Consultants from Turkey

To be eligible for the Global Talent visa, you must be aged 18 or over and recognised as a leader or potential leader in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology. You must obtain an endorsement from the relevant Home Office-approved endorsing body unless you have won an eligible prestigious prize.

The fields covered by the Global Talent route include:

• Academia or Research, including engineering, science, medicine, humanities and social science
• Arts and Culture, including combined arts, dance, literature, music, theatre, visual arts, architecture and fashion design
• Film, Television, Animation, Post-Production and Visual Effects
• Digital Technology, including financial technology (fintech), gaming, cyber security and artificial intelligence

The eligibility criteria and evidence requirements depend on your field and the endorsement pathway you apply under. Applicants in film, television, animation, post-production, or visual effects can apply only under the exceptional talent pathway.

Arts and Culture

Arts Council England covers combined arts, dance, literature, music, theatre, and visual arts.

The baseline is outstanding work, performed, presented, distributed, or exhibited internationally, with regular professional engagement over the last 5 years.

• A CV and three dated letters: two from established arts organisations you’ve worked with (one UK-based), and a third from another organisation or an individual with recognised standing in your field
• Exceptional talent: a substantial track record across at least two countries, backed by two qualifying pieces of evidence, significant media recognition, an international award, or internationally significant exhibitions, sales, or appearances
• Exceptional promise: an early-career applicant with a developing track record in one or more countries, still needing two forms of evidence

Architecture

RIBA handles architecture endorsements on behalf of the Arts Council England.

The bar is the same shape as arts and culture, outstandingly presented, published, or internationally exhibited work, with 5 years of regular engagement in the field.

• A CV and three letters: two from established architecture organisations (one UK-based), a third from another organisation or a recognised individual
• Exceptional talent: a track record spanning two countries
• Exceptional promise: a track record in one country
• Either route needs two qualifying pieces of evidence, an award, media recognition, or internationally significant publications or exhibitions

Design Industry

A new field was added to Appendix Global Talent in 2026, endorsed by the Design Business Association (DBA) on behalf of Arts Council England. It covers product, graphic, UX, service, industrial, and spatial design, among other design disciplines.

You must be professionally engaged in producing outstanding applied, published, distributed, or internationally exhibited work, with regular professional design work over the last 5 years.

• A CV and 3 dated letters of recommendation, 2 from well-established design organisations you have worked with (at least one UK-based) and a third from another organisation or individual with recognised experience in design
• Exceptional talent: a substantial track record in at least 2 countries, evidenced by significant media recognition, an international design award, or internationally significant professional appearances, publications, exhibitions, or sales
• Exceptional promise: an early-career applicant with a developing track record in one or more countries, evidenced by recent media recognition, an award nomination or shortlisting, or recognised appearances, publications, or exhibitions

Fashion Design Industry

The British Fashion Council assesses this field. You need a leading design role in a fashion business, plus 5 years of regular industry engagement.

• A CV and 3 dated letters of recommendation, 2 from well-established fashion organisations (at least one UK-based) and a third from another organisation or individual with recognised expertise
• Exceptional talent: outstanding work sold or exhibited internationally through catwalk or other shows, with a substantial track record in at least 2 countries
• Exceptional promise: a developing track record in at least 1 country, which can be evidenced through support from schemes such as British Fashion Council initiatives, Fashion East, or The Sarabande Foundation, or through orders from a luxury retailer

Film and Television

Pact assesses this field for Arts Council England, and only for exceptional talent; there’s no exceptional promise route here.

• A Main Award win at any point (Academy Award, an eligible BAFTA, Golden Globe, or Emmy)
• A nomination for, or significant contribution to, a Main Award in the last 10 years
• At least two Main Award nominations across the last 15 years
• Notable industry recognition across at least two productions, backed by distribution sales, media coverage, and the right mix of awards from Pact’s Notable Industry Recognition Awards List
• A CV and three letters are still required, two from established film and television organisations (one UK-based)

Digital Technology

Endorsed by Tech Nation. What counts as “exceptional” varies by applicant type: technical applicants need proven expertise in building or deploying technology stacks and infrastructure; business applicants need commercial, investment, or product expertise in leading digital businesses.

