- 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 27 October 2026. Fees can change, so confirm them on GOV.UK before you pay.
Step 1
Check that your role fits digital technology
GOV.UK accepts two kinds of background. Technical, for example a developer, engineer or data scientist. Or business, for example commercial, investment or digital product expertise in a technology company that creates software, hardware or processes data. You do not need a job offer. If you have won an eligible prize, you skip endorsement and apply for the visa straight away.
GOV.UK: digital technology overview Technical or business profile?Step 2
Choose Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise
Apply as a leader (Exceptional Talent) if you are already recognised as a leading talent, or as a potential leader (Exceptional Promise) if you are earlier in your career. The choice affects settlement: GOV.UK says leaders can apply to settle after 3 years and potential leaders after 5 years.
GOV.UK: digital technology overview Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise?Step 3
Prepare up to 10 evidence documents
Your evidence must prove you meet the eligibility criteria. GOV.UK sets the rules for how many documents you need and how long each can be.
- A maximum of 10 documents
- At least 2 showing you are recognised as a leading talent or potential talent
- At least 4 showing any 2 of the other criteria, with 2 documents for each
- Each document up to 3 sides of A4
- The same document cannot be used for more than one criterion
- Your CV and letters do not count towards the 10
1Is your work in digital technology, and not at a consultancy or outsourcer? Technical roles at other employers, such as banks, count; business roles need a product-led company.
2Has your work been recognised beyond your own employer in the last 5 years?
3Can you show at least 2 of: innovation, recognition beyond your job, significant contribution to a product-led company, or academic contribution?
4Do you know 3 established digital technology experts who have known your work for at least 12 months?
Answer the 4 questions to see where you stand.
A quick self-check, not an assessment. It does not predict any outcome.
Step 4
Write your CV and gather founder proof
Your CV must be typed, up to 3 sides of A4, and include your career and any relevant publication history. If you have been a founder or senior executive of a technology business in the last 5 years, you must also prove it, for example with sales showing customer numbers for each country the company operates in, or the last signed audited accounts. Accounts that are not audited must cover more than 12 months.
GOV.UK: documents you needStep 5
Ask for 3 letters of recommendation early
Letters usually take longest, so ask first. Each letter must give different examples of your achievements and contribution to digital technology.
- Each author must be an established expert in digital technology and have known your work for at least 12 months
- Written for this Global Talent application, not reused from another purpose
- Typed, dated and signed, up to 3 single sides of A4 excluding the author's credentials and contact details
- Include a telephone number, email address and, where relevant, the organisation's logo and registered address
- Sent with the author's CV or other proof of their credentials
Step 6
Apply online and pay £561
You apply for endorsement on GOV.UK, and the Home Office sends your application to Tech Nation. You pay £561 when you apply and £205 at the visa stage, £766 in total. After you pay, follow the instructions in the checklist the Home Office sends you for submitting your documents. Tech Nation does not check documents before you apply.
GOV.UK: fees Full cost, including the healthcare surchargeWant us to look at your own evidence against these rules?
Book a free 30-minute callStep 7
Wait for the decision
You will usually get a decision within 5 to 8 weeks. If you are endorsed, the Home Office emails you a copy of your endorsement letter. Applying for endorsement does not extend your permission to stay in the UK.
GOV.UK: digital technology overviewStep 8
Apply for the visa, or ask for a review
If you are endorsed, apply for the visa within 3 months of your endorsement letter. You can also apply for the visa at the same time as the endorsement: if the endorsement is refused, the visa application is rejected and the visa fee is returned. If you are refused, you can ask Tech Nation for a review within 28 days. There is no fee, and you cannot add new evidence.
GOV.UK: if your application is refused How the endorsement review worksRelated guides
Keep reading
Guides applicants usually read next on this topic.
Tech Nation optional criteria examples: what counts for each of the four criteria
A criterion-by-criterion guide to the evidence that can work, and the evidence that does not, for the four Tech Nation optional criteria.
Read related guideTech Nation recommendation letters: who can write them and what they must include
The rules for the 3 Tech Nation recommendation letters, from choosing authors to format, content and briefing.
Read related guideTech Nation technical or business applicant: which one are you?
Find out whether Tech Nation will treat you as a technical or a business applicant, which roles are on each official list, and what evidence each one needs.
Read related guideApplying from outside the UK. Checked against GOV.UK on 27 October 2026. The steps are the same wherever you live.
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.
Who can help me with a Tech Nation Global Talent visa endorsement application?
Tier 1 Global Talent Visa, led by founder Mihir Thaker, works only on the endorsement stage. We help you choose Talent or Promise, map your evidence to the criteria and check your CV and documents before you apply. Your letters are written by your recommenders. The first call is free and lasts 30 minutes.
Do I apply to Tech Nation directly?
No. You apply for endorsement on GOV.UK, and the Home Office sends your application to Tech Nation for assessment.
How many documents can I send?
A maximum of 10 evidence documents, each up to 3 sides of A4. Your CV and 3 letters of recommendation do not count towards the 10.
How much does Tech Nation endorsement cost?
£561 when you apply for endorsement, then £205 when you apply for the visa, £766 in total, plus the healthcare surcharge. Checked on GOV.UK on 27 October 2026.
How long does a Tech Nation decision take?
GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 5 to 8 weeks.
Can I apply for the visa at the same time?
Yes. If your endorsement is refused, the visa application is rejected and the visa application fee is returned.
Tech Nation
Want your evidence checked before you apply?
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