- 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.
What happened
The Global Talent visa replaced Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)
The Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa was replaced by the Global Talent visa in February 2020. It no longer takes new applications. If you find guidance that still talks about Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent), check it against the current Global Talent pages on GOV.UK.
Global Talent visa on GOV.UK The complete Global Talent visa guideCategories
Exceptional Talent and Exceptional Promise are still used
The two names carried over. Under the Global Talent visa you are endorsed either as an established leader (Exceptional Talent) or as an emerging leader (Exceptional Promise). Which one fits depends on your field and how far your career has progressed.
Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise?Applying now
How to apply today
Most applicants need an endorsement from an endorsing body first: Tech Nation for digital technology, the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, British Academy or UKRI for academia and research, and Arts Council England for arts and culture. The exception is the prestigious prize route, where an eligible prize replaces the endorsement.
Read the official guidance How to apply for Stage 1We help with Stage 1, the endorsement application. Not endorsed yet? Talk to us about your evidence.
Book a free 30-minute callCurrent holders
If you hold a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa
GOV.UK says applicants who currently have a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa can extend under the Global Talent category. You may also be able to apply to settle, depending on your field and how long you have been in the UK.
Extend your visa on GOV.UK Read our extension guideOur name
Why we are called Tier 1 Global Talent Visa
Many applicants still search for the old Tier 1 name, so we kept it in ours. We work only on the Stage 1 endorsement application for the Global Talent visa, and on the Innovator Founder visa endorsement. For advice on the visa application itself, please speak to an immigration solicitor.
Related guides
Keep reading
Guides applicants usually read next on this topic.
The UK Global Talent visa: what it is and how Stage 1 endorsement works
The Global Talent visa needs no job offer or sponsor and lets your family join you. Stage 1 is the endorsement application, where an endorsing body decides whether you are a leader or a potential leader in your field.
Read related guideExceptional Talent vs Exceptional Promise: which category fits your endorsement application?
Talent is for recognised leaders and Promise is for early-career potential leaders, but each endorsing body draws the line in its own way.
Read related guideGlobal Talent visa extension: who can extend, what it costs and how long it takes
You can extend a Global Talent visa as many times as you still qualify, up to 5 years each time. Here is what you need to show, what it costs and how long it takes, from GOV.UK.
Read related guideApplying from outside the UK. Facts for people looking for the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa, checked against GOV.UK 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.
Does the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa still exist?
No. It was replaced by the Global Talent visa in February 2020 and no longer takes new applications.
What replaced the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa?
The Global Talent visa. Exceptional Talent and Exceptional Promise are now the two Global Talent endorsement categories.
I have a Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa. Can I extend it?
GOV.UK says applicants who currently have a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa can extend under the Global Talent category.
Is the Global Talent visa the same as Tier 1?
It is the successor route. The rules, endorsing bodies and fees are those of the Global Talent visa, set out on GOV.UK and in Appendix Global Talent.
Who can help me apply for the Global Talent visa?
Tier 1 Global Talent Visa, led by founder Mihir Thaker, works only on the Stage 1 endorsement application. For the visa application itself, please speak to an immigration solicitor.
Stage 1 help
Looking for the Tier 1 route? Start with Stage 1.
Check which endorsing body and category fit you, or book a free call about your Stage 1 evidence.
Which field is your work in?