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UK GLOBAL TALENT VISA: FASHION DESIGN
FASHION DESIGN GLOBAL TALENT VISA FOR RESIDENTS OF SWITZERLAND
The Global Talent visa is available for exceptional and promising Swiss (and non-Swiss) residents of Switzerland in the fashion design industry 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 British Fashion Council (BFC) on behalf of Arts Council England.
The BFC can endorse applications from Swiss resident individuals holding leading design roles in the fashion business. There is no limit on the number of applicants from Switzerland who can be endorsed in this sub-category of the Global Talent route.
Requirements for a Fashion Design Global Talent Visa from Switzerland
To qualify for a Global Talent visa in Fashion Design as a Swiss resident, you must satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:
Age: You are aged 18 or over.
Endorsement: You have an endorsement letter from the British Fashion Council (BFC) 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.
The exact requirements may vary based on individual circumstances. Consulting an immigration lawyer specialising in UK immigration law for personalised advice is recommended.
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 an enquiry form. |
Requirements for Endorsement by the British Fashion Council (BFC) for Swiss Residents
As a Swiss national (or non-Swiss national) residing in Switzerland, to qualify for BFC endorsement, you must:
Hold a leading design role in the fashion business.
Show regular professional engagement in the fashion design industry over the past 5 years.
Demonstrate professional engagement in producing outstanding work sold or exhibited internationally through catwalks or other exhibitions.
Provide evidence of a substantial track record in more than one country (Exceptional Talent) or a developing track record in one or more countries and recognition by leading industry players (Exceptional Promise).
Evidence Required for Endorsement by the British Fashion Council (BFC) for Residents of Switzerland
As a resident of Switzerland, your application must include three letters of recommendation from established organisations with nationally or internationally recognised expertise in fashion.
If you are applying for Exceptional Talent, at least one letter must be from a UK-based organisation.
Exceptional Talent Applicants in Fashion Design
For exceptional talent, applicants from Switzerland must provide at least two of the following:
Awards: Evidence of winning, significantly contributing to winning, or being nominated/shortlisted for an international award for excellence.
Media Recognition: Evidence from at least two countries (including your residence) of significant media recognition for your individual work.
Shows, Presentations, or Exhibitions: Evidence of internationally significant catwalk shows, presentations, or exhibitions.
Distribution and Sales: Evidence of extensive distribution and sales of your collections via internationally renowned retailers, your own retail outlet, or e-commerce platform.
Exceptional Promise Applicants in Fashion Design
For exceptional promise, applicants from Switzerland must provide at least two of the following:
Media Recognition: At least two examples of recent UK or international media recognition for your individual work.
Support and Sponsorship: Evidence of support and sponsorship through schemes like the British Fashion Council support schemes, Fashion East support scheme, The Sarabande Foundation, The Centre of Fashion Enterprise, or an international counterpart of the British Fashion Council.
Orders: Evidence of at least one order placed by a luxury retailer or boutique.
Industry Recognition: Evidence of recognition by leading industry players for an exceptional graduating collection.
BFC Fashion Design Endorsement Application Decision Times
The BFC typically takes about four weeks to make a decision on a fashion design endorsement application submitted from Switzerland.
Global Talent Visa Application Following Endorsement
Once endorsed by the BFC, citizens of Switzerland (and citizens of other countries) residing in Switzerland 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 outside the UK.
The Home Office will assess your character and immigration history to ensure compliance with general grounds for refusal. There is no maintenance or English language requirement for this visa category. Leave is granted for up to five years in full-year periods, influencing the Immigration Health Surcharge amount.
Global Talent Fashion Design Prestigious Prizes Route
Winning a qualifying prestigious award allows Swiss resident applicants 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 UK immigration lawyers have extensive experience assisting fashion industry professionals with successful BFC endorsement applications and UK work visas. We provide our Swiss clients with expert guidance through complex Home Office rules and policies, ensuring clear and reliable advice as part of a professional and friendly service.
For expert assistance with your UK Global Talent visa application, contact our UK immigration lawyers in Switzerland on +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 from Switzerland
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 from Switzerland
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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