A Global Talent visa enables individuals who are leaders or have the potential to become leaders in academia or research, art and culture, or digital technology to work in the UK. Such individuals are highly competent.

In order to submit an application for a Global Talent visa, it is necessary to obtain an endorsement from an organisation that has been approved by the Home Office. Individuals who are employed in the fields of Film, Television, Animation, Post-Production, and Visual Effects may submit an application through PACT (Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television) provided that they meet the requirements.

Global Talent visas are recognised as being particularly useful for individuals working within the film and television industries. If you submit an application for a Skilled Worker visa, you will be contractually bound to a single employer and are restricted to working for other employers for a maximum of 20 hours per week. This is frequently too restrictive and rigid for a significant number of individuals employed in this fast-paced and dynamic industry.

You will be granted leave to remain in the UK for a limited period if you apply for a Creative Worker visa. The time spent on this route cannot be used to obtain indefinite leave to remain in the UK. The Global Talent visa offers exceptional flexibility, allowing you to engage in employment, self-employment, or periods of lack of activity. After three years on the route, you will be eligible for indefinite leave to remain. 

What is the endorsing body of the film and television global talent visa field?

The Producers' Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT) is the endorsing body for film and television, and it acts on behalf of Arts Council England. In practice, this involves that you will submit your application to the Home Office, which will subsequently transfer it to Arts Council England, which will subsequently delegate the decision-making process to PACT.

As PACT does not endorse exceptional promise applications, it may be difficult to secure an endorsement for film and television if you are in the early stages of your career.

How can I prove that I am a recognised leader?

Applicants who wish to be endorsed as a recognised leader in the fields of film, television, animation, post-production and/or visual effects must show evidence for one of the following:

• You have at any time won a “main award”; An Academy Award, A British Academy of Film and Television Arts(BAFTA) (Film Television, Craft, Cymru, Scotland and Games only) Award, A Golden Globe, or An Emmy Award.
• In the last ten years you have been nominated or made a significant contribution to winning or being nominated for any of the main awards;
• In the last 15 years, you have achieved a minimum of two nominations for the main awards.

Evidence of an award or nomination must show your name, the name of the production, the date and the award category. Common evidence includes:

• Pictures of the physical award clearly showing the applicant’s name, the name of the production, the date, award category;
• Scanned certificates of the official award from the awarding body;
• Emails from the awarding body confirming the nomination or award; 
• Official publications from the awarding body confirming the nomination or award.

I have not yet received a "Main Award" or been nominated for a prize. Can I still apply?

If you have achieved international distribution sales, media recognition, and a specific combination of awards from PACT's Notable Industry List, you can still obtain a Global Talent Visa Film and TV endorsement.

The following are compelling evidence of significant industry recognition:

• Box Office sales;
• Numerous distribution agreements from multiple territories;
• Numerous licence agreements with multiple media platforms;
• Multiple festival screenings at high-profile festivals in multiple territories; and/or
• Multiple interviews from high-profile media outlets in different territories.

You will also need to have achieved one of the following:

• At any time won a minimum of two notable industry recognition awards for at least two different productions;
• At any time won one, and, within the last six years before the date of application, have been nominated for one other notable industry recognition award for at least two different productions;
• Within the last six years before the date of the application, have been nominated for a minimum of three notable industry recognition awards for at least two different productions;
• Within the last three years before the date of application, made a significant and direct contribution to winning or being nominated for three notable industry recognition awards for at least two different productions. 

If the production is a film, the film must have been released theatrically. The list of notable industry recognition awards by PACT is constantly updated and if the award is not included in this list, the application will not be successful.

How can I show “Significant Contribution”?

If you have not been nominated, won, or received an award as an individual, you may be able to demonstrate that you made significant contributions to an award that was won by another individual or group with whom you worked together.

It is not necessary to provide a specific list of evidence to demonstrate a significant contribution; however, strong evidence may include the following:

• Letters from the recipients of the award or nomination, which detail your direct and significant contribution as a member of the group to the award or nomination. These letters will be completely different from the letters of recommendation, which will be discussed in the following section.
• Proof that you were acknowledged in a program or film that has been nominated or awarded. This can be verified using screenshots of the credit roll, credits on the nomination or award win.

