For applicants who are checking a different settlement basis across several immigration routes, our UK Long Residence 10-year route guide explains the separate qualifying-period, absence and current-route tests.
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR), also called settlement, is a separate application made after permission to live in the UK. The Global Talent route has its own settlement branches: some applicants can qualify after three continuous years, while an Arts Council England or Tech Nation applicant endorsed under the exceptional promise criteria normally needs five. The route used to obtain the original Global Talent grant matters, but it is only one part of the application.
The Home Office also requires the applicant to have earned money in the UK during their last period of permission in the relevant field, meet continuous residence and suitability rules, pass the Life in the UK requirement, and satisfy the English rule that applies on the application date. This guide explains the settlement stage; it does not decide whether someone qualifies for Global Talent endorsement, a prestigious prize or ILR. GOV.UK also tells people who still hold the former Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) permission to use the Global Talent settlement application route; check the exact route recorded on your permission and current form instructions.
If you are still deciding how to qualify for or apply under the visa, use the separate UK Global Talent visa application guide for the endorsement or listed-prize path, visa fees, dependants and application timing. This page focuses on the later ILR decision.
The qualifying period depends on how you qualified
Related UK earnings are a separate requirement
Check the date-sensitive English rule
Which settlement period applies?
The Immigration Rules set a three-year continuous period for an applicant who was endorsed by the Royal Society, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI); was endorsed by Arts Council England or Tech Nation as a recognised leader under the exceptional-talent criteria; or received their initial Global Talent permission using a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes.
The five-year period applies where Arts Council England or Tech Nation endorsed the person under the exceptional-promise criteria. The official rules refer to the endorsement or prize on the initial Global Talent application. Do not infer the settlement branch from your current job title, later achievements, a new endorsement or a prize issued to a team or organisation. Check the original decision record and the current Appendix Global Talent.
Scroll horizontally or use the arrow keys to view all columns.
| Original Global Talent basis | Settlement qualifying period in the current rules | Record to check |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Society, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or UKRI endorsement | Three years | Endorsement body and original route grant |
| Arts Council England or Tech Nation endorsement as exceptional talent | Three years | Exceptional-talent basis in the endorsement and grant |
| Eligible prestigious prize listed in the Appendix | Three years | Exact prize and original grant basis |
| Arts Council England or Tech Nation endorsement as exceptional promise | Five years | Exceptional-promise basis in the endorsement and grant |
These are the route’s published qualifying periods, not an approval guarantee. The application still has to meet the other validity, suitability and eligibility requirements. If the original grant or endorsement wording is unclear, resolve the route history before relying on an estimated filing date.
Which time can count?
For a Global Talent settlement application, the qualifying period can consist of permission on Global Talent or certain specified work and business routes, including Innovator Founder, Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson, specified Tier 1 categories, Scale-up and Representative of an Overseas Business. The detailed list is in paragraph GT 11.3 of the current Appendix Global Talent. Time in a route that is not listed does not become qualifying time just because it was lawful residence in the UK.
The listed time must be permission held as the main applicant, not as a dependant. A partner’s or child’s dependant permission does not count toward the Global Talent holder’s qualifying period under this rule. A dependant can have their own settlement route and timeline; the separate sponsored-worker dependant ILR guide explains why a family member’s application should be checked on its own terms.
Make a timeline of each grant, route, start date and end date. Use decision notices and the UKVI account or eVisa record to resolve gaps or changes. Where permission was extended or switched, verify the exact grant dates and whether the route appears in GT 11.3. Do not count a pending application period or time under another immigration category without checking the applicable rules. For comparison, the Skilled Worker ILR guide covers that sponsored settlement route; its five-year rule and evidence are not a substitute for the Global Talent branches here.
The continuous-residence appendix explains how the Home Office calculates the qualifying period and the date from which it counts back. GOV.UK says applicants may generally apply up to 28 days before completing their qualifying period, but verify the current route guidance and calculate from the correct grant history before submitting. Applying too early can result in refusal, and an ILR application does not itself extend permission if your current visa expires.
Prove earnings connected to your field
The Global Talent settlement rule requires the applicant to have earned money in the UK during their last period of permission. If the initial grant was based on an endorsement, the earnings must be in the field in which the applicant was endorsed. If it was based on a listed prestigious prize, the earnings must be in a field related to the prize subject matter.
This is not the same as a standard salary threshold or an employer sponsorship test. The Immigration Rules do not specify one minimum amount of earnings for this condition. The Home Office caseworker guidance says evidence can come from an independent source and may take different forms if it can be verified; the official examples are not exhaustive. Keep records that show both the UK earnings and their connection to the relevant field. Depending on the work, that may include payslips, contracts, invoices, royalty statements, accounts or confirmation from a client or institution. These examples do not guarantee acceptance.
For an endorsement-based grant, the endorsement must not have been withdrawn. For a prize-based grant, the prize must not have been withdrawn or suspended in a way that makes the application invalid. The exact requirement depends on how you initially qualified. Keep the original endorsement or prize record with the settlement evidence, and check the current rule rather than assuming that later recognition replaces it.
