Exceptional Talent visas doubled to 2,000 PA

The Home Secretary recently announced that the number of people who can be accepted under the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) immigration route would double, from 1,000 to 2,000 each year.

The exceptional talent visa regime does exactly what it says on the tin, providing a route for recognised or emerging leaders in certain fields to enter the UK to live and work.

The “exceptional” criteria

The fields in which individuals can show their talents exist are limited to science, the humanities, engineering, the arts and digital technology. The Home Office provide an overview of the route on its website, as well as detailed guidance for applicants.

In order to apply for the visa, applicants must receive an endorsement from a “Competent Body”. Which one will depend on the particular talent of the applicant. They are listed as follows:

• Arts Council England – for arts and culture applications
• The British Academy – for humanities and social science applications
• The Royal Society – for natural sciences and medical science research applications
• The Royal Academy of Engineering – for engineering applications
• Tech City UK – for digital technology applications

Each Competent Body (with the three “science bodies” loosely grouped together) has a different set of criteria which applicants must meet before receiving an endorsement.

Prizes mean points

The threshold for applicants to show that their talents are “exceptional” is high, as set out in our detailed article on the subject which is available at Free Movement.

If you're interested in learning more about applying for a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa, feel free to call our us for a no-obligation chat.

Main image credit: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay