Switching to GTV - is endorsement enough to apply for ILR?

Hello ILR experts,

A friend of mine has an urgent query - I advised to sign up for the forum but as it may take a while for their account to be approved they asked me to post it in the meantime if anyone is able to respond. Thanks in advance.

"I have submitted my Global Talent visa endorsement and I am going to submit my visa application also with visa fees/IHS payment also, since my visa expires soon in mid-april so I am submitting both of them together. I have already spent 4 years and 3 months in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa and now I am switching to a Global Talent visa. Now looking at Global talent rules, I see I might be eligible for ILR after 3 years (since the endorsement will come from the Royal Society).
I heard a suggestion that I might be directly eligible for ILR so I should enquire from the Home Office if I can directly do the ILR process without doing the Stage 2 visa application. However, since my visa might expire soon and the visa fees are also rising from tomorrow (9th of April), I will do the Stage 2 process soon but does anyone know that if there is a provision or an example where one can do the ILR process directly after endorsement proving one has lived in the UK for the required amount of time already? Although I feel that just the endorsement won't be enough, I would need to have the Global Talent visa stamp also before doing the ILR process. I thought of checking with the forum if someone has any idea about these things, when one is switching from one visa to another then how does the ILR process work?"

There is no such provision under the rules. The paragraph GT 8.3 requires someone to have been granted leave under the GTV route to even qualify for ILR under this route. They also need to demonstrate that they remain endorsed and have earned money in the UK in their respective field:

Endorsement requirement for settlement by a person on the Global Talent route
GT 10.1. If the applicant was granted their initial application using an endorsement, the endorsement must not have been withdrawn by the endorsing body.

GT 10.2. The applicant must have earned money in the UK during their last period of permission in the field in either:
(a) a field related to the subject matter of their prize if they were granted for their initial application using a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes; or
(b) the field in which they were previously endorsed in the Global Talent route if they were granted their initial application using an endorsement.

The rules: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration ... lent-route

Many thanks, that is what I also thought.
Two more questions:

-If one switches from Tier 2 to GTV, does that reset the ILR clock?

-Once the GTV is granted, if one already has 3 years of residence in the UK, id=s it possible to apply for ILR already?

1- No

2- Yes, however the applicant needs to demonstrate earnings in the expert field (under the GTV) - as per the rules above.

How many earnings/how long should one demonstrate expertise under the GTV route?

One payslip would cover the earnings requirement.

lolo2 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 08, 2025 4:00 pm

One payslip would cover the earnings requirement.

There are no specific requirements mentioned under the rules at all. UKVI may ask for more evidence if deemed necessary

I forgot to add that a payslip is only "an example" of this.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... pplication

Thank you. One more question: if the applicant works but not in the field that was endorsed under GTV, can they still apply for ILR under the 5 year route? (They have 4.25 years on tier 2 and are in the process of changing career)

contorted_svy wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 08, 2025 8:59 pm

Thank you. One more question: if the applicant works but not in the field that was endorsed under GTV, can they still apply for ILR under the 5 year route? (They have 4.25 years on tier 2 and are in the process of changing career)

I think the GT 10.2 above makes this clear