Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa Replaced by Global Talent Visa

January 31, 2020

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Country / Territory

At a Glance

  • Effective February 20, 2020, the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa will be rebranded as the Global Talent Visa. More foreign workers will be eligible for the new program.
  • Under the program, individuals who are leaders in their fields of science, engineering, digital technology and arts and culture will be able to enter and work in the United Kingdom on a path to permanent residence. 
  • Applicants will be required to obtain endorsement from a government-approved endorsing body.

The situation

According to a new Statement of Changes, effective February 20, 2020, the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa will be replaced by the Global Talent Visa, which will expand the existing route by allowing scientists, researchers and other qualifying foreign nationals to enter and work in the United Kingdom and in most cases provide an accelerated path to permanent residence.

A closer look

Details of the new program will include the following:

Change Impact 
  • Expanded qualifying categories. The Global Talent category expands the previous Tier 1 Exceptional Talent route by allowing leading individuals in the sciences to enter the United Kingdom on an accelerated route to settlement.  The Tier 1 Exceptional Talent route already allows world leading individuals in the fields of digital technology, and arts and culture (including film and television, fashion and architecture).
  • These changes will facilitate the admission of leading researchers in the fields of science, engineering, humanities and medicine.
  • Program management. The new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) was added to endorsing body list and will be able to endorse without the Home Office’s review.
  • Fragomen expects that UKRI will be able to issue endorsements faster than existing endorsing bodies. 
  • UK-based research agencies, including the European Space Agency and the Japan Science and Technology Agency, will be able to recruit global talent directly through the program.
  • No cap. There will be no limit on how many foreign nationals will be accepted under the Global Talent Route, whereas under Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent), applications are capped at 2,000 per year.
  • More qualified candidates can be accepted under the program than under the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) route. It should be noted, however, that the existing cap on Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) had never been reached.
  • Faster path to settlement. Foreign nationals who obtain visas under the Global Talent Route in the fields of science, engineering, humanities and medicine will have an accelerated path to permanent residence. 
  • Foreign nationals will not have to wait as long to obtain permanent residence as under the Tier 1 category. 
  • The qualifying period for permanent residence under ‘promise’ criteria for digital technology and arts and culture will remain for five years.
  • Applicants already under Tier 1 can apply for permanent residence without switching to the Global Talent program.
  • Absences may not be counted when research conducted overseas. Applicants for science, engineering, humanities and medicine that undertake research overseas related to their visa may do so without their absences being counted when their settlement application is assessed. This applies to dependants as well.
  • Under a Tier 1 visa, absences from the United Kingdom during their visa stay counted against the settlement application requirements. The new visa will allow applicants to undertake overseas research relating to their visa and still qualify for permanent residence. 

 

Impact on pending applications

Applicants who have already been endorsed under the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent route may apply under the Global Talent category.

Looking ahead

Fragomen expects additional changes as the UK government continues to unveil the post-Brexit immigration system that will be in effect from January 1, 2021.

Brexit continues to be an incredibly complex and uncertain political issue that carries risks to your business. Please contact a Fragomen immigration professional for assistance in planning contingency arrangements.

For more information, please visit Fragomen's dedicated Brexit site, which contains news, FAQs, and analysis/commentary in the form of blogs, videos, webcasts and events.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

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