What supporting documents are required by PACT?

To show that you meet the requirement you must provide supporting documents including evidence of award or significant contribution to the industry. Additionally, applicants also need to provide three letters of support. All documentation should be up to 10 pieces.

The letters of recommendation are recognised as the most challenging part of an endorsement application. The majority of the refusals are the result of deficiencies in the letters of recommendation. The letters of recommendation must be prepared with the specific objective of supporting the Global Talent endorsement application and must address all the necessary criteria.

A refusal will result from the submission of general reference letters or testimonials. Another challenge is the difficulty of seeking suitable letter writers. It is very important to become aware of with requirements and make a strategy in advance.

One of these three letters needs to be from an organisation based in the United Kingdom. This organisation needs to be well-established and should be acknowledged as being an expert in the film and television industry.

Another of these three letters needs to be from an organisation that is established internationally or nationally and is acknowledged as having expertise in the film and TV industry. This organisation can be UK-based or based abroad.

The final letter has to be from an organisation that is well-established internationally or nationally and is widely accepted as having expertise in the specialist field of the applicant. Alternatively, this letter could come from a prominent individual with internationally recognised expertise in the film and TV industry.

All of the above letters have to be from a senior member of the business or organisation who is familiar with the applicant’s work and can comment accurately on the applicant’s achievements. This person will need to be able to detail the applicant’s achievements in their specialist field and inform on how, in their perspective, the applicant has demonstrated expertise to be a leader in their field.

The letters must not exceed three pages. They must be typed out, not written by hand. If the letters are composed in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a complete translation from a certified translator.

The letter writer's full contact information, including a direct telephone number and personal email address, must be included in the correspondence. In order to demonstrate their experience and expertise in the film and television industry, all letter writers are required to include a CV or detailed biography. Links to LinkedIn accounts are not accepted.

The letter writer must be a senior member with the authority to write on behalf of the organisation, and it must include the organisation's logo, registered address, and signature and date. The letter must contain information regarding the organisation's establishment date and, if possible, the UK Companies House registration number. A hyperlink to the organisation's official website must be included in the correspondence.

How much time does Pact take to make an endorsement decision?

Typically, it can take between two and three weeks from the date that the application has been received by PACT from the Arts Council England to be reviewed and decided upon.

The decisions on applications may be delayed in some instances where an application does not contain all of the valid information, especially contact information that is necessary to verify the authors of the endorsement letters.

How to apply for the Global Talent Visa for Film and Television after a PACT Endorsement?

Applicants can apply for a Global Talent Visa before gaining endorsement; however, if the endorsement is not approved, the visa application will also be refused.

Once you have been endorsed by PACT, you will receive a letter of endorsement. After gaining the endorsement letter, applicants have three months to make their visa applications. This can be done in the UK or from overseas.

Those applying from outside of the UK can apply to gain ‘entry clearance’ at a visa appointment centre in their country of residence.

My application for the Film and TV Global Talent Endorsement is not successful: Is it possible to re-apply?

Within 28 calendar days of the rejection of your application for a film or television endorsement, you may request a review of the endorsement. Only in cases of exceptional circumstances may you submit a late request for an endorsement review.

Make sure you include all the facts you wish to rely on in the initial application because the review will not consider any additional evidence. A review will take into account whether the Home Office:

• Failed to properly pass on evidence submitted with the original application;
• Made a mistake in processing the application;
• Failed to pass on correctly the reasons for refusing the endorsement. 

The endorsing body will provide a decision within 28 calendar days of the endorsement review, which is free of charge. An unsuccessful endorsement review cannot be challenged again; the decision made at the endorsement review is final.

Our team will provide you with the best possible support to get the endorsement. For expert advice and assistance with a Film and TV Global Talent Visa application, contact us on 0203 865 6219 or leave a message.