Global Talent Visa - A New Initiative from UKVI

The Home Office (#UKVI) has just announced a new initiative for selected individuals with skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (#STEM subjects).

This is currently mooted to be an extension to the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa which recognises individuals with key talents to enter the UK to work for three years in the respective fields. Individuals awarded with the Global Talent visa will also be able to apply for settlement (#ILR) after three years.

The Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) route will nonetheless be re-branded and overhauled shortly in welcoming the Global Talent visa initiative.

From what we understand so for, the Global Talent Visa is currently an addition to the current Tier 1 (Exception Talent) but focusing on science and research. Individuals will continue to need to be endorsed under this new route but expanded in the following manner:

- Reviewing the existing Exceptional Talent selection criteria to open it up to individuals who are integral to scientific / research teams;

- Removing the requirement for those endorsed as Exceptional Promise to have been awarded a prestigious Research Fellowship;

- Opening up the route to those who have received European research funding;

- Re-branding the route to recognise the UK's desire to attract global talent; and

- Uncapping the route, to ensure that those with the required skill-set would be able to secure places (Tier 1 Exceptional Talent current has a cap of 2,000 places per annum);

- No minimum salary threshold to meet.

The Home Office has also confirmed in a factsheet that the initiative will be open for everyone, including Europeans after Brexit (whether there is a deal or no deal).

We are excited to see the criteria needed for individuals to take up a place as the next Global Talent under this new initiative.

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