Global Talent and Exceptional Talent Dependant Visa: Partner and Child Requirements

The Global Talent route permits the partners and children of a qualified migrant to apply for a dependent visa that leads to residence and, eventually, settlement in the UK.

How to apply

1. Submit the appropriate Dependent Partner or Dependent Child online form before travelling to the UK.
2. Pay the application fee (£766 at the time of writing).
3. Pay the Immigration Health Charge (IHC):
   • £1,035 per year for adult dependants
   • £766 per year for child dependants (under 18)
4. Complete the identity verification step.
5. If you have lived in a country listed in Appendix TB for more than six months immediately before the application, provide a medical certificate confirming you have been screened for active pulmonary tuberculosis and are free of the disease.

There is no criminal‑record certificate and no financial requirement for dependants on this route.

Partner requirements

• Age: 18 years or older on the date of application.
• Relationship to the main applicant:
  • Must be the partner of a person who already holds, or is being granted, permission under the Global Talent route.
  • If the main applicant is already settled or a British citizen, the partner may apply only if the applicant held Global Talent permission at the time of settlement and the partner held permission then.
• Evidence of relationship:
  • If married or in a civil partnership – provide a marriage or civil partnership certificate recognised in the country where it was issued.
  • If unmarried – demonstrate a relationship “similar to marriage” lasting at least two years, plus proof that the relationship is genuine, subsisting, and that the partners have met in person.
• Other conditions:
  • No prohibited degree of relationship (i.e., you must be allowed to marry under UK law).
  • Any previous marriage, civil partnership, or durable relationship must have permanently ended.
  • In polygamous or polyandrous situations, only one partner may seek permission if no other partner is applying for UK residence.

Child requirements

• Age: Under 18 on the date of application, unless previously granted as a dependant child.
• Independence: Must not be leading an independent life.
• Parentage: Must be the child of a person who holds or is being granted Global Talent permission. If the parent is already settled or a British citizen, the child may apply only if the parent held Global Talent permission at the time of settlement and the child was a dependant then, or the child was born after that grant.
• Other parent: Generally, the other parent must also be applying or already in the UK with permission (exceptions apply for sole surviving parent, sole responsibility, or compelling humanitarian reasons).
• Evidence: Full birth certificate, adoption certificate, or court order. For UK‑born children, a UK birth certificate showing both parents’ names is required.
• Care arrangements: Suitable care and accommodation must be in place, complying with UK legislation.

Note: If the Global Talent migrant has already become settled or naturalised and the dependant never held permission as a dependant, the application must be made under Appendix FM (Partner or Family Visa), not under the Global Talent route.

Switching to a dependent visa from inside the UK

• You may switch to a Global Talent dependant while in the UK, using the same form as the main applicant if you apply simultaneously, or the separate Dependent Partner/Child form otherwise.
• You must not be currently in any of the excluded categories (Visitor, Short‑term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker, or “Outside the Immigration Rules”).
• Overstaying a previous visa by more than 14 days, or being on immigration bail, may prevent the switch and should be discussed with a solicitor.
• No TB certificate is required when applying from within the UK.

Visa duration

• Limited leave: If the main applicant has limited leave, the dependant’s permission ends on the same date.
• Settlement: If the main applicant has been granted settlement (or is being granted it), the dependant receives three years of permission.
• For children, the permission ends on the earlier of the parents’ permission dates, unless both parents have settlement or British citizenship, in which case the child also receives three years.

Conditions of stay

• No recourse to public funds.
• Work: Allowed to work, including self‑employment and voluntary work, except as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.
• Study: Permitted to study; certain courses may require an ATAS certificate.

Refusal and review

If the application is refused, the applicant may seek an administrative review of the decision (there is no right of appeal). Legal advice is recommended to assess the grounds for review.

Frequently asked questions (summary)

• Who can apply? Partners or children of a person with current or pending Global Talent permission, subject to the partner/child criteria above.
• Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) dependants? Yes – they can still apply under the Global Talent route.
• Financial requirement? None for dependants.
• Relationship proof for partners? Age, marriage/civil partnership certificate or two‑year durable relationship, plus evidence of a genuine, subsisting partnership.
• Can a child apply if only one parent is coming? Usually the other parent must also be applying or already in the UK, with limited exceptions (sole surviving parent, sole responsibility, or compelling reasons).
• Can dependants work? Yes, with the exception of professional sportsperson or sports coach roles.
• What if the application is refused? An administrative review can be requested; there is no appeal route.

Source article: immigrationbarrister.co.uk