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The Scope of the Global Talent Visa Has Been Expanded: The Design Industry Has Been Added

The Scope of the Global Talent Visa Has Been Expanded: The Design Industry Has Been Added

July 3, 2026

As of 1 July 2026, an important update has been introduced to the UK Global Talent Visa route. Individuals working in certain areas of design may now apply for endorsement under the Global Talent Visa route, provided that they meet the relevant requirements.

This change offers a significant opportunity, particularly for design professionals working in the creative industries.

Which Design Areas Are Covered?

Under the new arrangement, the Design Business Association (DBA) will assess endorsement applications made in the following design disciplines.

According to the specialist guidance issued by the DBA, an application may be assessed where the evidence submitted by the applicant demonstrates that they are currently working, or have previously worked, on a full-time basis within a commercial design practice in one or more of the following areas:

Graphic Design
Brand Design
Motion Graphics – excluding work in film and television
Product Design
Industrial Design
Furniture Design
Commercial Interior Design – excluding residential interior design
Service Design – excluding the design of digital services
Policy Design
Design Futures
Strategic Design
Systemic Design

Ineligible Applications

The DBA’s remit depends both on the design disciplines it covers and on the applicant’s main area of work. The fact that an applicant has merely been involved in a project falling within the DBA’s area of assessment does not, by itself, mean that the application is eligible.

In other words, the applicant’s principal design discipline is the key criterion in determining the correct endorsing body.

Areas Outside the Scope and Determining the Correct Endorsing Body

Importantly, the design areas listed below are not assessed by the DBA. Applicants working in these areas must apply to the relevant alternative endorsing body.

For example, digital product development and technology-focused UX/UI work will generally be assessed under the Digital Technology route, whereas work primarily focused on graphic design and visual communication may be assessed by the DBA.

Area	Correct Endorsing Body
UX/UI and digital design	Tech Nation
Design and craft within a visual arts context	Arts Council England (Visual Arts)
Urban Design	RIBA
Architecture	RIBA or Arts Council England
Games and VFX design	PACT

How Are Borderline Applications Assessed?

In some professions, it may not be immediately clear which endorsing body has the authority to assess the application.

For this reason, the applicant’s principal area of work will be taken into account when determining which body should assess the application. In such cases, the final assessment will be made by considering the nature of the applicant’s work, their portfolio, and the design discipline in which they are active.

Practical Considerations for Applicants

To date, many applicants whose work did not clearly fall within one specific category have experienced uncertainty as to which endorsing body they should apply to. For this reason, it is very important to identify the correct endorsing body before submitting an application.

Although these changes create important opportunities for individuals working in the design sector, careful consideration must be given to whether the application meets the criteria of the correct endorsing body.

Source: Arts Council England – Global Talent Visa – Design: Supported Disciplines v1.0 | July 2026