Innovator Founder Visa
The UK High Potential Individual Visa, also known as the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa, is a category of visa designed for exceptionally talented individuals in various fields such as science, humanities, engineering, the arts, and digital technology. It aims to attract and retain individuals who have shown exceptional promise or exceptional talent in their respective fields, and who are recognized as potential future leaders or influencers in the UK.
To apply for this visa, individuals must first obtain an endorsement from a designated endorsing body in their field. These endorsing bodies include organizations like Tech Nation for Digital Technology, Arts Council England for the Arts, and the Royal Society for Science and Medicine. Once endorsed, applicants can then apply for the visa, demonstrating their exceptional talent or promise, and meeting other immigration requirements such as English language proficiency and maintenance funds.
The Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa allows successful applicants to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years and 4 months, after which they can apply to extend their stay. They may also be eligible to apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) in the UK after a specified period of time.
It’s worth noting that in March 2019, the UK government announced changes to the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa route, renaming it the Global Talent route and expanding it to include researchers and leaders in academia, science, and research. This change aimed to attract top talent from around the world to work and contribute to the UK’s research and innovation sector.