Settlement on the Global Talent route

Which Qualifying Period Applies

The Global Talent visa covers academia and research, arts and culture, and digital technology. Paragraph GT 11 of Appendix Global Talent splits the qualifying period by how the person was endorsed, not by how well they have done since.

3 years

• Endorsed by the Royal Society, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering, or UK Research and Innovation.
• Endorsed by Arts Council England or Tech Nation under the exceptional talent criteria.
• Granted the initial application using a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes.

5 years

• Endorsed by Arts Council England or Tech Nation under the exceptional promise criteria.

Time on several other routes can count towards the period: Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson, Scale-up, Representative of an Overseas Business, and Tier 1 routes other than Graduate Entrepreneur.

Announced on 2 November 2026: earned settlement

On 2 November 2026 the government announced a new settlement framework, "earned settlement", in its response to the consultation (CP 1707). It is not yet in the Immigration Rules. The Home Secretary told Parliament the changes will begin to be laid from the December 2026 rules and be brought in during 2027. Until then, the qualifying periods described on this page apply.

Under the decision, the 3-year path is for people who earned at least £125,141 in 3 of the 4 years before applying, or who are in the "Highest Talent Group" (Table 1, page 42). The response does not define that group, and marks it "Subject to review pending MAC report", meaning a report from the Migration Advisory Committee. It lists Global Talent and Innovator Founder among the "high talent permission" routes, and says that to use the 3 or 5-year path on that basis, the most recent grant of permission must have been on that route (page 19, footnote 10). The response does not say that every Global Talent holder keeps a 3-year path.

The 5-year path is for people who earned at least £50,271 in 3 of the last 5 years, people in listed public service jobs and people with a British connection. The standard path is 10 years. Applicants would also need English at B2 and the Life in the UK test, unless exempt (children, people aged 65 and over, and people with a relevant physical or mental condition), as well as no criminal record in the UK and no outstanding government debt. See our guide to earned settlement.

What the Rules Require

• The endorsement still stands. Paragraph GT 10 says that where the initial application used an endorsement, the endorsement must not have been withdrawn by the endorsing body.
• Earnings in the endorsed field. The applicant must have earned money in the UK during their last grant of permission, in the field the prize relates to or the field the endorsement was given in. There is no minimum figure, but there does have to be earned income.
• Continuous residence. Assessed under Appendix Continuous Residence, so no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period. Approved research activity is one of the listed absences that does not count towards that limit. See our continuous residence guide.
• English. Speaking and listening at B1 for applications before 26 March 2027, and B2 from that date.
• Knowledge of life in the UK. The Life in the UK test under Appendix KOL UK. It costs £50 and can be retaken as often as needed, paying each time.
• Suitability. Settlement is granted where the suitability and eligibility requirements for the route are met. Good character is a citizenship test and is not applied here today. Under the earned settlement decision, not yet law, any adult with a criminal record in the UK would be refused settlement (CP 1707, page 8).

Evidence

The earnings condition is the one that needs assembling in advance. Evidence that the money was earned in the UK, in the endorsed field, during the last grant of permission, might include payslips, invoices and payments received, contracts, grant or fellowship records, and accounts.

Alongside that sit the ordinary settlement documents: a travel record for the absence calculation, test certificates, and identity evidence. See our documents checklist.

Cost and Timing

• Settlement fee: £3,226 for the applicant and £3,226 for each person included.
• Immigration health surcharge: none. It is not charged on a settlement application.
• Decision: usually within 6 months. Priority is £500 for a decision usually within 5 working days, and super priority is £1,000 for the end of the next working day.

For comparison, the Global Talent visa itself costs £561 for the endorsement plus £205 for the visa, £766 in total, and £766 for each dependant. See our cost breakdown.

Applying

1. Apply online through GOV.UK and pay the fee.
2. Upload supporting documents, or have them scanned at the appointment.
3. Give biometric information at a booked appointment. No decision is given there. See our biometrics guide.
4. Wait for the decision. See our processing time guide. A refusal carries a right to administrative review.

After Settlement

Settlement is recorded as an eVisa in a UKVI account, proved with a share code lasting 90 days. It lapses after more than 2 continuous years outside the UK.

Naturalisation is a separate application with its own rules, including a residence requirement and, for most applicants, holding settlement for 12 months first. It costs £1,839, made up of £1,709 to apply and a £130 ceremony fee. See our citizenship after settlement guide and our settlement to citizenship timeline.

Questions and answers