Apply for the Global Talent visa

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Extend your visa

You can usually apply to extend your stay in the UK if either:

  • you applied for the Global Talent visa based on an endorsement, and the organisation that endorsed you has not withdrawn its approval
  • you applied for a Global Talent visa based on an eligible award you won, and the award has not been withdrawn

You must be able to show that you earned money in your expert field during your time in the UK by sending evidence toward your application, for example payslips.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately to extend their visa. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Applicants who currently have a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa can extend under the Global Talent category.

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your visa for up to 5 years at a time. You can renew your visa as many times as you like, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You may be able to get indefinite leave to remain so you can settle in the UK after 3 or 5 years, depending on which field you work in and how you apply. This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

Fees

It costs £716 to apply to extend a Global Talent visa from inside or outside the UK.

Your partner and children must pay the visa fee of £716 if they want to apply to travel with you or join you later in the UK.

You will need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken. There’s no fee for this.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

Proving your identity and giving supporting documents

As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity.

How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

Apply in the UK

You must apply online.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Start now

Continue your application

Find out how to sign in to your account.

Apply outside the UK

You can apply online to extend a Global Talent visa you’ve had in the last year.

You may also be able to apply at a visa application centre. You can apply from any country as long as you’ve been given permission to live there for at least 6 months. Check if there’s a visa application centre that you can travel to that accepts Global Talent visa applications.

How long it takes

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you’ll be told if you can when you apply.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

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