High-skilled individuals are drawn to the UK immigration route through the Global Talent Visa programme. The specialised immigration path for the visa program, which was introduced in February 2020, is intended to draw talent to the United Kingdom. 

Foreign nationals who are leaders or potential leaders in academics, research, the arts, or digital technology are eligible for a Global Talent visa to work in the UK.

Tech Nation has been the only endorsing body in the field of digital technology for the Global Talent visa for the technology sector. Since the introduction of the visa, Tech Nation has given more than 3,000 endorsements, with more than half of the supported candidates entering the UK.

Tech Nation Announced Closure

A nonprofit organisation called Tech Nation which was founded in 2010, has assisted some of the greatest names in UK technology. Through the Global Talent visa endorsement process, the group has also been crucial in bringing thousands of brilliant employees to the UK.

Tech Nation, which spent a decade reshaping the UK's tech industry, was shut down on March 31, 2023, as a result of the UK government's withdrawal of grant support.

The UK government also declared that it would be giving Barclays Bank the 12 million GBP in grant money that Tech Nation had gotten from them. The investment, as per the Barclays Bank, will be used to assist in developing new initiatives to boost tech entrepreneurs and not to assist with the visa approval for Global Talent Visa.

After the decision, Tech Nation acknowledged that it would not be financially feasible to carry on with its operations without the main government grant money. As a result, it closed its doors at the end of March.

What's Next

Since Barclays will not be handing over the visa approval process from Tech Nation despite it being the new beneficiary of the grant funding, the Global Talent visa for people applying in the digital technology industry is now in doubt for the foreseeable future.

Now, the question remains, what happens next? The possibility of closing a visa as successful as the Global Talent Visa is hard to comprehend, but history has been filled with such decisions.

The Home Office had been notified by Tech Nation that the company plans to close on March 31, 2023. In the interim, the Global Talent visa programme for the digital technology industry will operate as usual. 

After much pressure from the entrepreneurs, the Home Office identified the digital technology sector, but there is currently no new endorsing body for it. As per the most recent update, Tech Nation will keep on accepting new Global Talent endorsement applications until a new endorsing organisation is established.

Thus, you can still begin a new application or continue one you've already begun on the Tech Nation website until the new endorsement body is functional.

Conclusion

The future of the Global Talent visa programme is uncertain as a result of Tech Nation's shutdown, leaving those working in the digital technology sector in limbo. To ensure a seamless continuation of the visa program, the UK government must find a new endorsing body right away.

FAQS

What caused Tech Nation to stop operating?

Tech Nation was reliant on grant financing from the UK government, which was instead given to Barclays Bank.

Will there still be a Global Talent Visa available?

Although it is presently unclear who will take over the endorsement procedure for persons in the field of digital technology, the Global Talent visa will still be accessible.