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UK GLOBAL TALENT VISA: ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE GLOBAL TALENT VISA FOR RESIDENTS OF SWITZERLAND
The Global Talent visa is available for exceptional and promising Swiss (and non-Swiss) architects resident in Switzerland who wish to work in the UK. Applicants from Switzerland must be recognised leaders or have the potential to become leaders, as determined by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on behalf of Arts Council England.
There is no limit on the number of applicants from Switzerland who can be endorsed in the Architecture sub-category of the Global Talent route.
Requirements for an Architecture Global Talent Visa for Swiss Residents
To qualify for a Global Talent visa in Architecture from Switzerland, you must satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:
Age: You are 18 or older.
Endorsement: You have an endorsement letter from RIBA or have won a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes.
Grounds for Refusal: Your application does not fall under the general grounds for refusal.
Specific requirements may vary based on your circumstances. Consulting an immigration lawyer for tailored advice is advisable.
To discuss your UK Global Talent Visa application with one of our UK immigration lawyers in Switzerland, call us on +41 21 588 07 70 or complete our online enquiry form. |
Requirements for Endorsement by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for Swiss Residents
As a resident of Switzerland, to qualify for endorsement by RIBA, you must be professionally engaged as an architect producing work of outstanding quality that has been published, presented, or exhibited internationally.
Exceptional Talent: You must have been regularly engaged as a professional architect in the last 5 years and demonstrate a substantial track record in at least 2 countries.
Exceptional Promise: You must show a developing track record in at least 1 country.
Evidence Required for Endorsement by RIBA
When applying from Switzerland, your application for RIBA endorsement must include three letters of recommendation:
1. First Letter: From a UK-based organisation well-established nationally or internationally with recognised expertise in architecture.
2. Second Letter: From an organisation (UK-based or international) well-established and acknowledged as an expert in architecture.
3. Third Letter: From another well-established organisation or an eminent individual with recognised expertise in your field (UK-based or international).
These letters should come from senior members familiar with your work, detailing your achievements and potential leadership in the field.
Exceptional Talent Applicants in Architecture
For exceptional talent, applicants from Switzerland must provide at least two of the following:
Awards: Evidence of winning or contributing to winning an international award for excellence.
Media Recognition: Evidence from at least 2 countries (including your residence) of significant media recognition for your work.
Publications or Exhibitions: Evidence from at least 2 countries of internationally significant publications or exhibitions.
Exceptional Promise Applicants in Architecture
For exceptional promise, applicants from Switzerland must provide at least two of the following:
Awards: Evidence of winning, contributing to winning, or being nominated/shortlisted for an international award for excellence in the last 5 years.
Media Recognition: Evidence from at least 1 country of recent media recognition for your work.
Publications or Exhibitions: Evidence from at least 1 country of internationally significant publications or exhibitions in the last 5 years.
RIBA Endorsement Application Decision Times
RIBA usually takes about 4 weeks to decide on an architecture endorsement application.
Global Talent Visa Application Following Endorsement
Once endorsed by RIBA, Swiss nationals (and non-Swiss nationals) have three months to apply for a UK Global Talent visa. You can switch into this route from within the UK, unless you currently hold or were last granted permission as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a Private Household, or outside the Immigration Rules. In such cases, you must apply from your home country or another location outside the UK.
Character and Immigration History: The Home Office will assess your character and immigration history to ensure you do not fall under the general grounds for refusal.
No Maintenance or English Language Requirement: This visa category does not require proof of maintenance funds or English language proficiency.
Leave Duration: Leave is granted for up to five years in full-year periods, affecting the Immigration Health Surcharge amount.
Global Talent Architecture Prestigious Prizes Route
Winning a qualifying prestigious award allows applicants from Switzerland to fast-track the endorsement application and proceed directly to a single visa application. The list of prestigious prizes is detailed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes and is updated periodically.
How Our UK Immigration Lawyers in Switzerland Can Help
Through the Swiss office of our UK immigration law firm, we are delighted to offer a comprehensive range of UK immigration legal services to Swiss citizens (and non-Swiss citizens) residing in Switzerland.
Our UK visa and immigration services for Swiss nationals (and non-Swiss nationals) residing in Switzerland encompass expert guidance on all UK visa routes for Swiss residents, along with a fully-managed UK visa application preparation service tailored for Swiss citizens (and non-Swiss citizens) in Switzerland.
Our immigration barristers have extensive experience assisting architects with successful RIBA endorsement applications and UK work visas. We provide expert guidance through complex Home Office rules and policies.
We are committed to being approachable and proactive, offering clear and reliable immigration advice to our clients in Switzerland as part of a professional and friendly service.
For expert assistance with your Global Talent visa application from Switzerland, contact our UK immigration lawyers at +41 21 588 07 70 or complete our enquiry form.
WE CAN ALSO ASSIST WITH
Applications for extension of stay for Global Talent visa holders for Swiss Citizens and non-Swiss Citizens
In order to qualify for an extension of stay on the Global Talent route you will need to have earned money in the UK during your last grant of leave.
These earnings will need to have been linked to the field which led to your initial Global Talent endorsement (if your initial application was granted using an endorsement) or a field related to the subject matter of your prize (if your initial application was granted using a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes).
You will need to provide evidence from an independent source that is verifiable by the Home Office.
If your initial application was granted using an endorsement you must also not have had your endorsement withdrawn by the endorsing body and the endorsing body must continue to be approved by the Home Office.
The Home Office will also check your character and immigration history to check that you do not fall for refusal under the general grounds.
Applications for settlement for Global Talent visa holders for Swiss Nationals and non-Swiss Nationals
If you continue to satisfy the requirements for an extension of stay set out above and demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English language and life in the UK then you will be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after spending a continuous period of 3 years in the UK if:
You were endorsed by the Royal Society, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or UKRI; or
You were endorsed under the exceptional talent criteria by Arts Council England or Tech Nation; or
You were granted your initial application using a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes.
If you were last endorsed under the “exceptional promise” criteria for Arts Council England or Tech Nation you will need to spend a continuous period of 5 years in the UK before being eligible to apply for settlement.
The relevant continuous period can include time spent in the following immigration categories: Global Talent, Innovator, Tier 1 (excluding Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)), Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, T2 Sportsperson, Scale-up or Representative of an Overseas Business.
In order to qualify for indefinite leave to remain in the Global Talent category you will need to have spent not more than 180 days outside the UK during any rolling 12 month during the continuous period of leave relied upon.
Global Talent migrants who hold leave following an endorsement by one of the endorsing bodies for science, engineering, humanities and medicine and who have undertaken research overseas directly related to their grant of leave, will not have such absences counted when they apply for settlement. Partners of Global Talent migrants will be treated in the same way.
Fresh applications, Endorsement reviews, Administrative reviews and Judicial reviews for Global Talent migrants
If your application for entry clearance, leave to remain or settlement as a Global Talent migrant has been refused, our immigration barristers can advise on the merits of making a fresh application or challenging the decision.
If you believe that an error has been made in a decision on your endorsement, we can assist you in applying for an endorsement review.
If the decision-maker failed to apply the Immigration Rules or Home Office policy correctly, we can bring Administrative Review proceedings to challenge the decision.
If the decision to refuse your application was unlawful, unreasonable or procedurally improper, our immigration barristers can apply for Judicial Review and provide representation at Judicial Review hearings.
WHAT CAN WE HELP YOU WITH?
To arrange a consultation meeting, call our UK immigration lawyers in Switzerland on +41 21 588 0770 or fill out the form below.
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