- Prepare evidence and lettersUsually the longest partWeeks to months
- Apply online to the Home OfficeEndorsement fee£561
- Endorsing body decidesDepends on the endorsing body2 to 8+ weeks
- Apply for the visa£205 visa fee plus healthcare surchargeWithin 3 months
We help with Stage 1 only
This guide sets out the published GOV.UK rules beyond Stage 1 so you can plan ahead. Our service covers the Stage 1 endorsement application. Figures and rules checked on GOV.UK on 11 November 2026. Fees can change, so confirm them on GOV.UK before you pay.
Duration
How long the Global Talent visa lasts
You can live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time. There is no limit to how long you can stay in total, but you must extend the visa before it expires. You choose the length of each grant, up to 5 years. A shorter visa lowers the healthcare surcharge you pay now, but you will need to extend sooner.
How long you can stay on GOV.UKConditions
The conditions on your permission
Appendix Global Talent sets the same three conditions on every grant of permission to the main applicant.
- No access to public funds
- Work is permitted, including self-employment and voluntary work, except as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
- Study is permitted, subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS
Work
What work you can do
The visa is not tied to one employer or job. You do not need a sponsoring employer, and you can be employed, self-employed or run a business, and do voluntary work. The one exception in the rules is work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.
Appendix Global Talent on GOV.UKWe help with Stage 1, the endorsement application. Not endorsed yet? Talk to us about your evidence.
Book a free 30-minute callExtending
Extending the visa
You can usually extend if the endorsing body that endorsed you has not withdrawn its approval, or, on the prize route, if the prize has not been withdrawn. You must show that you earned money in your expert field during your time in the UK, for example with payslips. Each extension can last up to 5 years, and the fee is £766 plus the healthcare surcharge.
Extend your visa on GOV.UKFamily
Partners and children
Your partner and children can apply as your dependants. Their visa usually ends on the same date as yours. GOV.UK says they can work, except as a sportsperson or coach, study, travel abroad and return, and apply to settle. Each pays the £766 fee and the healthcare surcharge.
Partners and children on GOV.UKSettlement
Settling in the UK
You may be able to get indefinite leave to remain after 3 or 5 years, depending on which field you work in and how you applied. Settlement gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like.
Settlement on GOV.UK Read our settlement guideStage 1 first
Most applicants need an endorsement first
Unless you hold an eligible prestigious prize, you need a Stage 1 endorsement before you can apply for the visa, and you must apply within 3 months of your endorsement letter. We help with the Stage 1 endorsement only. For advice on the visa application itself, please speak to an immigration solicitor.
Read the official guidance How to apply for Stage 1Related guides
Keep reading
Guides applicants usually read next on this topic.
Global Talent visa Stage 2: how to apply for the visa after endorsement
Once you are endorsed, you have 3 months to apply for the visa. This guide covers the deadline, fees, documents, identity checks, family applications and decision times.
Read related guideGlobal Talent visa settlement (ILR): when you can apply after 3 or 5 years
Whether you can settle after 3 or 5 years depends on your endorsing body and category. Here are the settlement rules from Appendix Global Talent, with the fee and family rules.
Read related guideGlobal Talent visa fees in 2026: application fee, healthcare surcharge and total cost
The Global Talent visa costs £766 per person, plus the healthcare surcharge for each year of the visa. Here is what each person pays, when, with worked totals.
Read related guideApplying from outside the UK. Facts for Global Talent visa holders and applicants, checked against GOV.UK and Appendix Global Talent on 11 November 2026.
Article FAQ
Questions to settle before you spend time or money.
Use these answers to check the practical risks, documents, and decisions connected to this topic.
How long is the Global Talent visa?
Up to 5 years at a time. You choose the length when you apply, and you can extend it as many times as you still meet the rules.
What are the Global Talent visa conditions?
No access to public funds; work is permitted, including self-employment and voluntary work, except as a professional sportsperson or sports coach; and study is permitted, subject to the ATAS condition. These are set out in Appendix Global Talent.
Can I change jobs on a Global Talent visa?
Yes. The visa does not need a sponsoring employer, and work is permitted under Appendix Global Talent, including self-employment.
Can I claim benefits on a Global Talent visa?
No. The visa comes with no access to public funds. GOV.UK says that after settlement you can apply for benefits if you are eligible.
Who can help me with the Global Talent visa?
Tier 1 Global Talent Visa, led by founder Mihir Thaker, works only on the Stage 1 endorsement application, which most applicants need before the visa. For the visa application itself, please speak to an immigration solicitor.
Stage 1 help
Not endorsed yet? Stage 1 comes first.
Check which endorsing body and category fit you, or book a free call about your Stage 1 evidence.
Which field is your work in?