🇬🇧 Business & investment

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) list of approved research organisations for the Global Talent visa has been updated. This update includes changes to organisation names and the addition of at least one new body. The full list specifies that UKRI accepts these UK organisations as being able to employ or host an applicant who holds, or provides critical contributions to work supported by, an award or grant from an endorsed funder. However, appearing on the approved-organisation list does not by itself grant a person a Global Talent visa. GOV.UK states that the applicant must also hold a research grant or award from an approved endorsed funder and must meet the requirements of the relevant Global Talent route.

All specific provisions and paragraphs related to 'au pair' placements, 'working holidaymakers', 'seasonal agricultural workers', 'teachers or language assistants under an approved exchange scheme', and associated dependant categories (spouses, civil partners, and children) within Immigration Rules part 4 have been deleted. This includes paragraphs 98, 99, 100, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, and 127, as well as unnumbered sub-categories. The current rules instead deal with comparable forms of temporary mobility through modern immigration routes elsewhere in the Rules. For example, the Youth Mobility Scheme is now the UK's dedicated route for eligible young people from participating countries and territories who want to live and work temporarily in the UK. The Government Authorised Exchange route provides another mechanism for eligible people coming to the UK for approved work-experience programmes, internships, training and exchanges.

The Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations defines eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and associated going rates for the Skilled Worker (SW), Global Business Mobility (GBM), and Scale-up (SCU) routes. It specifies salary thresholds based on median Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data and an hourly minimum of £17.13. Going rates are calculated per year based on a 37.5-hour working week and must be pro-rated for other working patterns. For Skilled Worker settlement applications, only the full 'going rate' column applies; the reduced rates (70%, 80%, 90%) do not.

The High Potential Individual (HPI) route is for recent graduates of top global universities who wish to work or seek employment in the UK. Applicants must have completed an eligible course of study equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree level or above from an institution on the Global Universities List within the 5 years immediately preceding the application. The route is unsponsored and capped at a maximum of 8,000 applications per year, with the allocation year running from 1 November to 31 October. Successful applicants are granted entry clearance or permission to stay for either 3 years (for PhD or doctoral qualifications) or 2 years (for other degree qualifications). Dependants (partner and children) can also apply. This route does not lead to settlement and prohibits access to public funds. Work, including self-employment and voluntary work, is generally permitted, except for professional sportspersons or coaches. Study is permitted, except with a Student sponsor if it meets Student route requirements. Applicants must meet validity, suitability, English language (B2 level), and financial requirements (£1,270 in funds for those in the UK for less than 12 months or applying for entry clearance).

From 3 August 2026, the Global Talent suitability rules were amended. -Applicants applying for permission to stay: The new GT 2.2 provides that an applicant applying for permission to stay must not be: (a) in breach of immigration laws, except where the Exceptions for overstayers section of Part Suitability applies; or (b) on immigration bail, except where the Exceptions for overstayers section applies. -Applicants applying for settlement: The corresponding settlement provision, GT 9.2, was also replaced. A person applying for settlement must not be: in breach of immigration laws, subject to the exceptions for overstayers; or on immigration bail, subject to those exceptions. -What this means for Arts, Architecture and Design applicants: The endorsement criteria themselves remain in place. -For Arts and Culture, applicants continue to need: professional engagement producing outstanding work; regular professional engagement during the previous five years; the relevant international track record depending on talent/promise; a professional CV; three dated recommendation letters; and the required combination of media recognition, awards, professional appearances, publications, exhibitions or distribution/sales evidence. -For Architecture, applicants continue to need: outstanding presented, published or internationally exhibited work; regular professional engagement during the previous five years; the appropriate talent/promise track record; a CV; three dated recommendation letters; and the prescribed combination of awards, media recognition and internationally significant publications/exhibitions. -For Design Industry applicants, the existing requirements continue to include: outstanding applied, published, distributed or internationally exhibited work; regular professional engagement during the previous five years; the relevant talent/promise track record; a CV; three dated recommendation letters; and evidence such as media recognition, international design awards, professional appearances, publications, exhibitions or international distribution/sales.

The UK Ancestry route is for Commonwealth citizens aged 17 or over with a grandparent born in the UK or Islands, who wish to live and work in the UK. Dependants (partner and children) can also apply. This route leads to settlement. Applicants must apply online, pay fees and the Immigration Health Charge, provide biometrics, and a passport. Entry clearance is required before arrival for those applying from outside the UK. For settlement, a continuous residence of 5 years on this route and meeting English language and Knowledge of Life in the UK requirements are necessary. The English language requirement for settlement increases from B1 to B2 for applications made on or after 26 March 2027.

The Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker route now includes a transitional arrangement for applicants who were granted permission under the rules in place before 4 April 2024. If their application date is before 4 April 2030 and they have had continuous permission as a Senior or Specialist Worker since then, they may be sponsored for a job in a SOC 2020 occupation code listed in Table 2b of Appendix Skilled Occupations. The general salary requirement for a Senior or Specialist Worker has been increased to £52,500 per year.

The Home Office has removed outdated provisions from Appendix E that related to the former Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) dependant framework. The current Appendix is now narrowly defined. GOV.UK states: “Appendix E applies only to applications as a dependent partner or dependent child of a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Migrant.”

The updated rules make the position explicit. The route now clearly states that a partner or child of an international armed forces member who is exempt from immigration control can apply under this Appendix where: the service member is exempt from immigration control under the relevant legislation; the dependant is applying for entry clearance or permission to stay; and the dependant is listed as a dependant on the sponsor's military movement orders or equivalent civilian posting letter. The Home Office's caseworker guidance gives the practical clarification even more directly: dependants of exempt international armed forces personnel are not automatically eligible to accompany them and must apply for entry clearance. The distinction is important The service member may be exempt from immigration control. The dependant is not automatically exempt. The dependant must instead satisfy the relevant requirements under the International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees route.

The Immigration Rules Appendix A now focuses solely on attributes for Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Migrants, outlining that applicants must score 75 points for attributes. It specifies available points in Table 4 for initial applications (from Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur or Start-up Migrant pathways), Table 5 for extension applications, and Table 6 for indefinite leave to remain applications. It details conditions for money available (e.g., minimum £50,000, held in regulated financial institutions, disposable in the UK, cash only, UK business requirement), and specific documentation for proving funds, including accountant and bank statement requirements. All sections related to Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Migrants and Tier 1 (General) Migrants, including their respective tables and numerous associated paragraphs (1-34, and some within 39-41), have been deleted.

The 3 August 2026 update does not reopen either route and does not newly close them. Instead, the current Part 6A continues to preserve the relevant legacy provisions for Tier 1 Entrepreneur and Investor migrants. For Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) migrants, Appendix A continues to require 75 points for attributes. The rules retain separate provisions for qualifying applications for entry clearance, permission to stay and indefinite leave to remain, including different requirements depending on the applicant's previous immigration status. For Tier 1 (Investor) migrants, Appendix A also continues to require 75 points for attributes. The available points and evidence requirements depend on the applicant's previous Tier 1 Investor status and, importantly, the historical version of the rules under which their original permission was granted. The current Appendix Continuous Residence also specifically identifies Part 6A for Tier 1 Entrepreneur and Tier 1 Investor settlement applications. This confirms that the legacy routes remain relevant for settlement purposes even though they are closed to new entrants.