Global Talent Visa is one of UK’s most prestigious visa routes. It is a golden opportunity for exceptional tech professionals, founders, and innovators to contribute to one of the world’s most dynamic tech ecosystems.
Tech Nation has played a key role in assessing candidates’ eligibility, since the Home Office first approved it as the endorsing body in 2014. However, in May 2025 we anticipate a new endorsing body will take over from Tech Nation, as there have been ongoing issues with funding between Tech Nation and the UK government. This change is likely to bring with it new requirements and new criteria for the prospective applicants.
So, if you are looking to secure endorsement with Tech Nation in the next few months you need to understand their requirements. Securing an endorsement is no small feat – it requires in-depth understanding of what Tech Nation is looking for and how your skill set aligns with the current trends in the UK’s tech sector.
Here are three tips to help you make you endorsement application:
- Align Your Application with Tech Nation’s Aims and the UK’s Tech Priorities
Tech nation is not just looking for talented individuals; it’s looking for innovators and leaders of the industry who can drive the UK’s tech sector forward. UK is home to over 137 unicorns and it is a global leader in this industry. The tech sector brings over £329 billion to the UK economy, which is projected to grow exponentially in the next few years. The industry’s top priorities are AI, cybersecurity, engineering biology and quantum technologies. It is important to highlight how your work aligns with these specialisms and drives them forward, helping UK to become a global leader in those fields. According to Tech Nation Report from 2024, most of their applicants were focused on App development, AI, machine learning and Fintech.
2. Stay connected and leverage Tech Nations’ network
Tech Nation brings with it an established community of alumni and leaders of startups, scaleups and tech giants. They frequently announce new programmes which support growth in the sector. For example, their program Libra which focuses on underrepresented funders or NetZero which focused on sustainable tech are a great indicator of the organisation’s commitments.
Ensure that you highlight your participation in similar programs globally in your application, draw parallels and explain how you’ll bring those valuable experiences to the UK market. This shows to Tech Nation that you are ready to participate and contribute to their growing community.
3. Showcase Impact, not just Potential
Tech Nation’s endorsement process is rigorous and highly competitive. When applying for Exceptional Talent, it is crucial to go beyond generic claims of “potential”. Instead, you must focus on “tangible, measurable outcomes” of your work. You must show your portfolio of successes and examples of your leadership and breakthroughs. You should highlight your track record of innovation which sets you apart from other applicants with similar experiences.
Exceptionally Promising applicants require 5 years to obtain an indefinite leave to remain. This makes the “Exceptional Promise” route slightly less favourable than the “Exceptional Talent” route. So, building a strong portfolio and showcasing successes and over five years’ experience in the sector is vital for prospective applicants if you would like to qualify as an “Exceptional Talent”
We can help you put the right foot forward with Tech Nation: Tech Nation alumni often point out that endorsement application can be quite stressful, with the process being painstaking and time consuming. Navigating Tech Nation’s requirements can be an overwhelming undertaking.
Our immigration team has extensive experience with Tech Nation endorsement, and we can help you prepare a strong and tailored application that highlights your achievements. This can give you a piece of mind, knowing that your case is handled by specialists with knowledge and expertise in Tech Nation’s requirements.
For legal advice and Visa support contact Immigration Law specialist Louise Crichton or a member of Thorntons Immigration team on +44 3330 430350 or complete an online enquiry and a member of the team will contact you.