Check absences and continuous residence
The general continuous-residence rule normally limits absences to 180 days in any rolling 12-month period. The calculation includes specific start dates and exceptions, so a single total across the whole qualifying period is not enough. Reconcile travel dates from passports, tickets, employer records and other reliable sources, then check each rolling period against the current Appendix Continuous Residence.
There is a particular research-related exception described in Home Office Global Talent caseworker guidance for certain applicants endorsed by the named research bodies and for certain listed prizes. It is not a general exemption for every Global Talent holder or every business trip. Confirm that the exact endorsement or prize category and the reason for the absence meet the current guidance; retain evidence from the research host or employer. Where the normal limit may have been exceeded, do not decide the exception from an approximate day count alone.
Scroll horizontally or use the arrow keys to view all columns.
| Travel record | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Departure and return dates for each trip | Lets you check every relevant rolling 12-month period |
| Route permission held during the trip | Helps confirm whether the time belongs in the qualifying period |
| Research purpose and host/employer evidence, where relevant | May be needed to assess the narrow research-related absence guidance |
| Passport, ticket or travel-system records | Helps reconcile dates if passport stamps are incomplete |
The Appendix Continuous Residence contains the operative residence calculation and exceptions. Use it together with the route-specific Global Talent rule, not an online day-count summary alone.
English and Life in the UK
The Global Talent settlement English requirement changes on a fixed date. Unless an exemption applies, applications made before 26 March 2027 require at least CEFR B1 in speaking and listening. Applications made on or after 26 March 2027 require at least CEFR B2 in speaking and listening. The application date decides which level applies; the date you reach three or five years does not lock in the earlier rule.
The rules direct applicants to Appendix English Language for acceptable ways to demonstrate the requirement and applicable exemptions. A qualification, test or evidence accepted for a previous visa does not automatically satisfy a later settlement requirement. Check current evidence-validity and exemption rules when planning to apply, especially if your expected filing date is close to 26 March 2027.
The applicant must also meet the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement under Appendix KOL UK, unless an exception applies. English and Life in the UK are separate requirements. Confirm both and keep the relevant evidence; passing the Life in the UK Test does not replace English evidence.
Application, fee and travel
The GOV.UK process is an online in-country settlement application. The form asks for the applicant’s category and provides a document list for their case. The current Global Talent route requires the applicant to be in the UK, meet the validity and biometric requirements, provide identity evidence, meet suitability rules and retain the required endorsement/prize position. An online checklist cannot decide whether the Home Office will accept the route history or field-of-earnings evidence.
GOV.UK currently lists a settlement application fee; fees and processing options can change. Check the live Global Talent settlement application page before paying. The Home Office also explains that family members have their own route and application. Do not assume that a dependant is automatically included in the main applicant’s settlement grant.
After applying, follow the current GOV.UK travel instructions. For many in-country settlement applications, travel outside the Common Travel Area before a decision can cause the application to be treated as withdrawn. Check the live post-application guidance before arranging travel, and do not rely on a third-party summary for a time-sensitive trip.
- 1Confirm the original route basis — Check whether your initial Global Talent grant relied on a specified endorsement or a listed prestigious prize, and identify the exact exceptional-talent or exceptional-promise category where relevant.
- 2Build the qualifying-time timeline — Record every grant and route; count only route categories listed in Appendix Global Talent and exclude dependant permission.
- 3Reconcile residence and travel — Check each rolling 12-month period, then verify any claimed research-related absence exception against current Home Office guidance.
- 4Collect field-related UK earnings evidence — Show UK earnings during the last permission period and how they relate to the original endorsement field or prize subject.
- 5Check the application-date tests — Confirm the English level for the filing date, Life in the UK evidence, current fee, identity requirements and application timing.
- 6Review dependants separately — Check each family member’s permission history, qualifying time and application route using current GOV.UK guidance.
Global Talent settlement depends on the rules and the person’s full immigration history. This guide is an orientation, not legal advice, a route eligibility decision or a substitute for the current Home Office application instructions. If you are comparing post-study options, our separate HPI visa guide explains that HPI itself is not a settlement route; HPI time is not among the visa categories listed for the Global Talent settlement qualifying period.
Frequently asked questions
Is Global Talent settlement always available after three years?
Does an eligible prestigious prize give the three-year route?
Can I combine time on another visa with Global Talent time?
Do I need to earn a particular salary to qualify for Global Talent ILR?
Can unpaid work or overseas income meet the earnings requirement?
How many days can I spend outside the UK?
When does the English requirement change from B1 to B2?
Do I need to pass the Life in the UK Test as well?
Can my partner or child settle at the same time as me?
Can I apply before I complete three or five years?
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Global Talent settlement overview
- GOV.UK: Global Talent time and financial requirements
- GOV.UK: applying for Global Talent settlement
- GOV.UK: after applying for Global Talent settlement
- Home Office: Immigration Rules Appendix Global Talent
- Home Office: Immigration Rules Appendix Continuous Residence
- Home Office: Immigration Rules Appendix KOL UK
- Home Office: Global Talent caseworker guidance
- GOV.UK: sponsored-worker settlement overview
Sources and Immigration Rules were checked on 28 October 2026. Recheck the live rules, application instructions and fees before applying, especially near the 26 March 2027 English-language change.