UK Immigration White Paper Series - Part 8: Global Talent, Innovator Founder and Expansion Worker visas
On 12 May 2025, the Home Office published its White Paper on immigration reform, outlining measures aimed at significantly reducing net migration. Through the doom and gloom of the proposed restrictions on periods of stay and eligibility criteria, the government is looking to broaden its horizons in some less frequently accessed visa routes. The Home Office’s ‘Investor, Business Development and Talent’ visa category is potentially changing for the better, showing signs of expansion to allow the highest calibre of individuals easier access to the UK.
Investor, Business Development and Talent: Global Talent Route
The Global Talent visa recognises the leaders of academic industries (Sciences, Engineering and Research) as well as creative fields (Architecture, Fashion and Film). Successful applicants benefit from a high level of flexibility, with no sponsorship requirement, and freedom to work across multiple sectors. In addition, time spent outside the UK for work purposes does not impact the continuous residence requirement for settlement.
Recent changes introduced by the Statement of Changes in March 2024 (effective from 9 April) have already streamlined the application process. Applicants are now encouraged to submit a CV outlining key career achievements, along with three letters of endorsement from recognised organisations.
The government now aims to simplify the route further for prospective applicants. Recognition will be expanded to include professionals in biological and environmental sciences, as well as those working in Artificial Intelligence and related fields, broadening the range of global talent eligible to contribute to the UK economy and research landscape.
Innovator Founder Route
While the Global Talent visa focusses on the leaders of existing industries, the Innovator Founder visa is designed for those with the ambition to build something new. This route enables entrepreneurs to establish ventures in the UK that meet the government’s criteria of being innovative, viable, and scalable.
The Innovator Founder visa is also to under review, with the ultimate objective of increasing its use and effectiveness. A key proposal includes easing the transition from student visas to the Innovator Founder visa - particularly for top graduates from UK universities - allowing them to put their ideas into practice shortly after completing their studies.
Expansion Worker Route
The Expansion Worker visa, introduced as a successor to the Sole Representative of an Overseas Business route, is also to be reformed. The government is doubling the number of workers that can be transferred from overseas to start up and support UK branches, from five to now ten candidates.
This change is intended to make the UK more attractive to international businesses looking to expand into the market, while also creating future employment opportunities for the domestic workforce following successful integration.
Who Will This Impact?
In the year ending September 2023, 4,046 Global Talent visas were granted. By comparison, only 520 Innovator Founder visas were issued in the second half of that year, following its launch in April 2023. Even if extrapolated across a full year, uptake of this route would be considerably lower.
The Expansion Worker route saw even more limited use, with only 17 approvals in its first six months following its introduction in February 2022.
Widening access to these routes will allow the UK to lead global markets in the research and performance brought by the global talent visa, as well as the inventive ideas brought to fruition from the innovator founder applicants.
In an increasingly uncertain global trade environment, there is clear value in nurturing and retaining foreign-born talent to support the domestic economy. Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly from international graduates and business founders, appears to be an emerging priority under the Labour government’s vision for immigration reform.
Final Thoughts
We remain cautiously optimistic that proposed changes to the Investor, Business Development and Talent category will deliver improved access and broader eligibility, particularly in contrast to the restrictive measures affecting other immigration routes.
It remains to be seen whether the planned extension of stay in the UK before becoming eligible for settlement for other routes, such as the Skilled Worker route, will encroach on this category of visas. If the UK is to remain competitive on the global stage, the Home Office must ensure not only that it attracts top-tier talent, but also that it retains it, by facilitating a clear and efficient pathway to long-term residence.
How We Can Help
If you have any questions stemming from this article or the white paper in general, do not hesitate to contact Mandeep Khroud at Irwin Mitchell.
Further Insights About The White Paper
Irwin Mitchell's Immigration team is producing a series of articles which examine key proposals within the White Paper. All these can be accessed via the following link.
