- 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
Start here
Your endorsing body decides which documents you need
This checklist covers Stage 1 endorsement documents only. Every endorsing body has its own page limits and letter rules, so build your pack to one endorsing body's rules, not a general list. The endorsing bodies cannot review your documents before you submit.
Read the official guidance Tick-box checklists and PDFs for each endorsing bodyTech Nation
Tech Nation: a 3-page CV, up to 10 documents and 3 letters
Your personal statement goes on the Home Office form, not as a separate document. It should explain why you want to come to the UK, what you plan to do, which region or city of the UK you plan to live in and how the UK digital technology sector will benefit. Your CV and letters do not count towards the 10 documents.
Royal Society
The Royal Society: a short pack for peer review
Peer review needs the application form with your personal statement, a CV of up to 3 sides of A4, and full references for your most significant publications and any patents. Copies of publications, degree certificates and award certificates are not needed. A PhD certificate is advised only if it was awarded in the last 12 months.
Reading the rules is one thing. Knowing how they apply to your own evidence is another.
Book a free 30-minute callRoyal Academy of Engineering
Royal Academy of Engineering: the same peer review core, different fast-track papers
For peer review you need the form with your personal statement, a CV of up to 3 sides of A4, full publication and patent references, and your letters with each author's CV. Talent applicants need 2 letters and Promise applicants need 1.
British Academy
The British Academy: references, not copies
You need the form with your personal statement, a CV of up to 3 sides of A4, full references for your most significant publications and any patents, and your letters with each author's CV. Assessment is based only on the required evidence, so extra documents do not help.
UKRI
UKRI: grant evidence and an HR letter
The UKRI route does not use recommendation letters. Instead you prove the grant and your role on it.
- A link to your grant on a UKRI-approved award database, or a letter from your endorsed funder
- Proof the grant is worth at least £30,000, covers at least 2 years, and is a one-off or a renewable award with regular peer review
- A letter from the director of human resources (or equivalent) at your UK employer or host
- Documents for every grant you rely on
- Details of the fair recruitment process if you were not named on the grant application
Arts Council England
Arts Council England: a dated CV, 3 letters and up to 10 pieces of evidence
Your artistic CV must show your full professional career with specific dates. A link or screenshot of an online CV or LinkedIn profile is not accepted. Upload each piece of evidence as a separate document.
Common mistakes
The mistakes that weaken a Stage 1 pack
Most problems come from letters and from evidence that does not match the criteria. Fix these before you submit, because a review cannot take new evidence.
- Using a general reference letter instead of one written for this application
- Letters from immediate colleagues, managers or friends for Tech Nation
- Reusing the same document for two Tech Nation criteria
- Sending an employment contract instead of a statement of guarantee or a letter
- Mixing two areas of practice, such as theatre and film, in one arts application
- Adding a fourth letter to an arts application; only the three listed on the form are used
Related guides
Keep reading
Guides applicants usually read next on this topic.
Global Talent Visa Recommendation Letters: Who Writes Them
Find out how many letters each endorsing body asks for, who qualifies to write them and the mistakes that get letters set aside.
Read related guideGlobal Talent Visa Evidence: Rules, Limits and Format
Find out how many documents each endorsing body accepts, how to format them and what to leave out.
Read related guideGlobal Talent Personal Statement: What to Include (2026)
Find out where the statement goes, which questions Tech Nation expects you to answer and how to keep it consistent with your evidence.
Read related guideThis guide is part of our complete Global Talent visa guide, which covers who the visa is for, the endorsing bodies, costs, decision times and settlement.
Applying from outside the UK. If your evidence is in another language, plan for authorised or certified English translations early, because machine translations are not accepted.
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.
Do my CV and letters count towards Tech Nation's 10 documents?
No. Only your evidence documents count towards the limit of 10.
Do I need to send copies of my publications to the research endorsing bodies?
No. Full references are enough, and publications cited in your form and CV do not need documentary evidence.
Can my research recommendation letter come from someone outside the UK?
No. The letter of personal recommendation must come from an eminent person resident in the UK.
Can I use Google Translate for foreign-language evidence?
No. Tech Nation needs authorised translations and Arts Council England needs certified translations; web browser translations are not accepted.
Does the UKRI route need recommendation letters?
No. It needs grant evidence and a letter from human resources at your UK employer or host.
Document review
Want your Stage 1 pack checked against your endorsing body's rules?
We can review your CV, statement, evidence and letter plan against the published requirements for your endorsing body before you submit.
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