| Endorsing body | Apply as | Main documents | Letters | Usual decision time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tech Nation (digital technology) | Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise | CV of up to 3 sides of A4, up to 10 evidence documents, personal statement on the form | 3 letters from established experts who have known your work for at least 12 months | 5 to 8 weeks |
| Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering or British Academy (peer review) | Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise | Form with personal statement, CV of up to 3 sides of A4, references for your main publications | 1 letter for Promise, 2 for Talent; the main letter from an eminent person living in the UK | Usually 5 weeks |
| Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering or British Academy (job or fellowship route) | Set by your post or fellowship | Full job description and a letter from the HR director of your UK organisation, or your fellowship award letter | No recommendation letters; the route documents replace them | 2 weeks |
| UKRI (endorsed funder route) | Neither category is used | Grant evidence and a letter from human resources at your UK organisation | No recommendation letters; an HR letter instead | 2 weeks |
| Arts Council England, with Pact, the British Fashion Council, RIBA and the Design Business Association | Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise (film and television: Talent only) | Artistic CV, up to 10 pieces of evidence of up to 2 pages each | 3 letters of support from different organisations | Within 8 weeks |
Step 1
Check whether you need an endorsement at all
You must be at least 18. If you have won a prize on the Home Office list of eligible prestigious prizes, you skip Stage 1 and apply for the visa straight away, paying the full £766 at the visa stage. Everyone else needs an endorsement from the endorsing body for their field.
Global Talent visa on GOV.UKStep 2
Find the endorsing body for your field
Your field decides which endorsing body assesses you. You cannot choose a different one because its criteria look easier.
Step 3
Choose your route and category
Most applicants choose between Exceptional Talent, for people already recognised as leaders, and Exceptional Promise, for people early in their career who are recognised as future leaders. Researchers with an eligible UK job, a listed fellowship or a qualifying grant can use a fast-track route instead of peer review. Film and television applicants can apply only as Exceptional Talent, and the UKRI route does not use either category.
Research routes on GOV.UK Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise?Reading the rules is one thing. Knowing how they apply to your own evidence is another.
Book a free 30-minute callStep 4
Prepare the documents your endorsing body asks for
Each endorsing body sets its own document list, and the table above sets them side by side. Get your letter writers moving first, because letters usually take longest. Each letter must be written for this application.
Step 5
Apply online and pay the £561 endorsement fee
You apply for endorsement online on GOV.UK, not to the endorsing body. You pay £561 when you apply (the GOV.UK fee, checked on 12 October 2026). The Home Office then sends your application to the endorsing body for assessment. Do not send documents to the endorsing body directly unless it asks you to. The endorsing bodies do not check documents before you apply or tell you how likely you are to be endorsed.
Apply for endorsement on GOV.UK See the full cost of the visaStep 6
Decide whether to apply for the visa at the same time
You can apply for the visa at the same time as the endorsement, or wait until you are endorsed. If you apply for both and the endorsement is refused, the visa application is rejected and the visa application fee is refunded. If you are in the UK and your current permission is about to end, applying for the visa extends it until a decision is made. An endorsement application on its own does not.
Apply for endorsement on GOV.UKStep 7
Wait for the endorsement decision
These are the usual decision times for each endorsing body. Allow extra time if your current visa ends soon.
Step 8
After the decision: the visa, or a review
If you are endorsed, the Home Office emails you a copy of your endorsement letter. You must apply for the visa within 3 months of receiving it, and the visa fee is £205. If you are refused, you can ask for a review within 28 days, but you cannot add new evidence. You can also make a new application with different evidence and pay the fee again.
After endorsement on GOV.UK What happens at Stage 2Related guides
Keep reading
Guides applicants usually read next on this topic.
Global Talent endorsement documents: a checklist for each endorsing body
Each endorsing body has its own document rules, from page limits to who can write your letters.
Read related guideWho should write my Global Talent recommendation letters?
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 guideHow long does a Global Talent endorsement take? Decision times by endorsing body
Stage 1 decisions range from 14 working days on fast-track research routes to up to 8 weeks for peer review, usually 5 to 8 weeks for Tech Nation, and longer for the arts.
Read related guideApplying from outside the UK. The steps are the same wherever you live. The endorsing body judges your evidence, not your nationality.
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 I send my application to Tech Nation or the Royal Society directly?
No. You apply online on GOV.UK and the Home Office sends your application to the endorsing body for your field.
How much does the endorsement application cost?
£561, paid when you apply for endorsement. The visa stage then costs £205, plus the healthcare surcharge, usually £1,035 a year.
Can I apply for the endorsement and the visa at the same time?
Yes. If the endorsement is refused, the visa application is rejected and the visa application fee is refunded.
How long does an endorsement decision take?
Usually 5 to 8 weeks for Tech Nation, about 5 weeks for research peer review, 2 weeks for the research fast-track routes and within 8 weeks for arts and culture.
Will the endorsing body check my documents before I apply?
No. The endorsing bodies do not review documents in advance or tell you how likely you are to be endorsed.
What happens if my endorsement is refused?
You can ask for a review within 28 days, but you cannot add new evidence. You can also make a new application with different evidence and pay the fee again.
Stage 1 help
Not sure which endorsing body or category fits you?
Take the 3-minute eligibility check, or book a free call and go through your evidence with us before you apply.