Five-year UK tech visa for EU citizens launched by Tech Nation

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With the Brexit transition period nearing completion, Tech Nation has announced a five-year visa for EU citizens set to launch in January 2021. The Tech Nation Global Talent Visa, which replaced the Exceptional Talent visa launched in 2014, will be opened to top talent from the EU and offered for up to five years.

 

The five-year term will represent one of the longest working visas on offer in Europe and will also allow holders to bring their families to the UK. Since its launch in 2014, the so-called Tech Nation Visa has welcomed more than 3,000 foreign nationals into the UK, including:

  • Designers

  • Entrepreneurs

  • Investors

  • Strategists 

  • Software Engineers and more

 

Two pathways into the UK

The Tech Nation Visa will offer EU citizens two pathways into the UK – one for people that are already established in their field and others who are just starting out in their careers. Visa approval is not conditional on an individual being tied to a particular employer, giving EU citizens the flexibility to switch between job roles or even start their own company.

Ahead of the Tech Nation Visa being opened up to EU citizens, the business management consultancy firm will be hosting an online event on 19 November to explain the visa, while also sharing its findings from their recent Tech Nation Visa Report.

 

Tech Nation Visa testimonials

Since its launch, the Tech Nation Visa has helped thousands of migrants relocate to the UK for work, helping them to advance their careers or start a new business. Testimonials published by Sifted highlight some of the many foreign nationals that the scheme has helped.

Ogechi Onuoha, a Nigerian national, is a software and machine learning engineer who currently works at the University of Glasgow. 

Ogechi was granted a Tech Nation Visa in 2017. Commending the immigration program, she said: “If you’re thinking of applying for the Tech Nation Visa, I would say go for it! The visa unlocks your capacity to do more and removes the restrictions and limitations you would have under other UK visa schemes.”

Meanwhile, Melisa Lenero, a translational designer, entrepreneur and business strategist from Mexico, told Sifted that the Tech Nation Visa alumni offered ‘great guidance.’ 

She said: “If you’re thinking of applying for the Tech Nation Visa, I would say don’t hesitate — do it. The journey is going to be challenging, though; from understanding the nuances of language and tricky immigration definitions, to the process itself. But you won’t be alone, there are around 1,500+ endorsements already given.”

Carlos Samame from Peru, who received a Tech Nation Visa in 2019, told Sifted that the ‘Tech Nation Visa is one of the best visa schemes that exists in the UK’.

He said: “The government has many initiatives to keep the UK at the forefront of innovation. So, if you’re thinking about it, don’t hesitate in applying, it’s one of the best communities I have been part of.”

 

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