UK Visa and Immigration, Home office announced that the Tier 1 exceptional talent visa has been been extended to Fashion Designers. Previously this category was exclusive to candidates with exceptional talent or exceptional promise in humanities, engineering, medicine, digital technology or the arts. As part of Britain’s plans to attract top foreign talent, Tier 1 exceptional talent visa availability has doubled since last year to 2000 a year.
To qualify for a Tier 1 exceptional talent visa applicants must be from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland. Candidates must demonstrate that they have the potential or have already made ground breaking contributions to their field of expertise.
The Home office statement said “Applications made by fashion designers will be assessed by the British Fashion Council under the endorsement remit of the Arts Council England. A wider pool of TV and film applicants could enjoy the same opportunities as well, through the same route.
The expansion of the Tier 1 exceptional talent visa route coincides with the introduction of a new UK startup visa, which is set to be unveiled by the Home Office in Spring 2019 together with other significant changes to UK immigration legislation.