Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that the U.K. is preparing to launch a new "Tech Visa" to bring the best global talent to the U.K. This is the launch of the first major post-Brexit visa route that looks to balance the potential loss of skills from EU tech hubs like Amsterdam, Stockholm and Barcelona. Sunak has said:
"We must now build on our global reputation for fostering innovative startups and ensure firms can access the talent, finance and support they need to scale up here in the U.K."
The full details of the visa requirements are yet to be released; however, it is expected to be similar to the current Global Talent visa, where applicants need to show they are a leading talent in the technology sector or have the potential to become a leading talent.
The new Tech Visa will also look further and attract a wider range of tech talent, especially within the fintech sector. Further, the Tech Visa is aimed at entrepreneurs who may not be technically skilled, but who can commercially scale up tech firms and grow business in the U.K. The government has also promised that this new route will be a "fast track" visa that will not require employer sponsorship in order to speed up the process.
Once the full requirements have been announced, we will provide a further update. If you are considering relocating to the U.K., our Immigration lawyers, who have years of experience helping tech clients apply for U.K. visas, can assist.
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