As the UK switches focus to becoming an international hub for innovation and growth, we have seen the rise of new immigration categories that require the applicant to gain an endorsement. By placing more emphasis on the role of the endorsement, it is thought that UK companies will be able to attract the best and the brightest candidates to UK shores.
Endorsements strengthen an application by highlighting the individual’s accomplishments or potential. If you are thinking about moving to the UK to continue your research, artistic development or to start a company, gaining an endorsement could help you on your journey.
In this guide, we’ll explore the role of the endorsement in a range of UK visa categories and offer our advice on how to secure successful endorsements to support your application.
What is an endorsement in UK visa applications?
A visa endorsement is simply confirmation from a third party that an individual is skilled, accomplished, or offers considerable potential. It goes beyond a reference that you might secure for a job or place at university.
Instead, an endorsement needs to come from a person or organisation with knowledge and experience in your field. Not everyone can secure an endorsement, and organisations recognise the power that their endorsement will carry.
An example of this would be an artist securing an endorsement from the Arts Council, or an engineer securing an endorsement from The Royal Academy of Engineering. Not all visa categories require an endorsement. In many cases, it’s enough to be sponsored by a UK visa sponsor and to be offered a salary that is high enough in a shortage occupation.
Which visa categories require an endorsement?
The endorsement is currently a requirement for the following visa categories:
These visa categories are all focused on bringing exceptionally talented people to the UK. In the case of the Innovative Founder visa, this visa category is designed to encourage more founders to start their companies in the UK.
The Global Talent Visa is designed to allow those at the forefront of the arts, sciences or digital technology sectors to move to the UK without the need for a sponsor or job offer.
The Scale-Up Visa is an alternative route to the Skilled Worker Visa and allows employers a fast-track to quickly hire skilled workers if the sponsoring company is undergoing a period of exceptional growth.
How can you secure an endorsement for a Global Talent Visa?
The Global Talent Visa is aimed at workers in the following fields:
- academia or research
- arts and culture
- digital technology
This visa route will allow individuals to stay in the UK for up to 5 years and develop their career. Interestingly, this visa category allows you to come to the UK without a job offer. Once you are here, you can study, apply for jobs with any company, or set up your own company.
To prove that you meet the exceptional worker requirements, you first need to secure an endorsement from an approved organisation. If you have already been awarded any of the prizes on this list, you will be eligible for this visa route.
The requirements for your endorsement will vary depending on which field you are applying in. It will typically require personal recommendations from three prominent figures who are familiar with your work, as well as up to 10 pieces of evidence that support your application. If you’re struggling to secure an endorsement, our team can help.
How can you secure an endorsement for an Innovative Founder visa?
The innovative founder visa will enable you to come to the UK to set up your business. To qualify for this visa route, you will first need an endorsement from one of the following trade bodies:
- Envestors Limited
- UK Endorsing Services
- Innovator International
- The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)
You will typically need to create a business plan and/or pitch deck for your business idea in order to secure an endorsement. An endorsement from the The Global Entrepreneurs Programme is by invitation only, and you cannot apply for this.
Your business plan will need to be truly innovative and innovation needs to be at the heart of everything you do. This is not a start up visa but an innovation visa, and your business plan should reflect this.
How can you secure an endorsement for a Scale-Up Visa?
The Scale-Up Visa is a visa route that offers an alternative to the Skilled Worker Visa. When a company is undergoing a period of exceptional growth, they may need fast access to a larger recruitment pool. The Scale Up Visa will facilitate this.
In this instance, it is the company that requires the endorsement, not the individual. Like the Innovative Founder Visa, your company will need an endorsement from one of the following trade bodies:
- Envestors Limited
- UK Endorsing Services
- Innovator International
- The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)
As before, the GEP is only available to those invited to participate in the programme. It is possible to become a UK Scale Up Visa sponsor without securing an endorsement, but this pathway has strict criteria. Your company will need to have annualised growth of at least 20% for three years prior to the application. This may be based on employment (staff count growth) or turnover. The business also needs to have had a minimum of 10 employees at the start of the three year period.
What if I cannot secure an endorsement?
Endorsements are reserved for the truly exceptional and they are not always easy to achieve. If you cannot secure an endorsement for your past work or your business plan, we recommend exploring other visa pathways.
Need help securing your visa?
At A Y & J Solicitors, we have extensive experience helping exceptional individuals to navigate the UK visa applications with or without endorsements. If you are struggling to navigate the visa process, get in touch with our team today. We can assist you in securing endorsements, or navigating the visa pathways that do not require an endorsement.