Global Talent Visa extension, settlement and naturalisation in the UK

The Global Talent is one of the few long-term visa options providing a transparent and predictable path to ILR and, subsequently, to UK citizenship. It can also be extended an unlimited number of times.

In 2022, 3,574 Global Talent Visa holders were granted an extension, more than 133,000 people applied for settlement and more than 190,000 applied for British citizenship. How to extend your visa, and what do you need to know about the settlement and naturalisation processes? We will answer these and other questions for you.

To extend your stay in the UK with the Global Talent Visa or apply for settle mentor naturalisation, visit our services page*.

Any Global Talent Visa candidate can choose the duration of the visa when applying (up to 5 years). There’s no limit on how long a Talent can stay in the UK, they only need to renew their visa before it expires.

Note: you have to apply for Visa extension before your current BRP expires

Each Global Talent visa extension can last from 1 to 5 years — and it's you again who chooses how long you want it to be. Find out more about the fees you will have to pay.  

Dependant family members will need to extend their visas too. They can apply at the same time as the Global Talent Visa holder or at any time before (keeping in mind the expiration date of their current visa). Read our blog to learn more about relocating to the UK on a Global Talent Visa together with your family.

You can usually apply to extend the visa if:

• The endorsing body has not withdrawn its approval (in case the application was processed based on an endorsement). Learn more about the endorsement application process here;
• The award has not been withdrawn (in case the application was processed based on an eligible award).

To extend your Global Talent Visa, you must also provide evidence that you have earned money in the UK linked to your area of expertise*. This includes:

For employees or directors of limited companies:

• payslips
• a confirmation letter from your employer
• personal bank or building society statements showing payments from your employer or a limited company
• a tax refund letter, tax demand, or any other document produced by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) detailing declarable taxable income
• a P60 or any other document produced by an employer as an official return to HRMC detailing your earnings
• dividend vouchers showing the amount of money the company paid you

For self-employed:

• a letter from a fully qualified chartered or certified accountant confirming the amount you have earned and if your earnings are a share of the net profit of the company
• company or business financial accounts which meet statutory requirements and show the net profit

*There is no minimum level of earnings needed for this.

💬 Immigram notes:
“There is no specific evidence to meet this requirement. Applicants can provide any evidence as long as it isfrom an independent source and is verifiable.”

 Processing time

• 3 weeks, if you're outside the UK‍
• 8 weeks, if you're inside the UK

‍Fees

• ‍Visa fee of £623 for the main applicant and £623 for each dependant‍
• NHS fee of £624 per year for each person (the main applicant and dependants over 18) and £470 per year for children under 18

💬 Immigram notes:
“You will have to pay a full NHS fee for the requested visa validity period at once.”

Immigram provides Visa Extension services. Our immigration support specialist will guide you through the entire process and make it as smooth as possible.

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Indefinite Leave to Remain is a way you can settle in the UK to live, work and study, claiming benefits without time restrictions.

Global Talent Visa holders are eligible to apply for ILR after 3 (for a Talent candidate) or 5 (for a Promise candidate) years in the UK. Dependant family members will have to wait 5 years before ILR application.

You can usually apply for ILR if:

• Tech Nation has not withdrawn its approval (in case the application was processed based on an endorsement)
• The award has not been withdrawn (in case the application was processed based on an eligible award)
• You have not been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12 months, making up the qualifying period for ILR
• You have not spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months before applying for ILR
• You earned money in the UK in your expert field and can provide evidence (see the list of potential evidence in the Global Talent Visa Extension section)
• You passed the “Life in the UK” Test
• You can prove your English language level (at least B1)

Processing time

~ 6 months*

*You can pay an extra £800 to use the super priority Home Office services and get a decision in 1-2days.

‍Fees

The government fee of £2,404, including Health Insurance for the whole validity period

Immigram provides ILR application services. Our immigration support specialist will guide you through the entire process and make it as smooth as possible.

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You may be eligible to apply for UK citizenship if:

• You have held ILR for at least 12 months
• You have remained in the UK for at least 5 years*

*Even if you have earned your ILR in just 3 years, you will have to wait 2 more years to be eligible for citizenship.

Dependants would be eligible to apply for citizenship after living in the UK for 5 years, but only after spending a year with ILR. So, generally, this means they will become eligible after 6 years spent in the UK.

💬 Immigram notes:
“If your spouse is a UK citizen, youcan apply for citizenship without a one-year qualifying period.”

Residence requirements for UK citizenship are more strict than for ILR. The applicant and their dependants must demonstrate that they have lived in the UK for at least 5 years and in that time spent:

• ≤450 days in total outside the UK in the last 5 years or ≤270 days during the last 3 years
• No more than 6 consecutive months outside the UK in the previous five years before the British citizenship application
• No more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months

💬 Immigram notes:
“UK Visas and Immigration can waive excess absences in certain circumstances (for example, if absences were related to business travel).”

Also, an applicant must satisfy the“good character” requirement. The Home Office caseworker will pay attention to your criminal charges, immigration law breaches, deception history, and your contributions to society.

Processing time

~ 6 months

Fees

£1,330

Immigram provides UK citizenship application services. Our immigration support specialist will guide you through the entire process and make it as smooth as possible.

Fill in the typeform, and we will get back to you!