UK Global Talent Visa Endorsement - Guide for Nigerians

The global talent visa endorsement documents you will need to submit depend on your chosen field. There will be both specific and general evidential criteria to support your application for endorsement.

For instance, if you apply for an endorsement in the arts and culture you must submit three letters of recommendation, two from recognised expert organisations in the arts and culture, at least one of which must be located in the UK, and the third from a well known arts and culture organisation, or individual, with acknowledged expertise in your field.

You will also need to provide at least two of the following if you have an outstanding promise in the arts and humanities:

• Evidence of at least two instances of recent media coverage of your work as a person, an identified group member, or as a contributor, from at least one country (including your country of residence).
• Proof of winning, being nominated for, or making the shortlist for an international award for excellence, or of significantly contributing to such a win, nomination, or shortlisting.
• Proof of international distribution and audiences for your individual work, or evidence of international appearances, performances, publications, or exhibitions as a group member or contributor, from at least one country.

You must submit your application to the Home Office alongside the documents required by your endorsing authority. However, as part of the application process, applicants for digital technology must upload the required supporting documents through an online form.

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The Home Office has chosen Arts Council England as the endorsing organisation to examine all requests for endorsement from those who specialise in the following fields:

• Dance
• Music
• Combined Arts
• Visual Arts, except museums, focused work.
• Theatre
• Literature

You must show that you are either an established leader in your industry or have the potential to do so, as well as that you are a prominent artist or a globally renowned specialist of arts and culture in order to qualify for endorsement.

You must be able to show that you are professionally involved in creating work of the highest calibre that has been performed, presented, exhibited or distributed abroad (other than only in magazines or newspapers). Your professional experience must be recent within the previous 5 years and demonstrate an impressive global track record.

• You must provide proof from at least two countries to back up two of the following (for exceptional talent):
  • Two or more examples of your work recent recognition by the media (advertisements are not allowed)
• You have won or contributed to the win of a significant international prize in your field like an Academy Award or the Booker Prize.
• Evidence of recent appearances, publications, performances, or exhibitions in venues that are acknowledged as being internationally renowned in your industry, such as displaying work at the Tate Modern or a musical performance at the O2 Centre.

Additionally, you must submit three letters of recommendation from recognised experts in your field and cultural organisations. The proof should consist of not more than 10 documents excluding the three required letters of support.

Meet the following requirements as an individual with exceptional talent under full peer review. You must:

• Possess a PhD or comparable research qualifications including clinical or industrial research.
• Be an active researcher in a field that has been approved, such as one that is connected to a research institute, university or the industry directly.
• Meet one of the following requirements:
  • You should have won an award, a prestigious internationally recognised prize.
  • You should be a foreign member of an academy of another country or a member of the national academy.
  • You are required to get a letter of recommendation from a senior official of a reputable UK organisation engaged in research related to your field.
• Should be at the early stages or beginning of your career.
• Have received an award or held an international fellowship, a renowned UK-based research fellowship for the previous 5 years, or an advanced position deemed by the endorsing organisation to be equivalent to such a fellowship.

You will need to provide the following for full peer review endorsement:

• A CV that shows your career publication history.
• A letter of personal recommendation for your Global Talent application from a well known person in the UK that includes everything listed below:
  • Your successes and honours in the corresponding field.
  • How the author is related to you.
  • The contribution you would make to the wider society and the UK research excellence.
  • How the author evaluates and draws conclusions that you offer exceptional talent or promise.

You must show the following if you are seeking endorsement in the area of digital technology:

• As a technical applicant, you need to show your technical knowledge with the most recent technologies in building, deploying, using, or exploiting a technology stack and building technical infrastructure.
• As a business applicant, you must present proof of your confirmed commercial investment, product expertise in developing digital products, or ability to make significant investments in digital product enterprises.

But if you are applying for an endorsement in the field of technology proving exceptional talent, then you must:

• Show that you have been recognised as a leading talent in the digital sector.
• Get a proof of any two of the following:
  • Possess documentation of accomplishments outside of your line of occupation that improve the field.
  • Demonstrate how well known you are as a great talent in the field of digital technology.
  • Have contributed to your field’s knowledge through your academic work, published research, or expert endorsement, demonstrating great ability in it.
  • Have contributed significantly to the field through your work as an employee, senior executive, or founder of a product driven digital technology company.

But if you are applying for an endorsement in the field of technology proving exceptional promise, then you must:

• Prove that your potential as a great talent in the field of digital technology has been recognised.
• Get a proof of any two of the following:
  • Proof of the recognition for your work beyond your occupation that contributes to your field’s advancement.
  • Get at least 2 examples of your innovation as an employee working on a new digital concept/field or a founder of a product driven digital technology company.
  • Provide at least 2 examples of your exceptional ability in the field, either through research endorsed by experts or academic contributions.
  • You must have founded or worked for a digital technology company with a strong focus on products, and you must have made important technical, business, or entrepreneurial contributions to the field.

The UK’s digital technology sector welcomes the best tech talent to join and contribute through the Global Talent visa programme. Each candidate must show the sponsoring body (Tech Nation) evidence of a successful track record as an innovator in the field of digital technology by choosing one of the following:

• As a well known innovator in the field of digital technology (exceptional skill).
• As a rising leader in the field of digital technology (exceptional promise).

Technology applicants should be professionals with a broad range of skills, including constructing, implementing, and designing the technical infrastructure.

Whereas the criteria focus for business applicants is that they must demonstrate both commercial and investment skills when dealing with digital products (including leading investments).

You are required to provide these documents by Tech Nation:

• Your CV

• Three letters of recommendation, each with a date and the signatures of three different senior members of three different recognised organisations in the field of digital technology. These individuals need to be familiar with your skill set in order to submit a letter of recommendation.

If required:

• Proof of any current businesses that have been operating or firms that have closed within the last five years, which must have achieved commercial success or otherwise show how you satisfy the requirements for endorsement.
• Proof of one or more cases of digital technology innovation.

• Proof of recognition for work outside of your current position that has aided in the sector’s advancement is required (the applicant must have a demonstrated history or record that goes beyond your usual day-to-day duties and demonstrates your significant contribution to the advancement of the related industry).

For instance, mentoring in the technological field through educational institutions, structured mentoring programmes, sharing open-source code to support the tech community through various platforms that encourage reuse, or publishing op-ed pieces in credible sources.

• Proof that you have founded, served in a senior executive role for, or worked for a product-led digital technology business and made substantial technical, commercial, or entrepreneurial contributions to the field of digital technology. Such evidence must demonstrate a concrete impact, such as an increase in revenue, expansion into new markets or market segments, cost savings for the customer, etc.
• Evidence that you have proven outstanding ability in the discipline by publishing research or by receiving the support of a research expert or supervisor.