Global Talent in Britain: not just tech, but also art, science, medicine

Global Talent is a UK settlement programme granting up to 5 years of residency, open not only to IT specialists but also to artists, researchers, doctors and other professionals. Depending on the specialty, applications are reviewed by different bodies — from TechNation to Arts Council — and requirements range from a PhD to a portfolio of achievements.

What Global Talent is and how it works

Global Talent is a programme that allows entry to the UK for an initial period of up to 5 years. After 3–5 years of residence, one can apply for settlement, and later for citizenship. The programme is designed to attract talented specialists to the country not only in technical fields, but also in the arts, medical specialties, exact sciences, as well as researchers and professors.

The main mistake applicants make is assuming that Global Talent is available exclusively to workers in digital technology whose company earns revenue from selling its own product. In fact, the range of specialists is much wider. In practice, applications through this programme have come from designers working in visual arts, specialists in music and art history, lecturers, and even guides conducting tours at tourist sites.

Which bodies review applications

The application is sent to the Home Office, which forwards it to the relevant body. Specialists and experts from that body’s panel give a final opinion on whether to recommend the candidate.

TechNation reviews applications from technical specialists in digital technology. Arts Council works with non-technical specialists in the arts — artists, designers, directors, producers and creators of visual content.

Royal Society reviews applications in the field of medicine. Royal Academy of Engineering handles applications from engineers — including shipbuilding specialists and other engineering fields. British Academy deals with humanities and social sciences. UK Research and Innovation reviews applications from researchers, professors and scientists.

If you don’t fit any of these bodies but work in the arts, you apply directly to Arts Council. Depending on your profile — whether it’s filmmaking, visual arts or other fields — there are specific departments that review such applications.

Requirements for non-technical specialists

For most applications submitted through these bodies, the main requirements are: either holding a PhD in your field, or proving experience comparable to a PhD.

If you don’t have a degree, you show what you’ve done in your profession, what scientific contribution you’ve made, what projects you’ve carried out. It’s important to demonstrate that people of appropriate stature and authority — not only from your company but from other organisations too — can recognise you as a specialist in the field and give a recommendation. Despite lacking a degree, you can be recognised as a good, even more than good, specialist.

For applications submitted through Arts Council and similar bodies, there is a specific list of awards. If you’ve received an award such as BAFTA or Emmy, you’re automatically classified as a specialist with exceptional achievements and pass through Global Talent without other documents. However, there are also more accessible awards that ordinary specialists — designers, producers, directors — can receive. Many of these awards have open registration, and in some cases participants are nominated.

The peer review track

If you go through Royal Society or British Academy, there’s often a peer review track. This means you must show that over the past five years you’ve been involved in work of outstanding quality.

You gather letters of recommendation, usually from legal entities or relevant bodies. For example, if you work in theatre, you need a recommendation from a theatrical arts body in the UK. If you’re in gardening, you need a recommendation from the Royal Horticultural Society. Typically, such organisations are aware that applicants may request recommendations and respond to such requests. This may be a paid service, but that’s not critical.

Timelines and the visa process

Application review takes about eight weeks at the relevant body. After that, you’re given a recommendation, which is sent to the Home Office. On that basis, you can apply for a visa.

Once you receive the visa, you enter the UK and begin legalising your status there. The process is generally the same for both technical and non-technical specialists.