UK Global Talent Visa: Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise?
As previously discussed, the Global talent visa seeks to attract the best tech talents from around the world to come and work in the UK’s digital technology sector. Tech Nation is the designated endorsement body that assesses applicants in the digital technology sector. Tech Nation has two options for eligible applicants namely:
Leader (called ‘exceptional talent’)
Emerging leader (called ‘exceptional promise’)
Exceptional talent applicants are recognised leaders who have over 5 years of experience and a proven track record of innovation and impact in the digital technology sector. Typical applicants also have evidence of volunteer contribution to advance the digital technology sector.
Exceptional promise applicants are typically at earlier in their career in the tech sector, usually with less than 5 years of experience. Applicants applying under exceptional promise must provide evidence that they have the potential to become a leader through their skills and achievements.
If you are someone who only focuses on your work as an employee with little or no engagement with the tech community you may struggle with providing evidence that you are an exceptional talent or exceptional promise account. To meet the eligibility criteria for Tech Nation endorsement, you need to rely on your network to provide affirm that you are a recognised or emerging leader through recommendation letters and reference letters.
The Global talent endorsement is largely evidenced-based, if you believe you are a leader or potential you need to show your work by providing evidence to show that you meet the eligibility criteria for endorsement. Tech Nation will then assess your application and supporting evidence and establish whether your skills and achievements meet the eligibility criteria for Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise, and decide whether you should be endorsed for the Global Talent visa. If an applicant provides sufficient proof of their leadership in the sector, the tech nation will then make a recommendation to the home office for the applicant to be granted the global talent visa. If Tech Nation’s assessment panel is not satisfied with the supporting document they also inform the home office of their decision not to endorse the applicant. An unsuccessful applicant can request an endorsement review if they believe the decision not to endorse the application was done in error. An endorsement review can be submitted within 28 days of receiving a refusal email.
How do I show that I meet the criteria to be endorsed as an Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise?
Applicants must show evidence that they have been recognised as a leading talent or emergining talent in the digital technology sector in the last 5 years.
And provide evidence of meeting two of the following criteria:
a proven track record for innovation as a founder or senior executive of a product-led digital technology company or as an employee working on a new digital field or concept
proof of recognition for work beyond the applicant’s occupation that contributes to the advancement of the field
they have made significant technical, commercial or entrepreneurial contributions to the field as a founder, senior executive, board member or employee of a product-led digital technology company
they have demonstrated exceptional ability in the field by academic contributions through research published or endorsed by an expert.
In my next post I will discuss more on the mandatory criteria and Optional criteria. I will also share types of evidence you need to show to prove that you meet the requirement.
Reference: Tech Nation Visa Guide