• A CV containing career and publication history
• Three dated recommendation letters from different established digital technology experts who have known the applicant’s work for at least 12 months
• Up to 10 documents showing that the applicant meets the evidential criteria
• Evidence of their connection to a digital technology business if they have been a founder or senior executive during the last 5 years
• Exceptional talent: applicants must provide at least two pieces of evidence across two qualifying criteria. These criteria cover innovation, recognition beyond the applicant’s occupation, significant technical, commercial or entrepreneurial contributions, and academic contributions through expert-endorsed or published research
• Exceptional promise: applicants must be at an early stage of their career and provide at least two pieces of evidence across two qualifying criteria. Their evidence can show innovation, recognition beyond their occupation, contributions as a founder or employee of a product-led digital technology company, or academic contributions through research endorsed by an expert

Science, Engineering, Humanities, Social Science and Medicine

The Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Academy, and UKRI split this territory among themselves by discipline.

Whichever body assesses you, you’ll need to already be an active researcher, academic, industry professional, or government employee.

• Fast track: applicants must hold, or have held in the last 5 years, an eligible peer-reviewed fellowship or award; hold an eligible academic or research appointment at an approved UK institution; or be hosted by a UKRI-approved organisation on a substantial research grant
• Academic appointments specifically must require a PhD or equivalent research experience, with research or innovation leadership built into the role
• Full peer review: a PhD or equivalent, active research work, and, for exceptional promise applicants, still early in career
• Full peer-review applicants need a CV and a letter from an eminent UK-based figure; exceptional talent applicants need a second letter from a senior figure at a recognised research or innovation organisation

Every field comes back to the same principle: your evidence has to map onto that field’s specific criteria, not just your career achievements in general.

The Global Talent visa application process depends on whether you need an endorsement. If you have won an eligible prestigious prize, you can apply directly for the visa. If you do not hold an eligible prestigious prize, you must obtain an endorsement before submitting your visa application.

There are two stages for applicants who need endorsement:

• Apply for a Global Talent endorsement
• Apply for the Global Talent visa after receiving a successful endorsement decision

Your visa application must be submitted within three months of the endorsement decision.

Applying for an Endorsement

Choose the endorsement pathway that matches your field and professional background. The relevant endorsing body will assess whether you meet the exceptional talent or exceptional promise criteria for that route.

The endorsement arrangements include:

• Arts Council England for arts and culture
• The Royal Society for science and medicine
• Royal Academy of Engineering for engineering
• The British Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
• UK Research and Innovation for eligible academic and research pathways
• The relevant Home Office-approved digital technology endorsement arrangement

Architecture, fashion design, film and television applicants are assessed through specialist arrangements connected to Arts Council England.

You must complete the online Stage 1 endorsement application and pay the relevant endorsement fee. The decision timeframe depends on the route. Fast-track academic and research endorsement applications are returned to the Home Office within 14 working days, while other endorsement routes can take longer.

Applying for the Global Talent Visa

After receiving endorsement, submit your Global Talent visa application online through the UK government website. If you have won an eligible prestigious prize, submit your visa application online without completing the endorsement stage.

You must prove your identity as part of the application. UK Visas and Immigration will tell you whether you must:

• Attend an appointment at the UK visa application centre in Turkey to provide your fingerprints and photograph
• Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan an eligible identity document and upload a photograph

You can use the app only where UK Visas and Immigration instructs you to do so. Applicants applying from outside the UK must attend a biometric enrolment centre in most circumstances unless an exemption applies.

UK Visas and Immigration may request further information or invite you to an interview before making a decision on your application.