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UK GLOBAL TALENT VISA: FILM AND TELEVISION
FILM AND TELEVISION GLOBAL TALENT VISA FOR RESIDENTS OF SWITZERLAND
The Global Talent visa offers an opportunity for exceptional Swiss (and non-Swiss) residents of Switzerland in the film and television sectors to work in the UK. Applicants from Switzerland must demonstrate leadership in their field, as determined by the Producers' Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT) on behalf of Arts Council England.
PACT can endorse applications from Swiss resident professionals in the film, television, animation, post-production, and visual effects industries. There is no cap on the number of endorsements for Swiss residents in this sub-category of the Global Talent route.
Note: PACT endorses only 'exceptional talent' applications and does not consider 'exceptional promise' applications.
Requirements for a Film and Television Global Talent Visa for Swiss Residents
To qualify for a Global Talent visa in the Film and Television field from Switzerland, you must:
Age: Be aged 18 or over.
Endorsement: Have an endorsement letter from PACT or have won a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes.
Grounds for Refusal: Ensure your application does not fall under the general grounds for refusal.
Specific requirements may vary, so consulting a UK immigration lawyer in Switzerland for tailored advice is recommended.
To discuss your UK Global Talent Visa application in Switzerland, contact our UK immigration lawyers in Switzerland on +41 21 588 07 70 or complete our enquiry form. |
Requirements for Endorsement by PACT
To receive an endorsement from PACT, Swiss nationals (and non-Swiss nationals) must meet one of the following criteria:
1. Award Wins: You have won an Academy Award, BAFTA (Film, Television, Television Crafts, Cymru, Scotland, Games awards only), Golden Globe, or Emmy Award.
2. Recent Nominations: Within the last 10 years, you have been nominated for, or made a significant contribution to winning or being nominated for an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, or Emmy Award.
3. Multiple Nominations: Within the last 15 years, you have achieved at least two nominations for an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, or Emmy Award.
4. Notable Industry Recognition: You have notable industry recognition, demonstrated through international distribution sales, media recognition, and a specified combination of awards from PACT's Notable Industry List.
Important: When relying on the notable industry recognition criteria, you must also show that your work has achieved international distribution sales and media recognition.
Evidence Required for Endorsement by PACT
Applicants from Switzerland must include three letters of recommendation:
1. First Letter: From a UK-based organisation, institution, or company well-established nationally and/or internationally with recognised expertise in the film and television industry.
2. Second Letter: From an organisation, institution, or company, either UK-based or international, with recognised expertise in the film and television industry.
3. Third Letter: From an additional organisation, institution, or company (UK or international) with recognised expertise in your specialist field, or from an eminent individual with internationally recognised expertise in the film and television industry.
These letters should be from senior members familiar with your work, detailing your achievements and demonstrating your leadership in the field.
PACT Endorsement Application Decision Times
PACT typically takes between six and eight weeks to make a decision on an endorsement application.
Global Talent Visa Application Following Endorsement
After receiving your PACT endorsement, residents of Switzerland have three months to apply for a Global Talent visa to enter or remain in the UK. You can switch into the Global Talent route from within the UK, provided you do not currently have, or were not last granted, permission to stay as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a private household, or outside the Immigration Rules.
If you hold or were last granted leave in one of the above categories, you must leave the UK and submit your application from your home country.
Additional Notes:
Character and Immigration History: The Home Office will assess your character and immigration history to ensure your application does not fall under the general grounds for refusal.
No Maintenance or English Language Requirement: The Global Talent visa does not require proof of maintenance funds or English language proficiency.
Leave Duration: Leave is granted for up to five years, and the period requested will affect the Immigration Health Surcharge amount.
Settlement Eligibility: Endorsed as ‘exceptionally talented,’ you may be eligible to settle after three years, subject to residence requirements.
Global Talent Film and Television Prestigious Prizes Route
Winning a qualifying prestigious award allows you to fast-track the endorsement application, proceeding directly to a single visa application. The list of prestigious prizes is set out in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes and is periodically updated.
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 Swiss professionals in the film and television sectors with successful PACT endorsement applications and UK work visas. We offer expert guidance through complex Home Office rules and policies.
We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice as part of a professional and friendly service.
For assistance with your UK Global Talent visa application from Switzerland, 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 Swiss National and non-Swiss National Global Talent visa holders
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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