Tech Nation recommendation letters: who can write them and what they must include
Tech Nation recommendation letters: who counts as an established expert, what each of the 3 letters must say, the format rules, and who cannot write one.
By Mihir Thaker, Founder·Updated 4 October 2026·5 min read
Quick answer
Tech Nation recommendation letters are 3 dated, signed letters from 3 different established experts in digital technology who have known your work for at least 12 months. Each letter must be written for this application, give different examples, and include the author's CV inside the letter. Letters from an immediate colleague, your manager or a friend are not sufficient, and letters drafted with templates or AI tools are not acceptable.
If your letter authors work outside the UK, make sure each letter explains their standing in digital technology clearly, includes a working telephone number and email address, and comes with an authorised English translation if it is not written in English.
Who this guide helps
Applicants choosing who to ask for their 3 letters
Founders and engineers preparing a Tech Nation application
Senior people who have been asked to write a letter
What you will know
You need 3 letters from 3 different established experts in digital technology
Each author must have known your work for at least 12 months
Each letter must be written for this application and give different examples
Up to 3 sides of A4, excluding the author's credentials and contact details
No templates and no AI tools; the author's CV goes inside the letter
You need 3 letters from 3 different experts who have known your work for 12 months or more
Every Tech Nation application needs 3 letters of recommendation. Each comes from a different well-established expert in digital technology who has detailed knowledge of your work over at least 12 months. Each letter must be written for your Global Talent application, not reused from another purpose, and must give different examples from the other two. The 3 letters do not count towards your 10 evidence documents.
3 letters, 3 different authors
Each author has known your work for at least 12 months
Who counts as an established expert, and who does not
Each author must be an established expert in digital technology, and Tech Nation judges whether they are. Seniority alone is not enough: they also need detailed knowledge of your work over at least 12 months. Letters from people in roles listed as unsuitable, such as managers at outsourcing or consultancy firms, do not count as letters from leading industry experts.
Not sufficient: an immediate colleague
Not sufficient: your manager
Not sufficient: a friend
Not counted as leading industry experts: managers at outsourcing or consultancy firms
For Exceptional Promise, you should have 3 senior stakeholders within product-led digital technology willing to vouch for you
Each letter must cover the same core points, but with its own examples. Vague or generic letters that lack specific details about your achievements and impact weaken an application. Every example an author mentions should match evidence elsewhere in your application.
How the author knows you
Your achievements in digital technology
Why the author considers you show exceptional talent or exceptional promise
The contribution you would make to the UK digital economy and the digital technology field in the UK
Letters that miss a format rule are an avoidable weakness. The page limit is up to 3 single sides of A4, and the author's credentials and contact details do not count towards it. The author's CV, or other accepted proof of their credentials, must be inside the letter, not in a separate file.
Typed and dated
Signed by the author, or by someone on behalf of the recommending organisation
A telephone number and email address for the author
The organisation's logo and registered address, where applicable
The author's CV included within the letter
A digital signature service such as DocuSign can be used, with the log file showing the author signed from a different IP address to you
Templates are not acceptable anywhere in the application, including letters. Letters that look like duplicates or templates, or closely match evidence from other applicants, may be treated as fraudulent or not acceptable. AI and language tools such as ChatGPT must not be used to create letters. Referees may be contacted, applications are checked for AI use, and fabricated letters are reported to the Home Office.
Each author writes in their own words
No shared or recycled wording between your 3 letters
How to brief your letter authors without writing the letters for them
Give each author the facts and the rules, then let them write. Agree in advance which part of your work each author will cover, so the 3 letters give different examples. Share the list of required content and format rules so nothing is missed.
Confirm the author has known your work for at least 12 months
Agree which projects or achievements each author will describe
Share the dates, figures and links that match your evidence so details are consistent
Send the list of required content and the format checklist
Ask for the author's CV inside the letter and current contact details
Any extra reference letters within your 10 documents must be different letters, specific to a criterion, and meet the same standard
Questions to settle before you spend time or money.
Use these answers to check the practical risks, documents, and decisions connected to this topic.
Can my manager write one of my Tech Nation recommendation letters?
No. Letters from an immediate colleague, your manager or a friend are not sufficient.
Can I reuse a reference letter written for another purpose?
No. Each letter must be written for your Global Talent application.
Can I use a template or AI tool to draft the letters?
No. Templates and AI tools such as ChatGPT are not acceptable, and letters that look templated may be treated as fraudulent.
Does the author's CV count towards the 3-page limit?
No. The limit excludes the author's credentials and contact details. The CV must be included within the letter, not as a separate file.
Do the 3 letters count towards my 10 evidence documents?
No. Your CV and the 3 letters of recommendation are in addition to the 10 documents.
Plan your letters
Not sure who should write your 3 letters?
In a free 30-minute call we look at your possible letter authors against Tech Nation's published requirements and help you plan which examples each letter should cover. We are experts in the Stage 1 endorsement application for the UK Global Talent Visa. For immigration advice, please seek the services of an immigration solicitor.
