DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY GLOBAL TALENT VISA FOR RESIDENTS OF SWITZERLAND

The UK Global Talent visa is available to exceptional and promising Swiss (and non-Swiss) residents of Switzerland with technical or business skills in the digital technology sector who wish to work in the UK. Applicants from Switzerland must be recognised leaders or have the potential to become leaders, as determined by Tech Nation.

There is no limit on the number of applicants from Switzerland who can be endorsed in the Digital Technology sub-category of the Global Talent route.

Requirements for a Digital Technology Global Talent Visa for Swiss Residents

To qualify for a Global Talent visa in Digital Technology from Switzerland, you must satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• Age: You are aged 18 or over.

• Endorsement: You have an endorsement letter from Tech Nation or have won a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes.

• Grounds for Refusal: Your application does not fall under the general grounds for refusal.

The exact requirements may vary based on individual circumstances. Consulting an immigration lawyer specialising in UK immigration law for personalised advice is recommended.

Requirements for Endorsement by Tech Nation for Swiss Residents

As a Swiss (or non-Swiss) resident of Switzerland, to qualify for Tech Nation endorsement in Digital Technology, you must be either:

• A technical applicant demonstrating expertise in building, using, deploying, or exploiting a technology stack and building technical infrastructure.

• A business applicant demonstrating expertise in commercial, investment, or product development in digital technology businesses.

Technical applicants can include DevOps/SysOps engineers, software engineers/developers, data scientists, cybersecurity professionals, CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and academics in AI, NLP, machine learning, and cybersecurity.

Business applicants can include senior sales experts, product managers, and C-suite executives (CEOs, CMOs, CROs).

Evidence Required for Endorsement by Tech Nation for Residents of Switzerland

Swiss Citizens (and non-Swiss Citizens) residing in Switzerland must include the following with their endorsement application:

• A CV detailing your career and publication history.

• Three letters of recommendation from different well-established organisations acknowledged as experts in digital technology, familiar with your work over at least 12 months.

The recommendation letters must describe your relationship with the author, your achievements, and your potential contribution to the UK digital economy.

Exceptional Talent Applicants in Digital Technology from Switzerland

For exceptional talent, applicants from Switzerland must provide evidence of at least two of the following within the last five years:

• A proven track record of innovation as a founder or senior executive of a digital technology company, or as an employee working on a new digital concept.

• Recognition for contributions beyond your occupation that advance the field.

• Significant technical, commercial, or entrepreneurial contributions as a founder, senior executive, board member, or employee of a product-led digital technology company.

• Exceptional ability demonstrated through academic research endorsed by an expert.

Exceptional Promise Applicants in Digital Technology from Switzerland

For exceptional promise, applicants from Switzerland must provide evidence of at least two of the following within the last five years, indicating potential to become a leading talent:

• Innovation as a founder or employee of a digital technology company working on a new concept.

• Recognition for contributions beyond your occupation that advance the field.

• Significant technical, commercial, or entrepreneurial contributions as a founder or employee of a product-led digital technology company.

• Exceptional ability demonstrated through academic research endorsed by an expert.

You must also provide evidence of any commercially successful businesses, share ownership, or businesses dissolved in the last five years where you were a founder or senior executive.

Tech Nation Endorsement Application Decision Times

Tech Nation typically takes about four weeks to make a decision on a digital technology endorsement application submitted from Switzerland.

Global Talent Visa Application Following Endorsement

Once endorsed by Tech Nation, applicants from Switzerland have three months to apply for a UK Global Talent visa. You can switch to this route from within the UK unless you currently hold or were last granted permission as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a Private Household, or outside the Immigration Rules. In such cases, you must apply from outside the UK.

The Home Office will assess your character and immigration history to ensure compliance with general grounds for refusal. There is no maintenance or English language requirement for this visa category. Leave is granted for up to five years in full-year periods, influencing the Immigration Health Surcharge amount.

Global Talent Digital Technology Prestigious Prizes Route

Winning a qualifying prestigious award allows residents of Switzerland to fast-track the endorsement application and proceed directly to a single visa application. The list of prestigious prizes is detailed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes and is updated periodically.

How Our UK Immigration Lawyers in Switzerland Can Help

Through the Swiss office of our UK immigration law firm, we are delighted to offer a comprehensive range of UK immigration legal services to Swiss citizens (and non-Swiss citizens) residing in Switzerland.

Our UK visa and immigration services for Swiss nationals (and non-Swiss nationals) residing in Switzerland encompass expert guidance on all UK visa routes for Swiss residents, along with a fully-managed UK visa application preparation service tailored for Swiss citizens (and non-Swiss citizens) in Switzerland.

Our immigration barristers have extensive experience assisting digital technology professionals with successful Tech Nation endorsement applications and UK work visas. We provide expert guidance through complex Home Office rules and policies, ensuring clear and reliable advice as part of a professional and friendly service.

For expert assistance with your Global Talent visa application, contact our immigration lawyers on +41 21 588 07 70 or complete our enquiry form.