89 Bickersteth RD
London SW17 9SH
0203 490 1221
Client Support
Mon-Fri: 9:30-17:30 pm
Appointment
London SW17 9SH
Client Support
Appointment
The UK Global Talent visa route is open to talented and promising individuals in the field of architecture who wish to work in the UK. Applicants will be leaders in their field, or have the potential to be leaders, as determined by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) acting on behalf of Arts Council England.
There is no cap on the number of applicants that can be endorsed in the Architecture sub-category of the UK Global Talent route.
In order to qualify for a UK Global Talent visa in the field of Architecture, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:
The exact requirements you will need to satisfy may vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.
In order to qualify for endorsement by the Royal Institute of British Architects you will need to be professionally engaged as an architect producing work of outstanding quality which has been published, presented or exhibited internationally.
You must have been regularly engaged as a professional architect in the last 5 years and be able to show a substantial track record in at least 2 countries (if applying under Exceptional Talent criteria) or a developing track record in at least 1 country (if applying under Exceptional Promise criteria).
Your application for an Architecture endorsement by RIBA will need to include 3 letters of recommendation.
Two letters of recommendation will need to be from well-established architecture organisations acknowledged as experts in your field and at least one of these organisations will need to be based in the UK.
The third letter of recommendation will need to be from another well-established architecture organisation, or an individual, with recognised expertise in your field.
If you are seeking to evidence exceptional talent in the field of Architecture, you will need to provide at least two of the following:
Awards: evidence of winning, or significantly contributing to winning, an international award for excellence; or
Media Recognition: evidence from at least 2 countries (which can include your country of residence) of 2 or more examples of significant media recognition for your individual work; or
Publications or exhibitions: evidence from at least 2 countries (which can include your country of residence) of at least 2 examples of publications or exhibitions considered internationally significant in your field.
If you are seeking to evidence exceptional promise in the field of Architecture, you will need to provide at least 2 of the following:
Awards: evidence of winning, or significantly contributing to winning, or being nominated or shortlisted for, an international award for excellence in the last 5 years; or
Media Recognition: evidence from at least 1 country (which can include your country of residence) of 2 or more examples of recent media recognition for your individual work or for your work as a contributor; or
Publications or exhibitions: evidence from at least 1 country (which can include your country of residence) of at least 2 examples of publications or exhibitions in the last 5 years considered internationally significant in your field.
To discuss your Global Talent visa application with one of our immigration barristers, contact our immigration lawyers on 0203 617 9173 or complete our enquiry form below.
You will need to provide RIBA with three letters of recommendation in support of your application.
One letter must come from a UK based organisation which is well-established nationally and/or internationally and widely acknowledged as possessing expertise in your specialist field.
The second letter must also be from an organisation which is well established nationally and/or internationally and widely acknowledged as possessing expertise in your specialist field. However, this second organisation may be based in the UK or overseas.
The third letter can be a further letter from an organisation (UK or overseas based) which is well established nationally and/or internationally and widely acknowledged as possessing expertise in your specialist field, or it can come from an eminent individual with internationally recognised expertise in your specialist field.
The letters should come from a senior member of the organisation who is familiar with your work and able to comment on your achievements. They will need to detail your achievements in your specialist field and how, in their opinion, you have demonstrated that you are, or have the potential to become, a leader in your field.
RIBA usually takes 4 weeks in total from submission to make a decision on an architecture endorsement.
Once you have your Royal Institute of British Architects endorsement, you will have a period of three months from the date of the endorsement letter to make your application to enter or remain in the UK in the Global Talent category.
An application to switch into the Global Talent route may be made from within the UK provided you do not currently have, or were not last granted, permission to stay as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic worker in a private household or outside the Immigration Rules.
If you hold, or were last granted, leave in any of the above categories then you will be required to leave the UK and submit your application for a Global Talent visa from your home country.
Anyone who does not have leave in the UK, will need to ensure that they are abroad when they make their Global Talent visa application. However, the application can be made from anywhere in the world, so you do not necessarily have to travel to your home country to make the application.
In addition to showing that you have been endorsed, the Home Office will assess your character and immigration history to ensure that you do not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.
There is no maintenance or English language requirement in the Global Talent visa category.
Leave will be granted for the period that you request (in full year periods) up to five years. The amount of time that you request makes no difference to the application but will affect the amount that you need to pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge.
If you have won a qualifying prestigious award, you will be able to fast-track the endorsement application and instead proceed directly to making a single visa application.
The list of prestigious prizes is set out in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes. This list is kept under review and updated from time-to-time.
Our immigration barristers have a wide range of experience assisting professionals in the field of architecture to prepare successful applications for endorsement by RIBA and to work in the UK. Our barristers are experts in the immigration options for architects and will guide you through the complex Home Office rules and policies.
We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our clients’ needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to clients as part of a professional and friendly service.
As specialist immigration solicitors, we pride in having one of the best team of specialist immigration solicitors with wealth of knowledge and experience to deal with all types of UK visa and immigration matters. Our top rated immigration solicitors have successfully helped thousands of clients with all types of UK visa and immigration applications, immigration appeals, Administrative Review, Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) and Judicial Review.
Managing Director
