UK Global Talent Visa costs explained

The UK Global Talent Visa costs are divided into three main categories:

1. Stage 1 Endorsement Fee
2. Visa Application Fee
3. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

It costs £716 for you as a main applicant, plus, you would have to pay health surcharge fees on top – £1035 per year. If you bring your family with you (married partner and children under the age of 18), they would also pay £716 for a visa and £1035 per person per year for a health surcharge. Example for the family of 3 (you, your partner and a child):

• £524 for endorsement for you
• £192 for visa fee for you
• £716*2=£1432 for visa fee for 2 dependants

Total visa fees: £716*3=£2148. On top of this, you also have to pay the health surchage fees for each person for each year. See the breakdown here.

The first step in the Global Talent Visa process is applying for endorsement. This is when you submit your documents to the relevant endorsing body (e.g., Tech Nation, Arts Council England) to confirm your eligibility.

• Cost for Stage 1 endorsement: £524

Full details are available on the UK Government website.

At this stage, you apply alone, regardless of whether you have a partner or dependents who will join you later.

Once you’ve been endorsed, the next step is applying for the visa itself. This is when your dependents (spouse/partner and children under 18) can join you in the application.

• Visa fee for the main applicant: £192
• Visa fee for each dependent (partner or children): £716

For example, if you’re applying with a partner and one child, the total visa fee will be:

• £192 (main applicant) + £716 (partner) + £716 (child) = £1,624

The Immigration Health Surcharge allows you to access the UK’s healthcare system during your stay. This charge is applied per person, per year of the visa, and it adds up quickly.

• Health surcharge cost per person per year: £1,035

Find full details of the health surcharge here.

Example:

If you’re applying alone for a 2-year visa:

• £1,035 x 2 years = £2,070

If you’re applying with a family of three (yourself, partner, and one child) for a 3-year visa:

• £1,035 x 3 people x 3 years = £9,315

One unique feature of the Global Talent Visa is that you can choose how long your visa will last. The options range from 2 to 5 years, and the duration affects how much you’ll pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Talent vs. Promise:

• Exceptional Talent: You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 3 years.
• Exceptional Promise: You can apply for ILR after 5 years.

Common Scenarios:

Most applicants start with a 2-year visa and extend it as needed. This is especially helpful for families to manage costs upfront.

Here’s an example breakdown for an applicant and their family:

• Main applicant with a partner and one child (2-year Global Talent visa):
  • Endorsement fee: £524
  • Visa fees: £192 (main applicant) + £716 (partner) + £716 (child) = £1,624
  • Health surcharge: £1,035 x 3 people x 2 years = £6,210
  • Total: £8,358

For larger families or longer durations, the total costs can increase significantly. For example, a family of five applying for a 2-year visa would pay over £10,000 in health surcharge alone.

• Plan for extensions: The health surcharge is paid again each time you extend your visa.
• Refunds for skilled worker visa: If switching from a Skilled Worker Visa, you may be eligible for a refund of your previous health surcharge.
• Employer payments: For Skilled Worker Visas, health surcharges are often covered by employers. Refunds in these cases typically go back to the employer.