Apply for the Global Talent visa
Your partner and children
Your partner and children can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.
If your partner or child’s application is successful, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours. If a child’s parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child’s visa will end on the earlier date.
A dependant partner or child is any of the following:
- your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
- your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay
- your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant
You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship to your dependant when you apply.
Your partner
You must be able to prove one of the following:
- you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
- you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
- you’ve been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you’re working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture
If you’re not living together, you’ll need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, for example by providing evidence that you:
- communicate regularly with each other
- support each other financially
- care for any children you have together
- spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events
Your child
They must:
- live with you, unless they’re living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university
- not be married or in a civil partnership
You’ll need to provide evidence of their address, such as:
- a bank statement
- credit card bills
- driving licence
- NHS registration document
- an official letter from their university or college
Fees
For each person applying, you’ll need to pay:
- the £716 application fee
- the healthcare surcharge
They’ll also need to have their biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken. There’s no fee for this.
If your partner or children are outside the UK
Your partner and children must either:
Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee. They must apply before they travel to the UK.
They’ll be asked to provide your application number so the Home Office can link their application to you.
If your partner or children are already in the UK (extend or switch their visa)
Your partner or child can apply to switch their visa either:
- at the same time as you apply to extend or switch your own visa
- at any time before their current visa expires
This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.
Your partner and child cannot apply to switch to your Global Talent visa as your dependants if they are currently in the UK in one of the following circumstances:
- on a visit visa
- on a short-term student visa
- on a Parent of a Child Student visa
- on a seasonal worker visa
- on a domestic worker in a private household visa
- on immigration bail
- they were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds
If your partner or child is currently in the UK on a Student visa, they can only switch if they have either:
- completed the course they were sponsored to study
- studied for a PhD for at least 24 months
How to apply
Your partner and child must apply online to either:
They’ll need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.
As part of their application, they’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide their biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).
They’ll also need to submit their supporting documents. They can:
- upload them into the online service
- have them scanned at their UKVCAS appointment
They must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they get a decision. Their application will be withdrawn if they do.
Children born in the UK
If you have a child while you’re in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.
You must apply for your child’s dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.
The form you fill in depends on if:
-
your child is outside the UK You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.
You must apply for their dependant visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.
What your partner or child can and cannot do
Your partner or child can:
- work, except as a sportsperson or coach
- study
- travel abroad and return to the UK
- apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if they’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements
They cannot apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.
If their application is successful, they’ll get a full list of what they can and cannot do.