Tier 1 Exceptional Talent

Prospective applicants needed to complete a two stage process which involved initially submitting a formal application with supporting documents to a designated competent body as follows – places available were restricted:

• The Arts Council 
• The Royal Society 
• The Royal Academy of Engineering 
• The British Academy and
• Tech City UK.

An application for the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa could only be made if one of the above bodies endorses the application.

Once the designated bodies had used up their quota for the year, no further applications could be approved. The Home Office had a procedure where an unused quota can be reallocated from one body to another during the year. 

If an endorsement was granted to an applicant, the second part of the process – the visa application, could be made within prescribed time limits.

Applicants had to pay the Immigration Health Charge at the time. 

Only individuals in the UK with the following visas could have switched category:

• Tier 1 migrant;
• Tier 2 Migrant; or
• Tier 5 Temporary Worker Migrant under the Government Authorised Exchange sub category in an exchange scheme for sponsored researchers.

Initial applicants were granted 3 years and 4 months at the entry clearance stage.

Applicants who switch within the UK will be granted 3 years.

Applicants at the end of the above periods may then apply for an extension to stay for a further period of 2 years subject to showing that they have earned income from their category they were approved for.

Applications for extensions can be made from both overseas and in the UK.

Once a Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa holder has completed 5 years continuous lawful stay in this category, they can apply for settlement provided that:

• the competent body who initially endorsed the application does not object;
• the applicant has been economically active in the category they were approved for; and
• the applicant can satisfy the Life in the UK test requirements.

Please note time spent in other Tier 1 or Tier 2 categories can count towards the 5 year period for settlement.

The spouse or unmarried partner and any unmarried children under 18 years of age could accompany the main applicant to the UK. However, they had to obtain entry clearance prior to travel.

Dependants were allowed to remain in the UK for the same period as the main holder and were be granted any extensions or indefinite leave to remain.

They could also work in the UK if no special restrictions had been placed on their stay.

The certificate holder, spouse and children aged 16 or over who accompany them to the UK may have been imposed with a requirement to register with the UK police.

No employment as a doctor or dentist in training or as a professional sportsman was allowed under this category.