The latest data on global talent visas

Following its introduction in 2020, the global talent visa has seen increasing use in the research sector as a somewhat faster and more flexible alternative to skilled worker visa sponsorship. It’s also a means to sidestep some of the obstacles presented by Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) requirements.

For the last few years levels of issuances have held relatively steady at around 1,000 per quarter, considering main applicants only (as the visa also allows for dependants). The government has sought to incentivise its uptake, but recent policy changes are not yet reflected in the data.

The chart below shows issued global talent visas for main applicants since the route’s introduction, with a filter by nationality available, updated to reflect Home Office figures for Q2 2026 which were released on 27 August.