🇬🇧 TLDR; Global Talent Visa -- Tech Nation route

If you already know the basics of the UK Global Talent Visa, this article is for you. I’ll share a quick and practical way to figure out whether the Tech Nation route is right for you. This is based entirely on my personal experience.

My goal here is to demystify the process and give you a clear idea of what to expect, without repeating what’s already on the official pages.

• The benefits of this visa (especially compared to the Skilled Worker visa)
• The application process (Stage 1 and Stage 2) or where to apply
• Any other Global Talent Visa routes, not the Academic, Arts and Culture, or Awards ones

This post is only about the Tech Nation route.

Start here: https://technation.io/global-talent-visa/. Then click READ THE GUIDANCE. It currently redirects to this Notion guide, though it may change, so always begin from the main link.

1. Treat this guide as the only source of truth. If it’s not there, it’s not necessarily reliable.
2. Always read the most recent changelogs. At the time of writing, the most important one is from 22 January 2025. The 4 August 2025 update mainly concerns the visa application process itself.

Check out the community at https://discourse.tnvisaforum.org/. You can find useful topics there.

Here’s how I suggest using it:

1. Read real cases, especially those that were rejected, to understand the feedback they received from the Tech Nation assessors and pitfalls.
2. Learn from others’ experiences to educate yourself about the process.
3. Ask questions if you’re confused. This helps both you and future applicants.

See the “Document Checklist” section in the Tech Nation guidance for the official version. This is just my short version.

• Directly answer the questions in the guidance. Even if you’re already living in the UK, don’t skip any. Make sure you clearly answer each one.
• It’s one of the first things assessors read. Treat it as your application’s summary.

• Prepare this last, once your pieces of evidence and story are clear.
• This is not your usual job CV. It should highlight your achievements relevant to the visa.
• Include what doesn’t fit elsewhere in your application, but still strengthens your case.

• Get them from the most senior people in your network, such as CEOs, CTOs, founders, etc.
• Draft a version that ticks all the requirements listed in the Tech Nation guidance.
• Each referee should confirm they’ve known and worked closely with you for over 12 months.
• Follow the correct signing format. Check examples on the Tech Nation forum, like this example, and don’t risk your case by taking this lightly.

You can submit up to 10 pieces of evidence, and you must provide at least 6 in total.

• At least 2 for the mandatory criterion
• Select only 2 (out of 4) optional criteria and provide at least 2 pieces of evidence per criterion

In other words, the minimum is 6 pieces of evidence. That is usually not enough for a strong case.

Note: Everything should be within the last 5 years. Evidence older than that is generally not considered valid, so focus on your most recent and relevant achievements.

👉 My personal recommendation: Plan for around 10 pieces of evidence in total. For example:

• 4 pieces of evidence for your Mandatory Criterion
• 3 pieces of evidence for each of your two chosen Optional Criteria

This structure gives assessors a more rounded and convincing view of your achievements while staying within the official limit of 10.

Yes! This one is simple to explain. You just need to show one thing:

• Recognition as a Leading Talent in Digital Technology

Examples of this can be found in the Tech Nation guidance here.

Select ONLY 2 of these, then provide at least 2 pieces of evidence for each.

• OC1: Innovation, building or leading something genuinely new
• OC2: Volunteering, mentorship, public speaking, or other contributions outside your main role
• OC3: Impact, measurable achievements or outcomes
• OC4: Academic research, relevant published or peer-reviewed work

Check this evidence checklist spreadsheet for clarity: 👉 Tech Nation Visa Checklist (Google Sheets)

It’s an excellent way to map your pieces of evidence and see what fits where.

1. Collect everything. Make a bulk document with anything remotely relevant from the last 5 years. You’ll build your case from that.
2. Focus on yourself. This visa is about you, not your company. Replace “we” and “our team” with “I” and “me.”
3. Tell a consistent story. Your Personal Statement, CV, Recommendation Letters, and pieces of evidence should reinforce the same narrative.
4. Design your pieces of evidence well. Clarity matters. Combine text, images, and data neatly. Use the “Evidence Description” column in the checklist spreadsheet to make each piece self-explanatory.

In short: Start from the official Tech Nation page. Read the full guidance, learn from real cases, and tell a strong, consistent story that makes your impact clear.

That’s how you make this visa route work for you, confidently and cleanly.