My UK Global Talent Visa Story

[Edited, April 2025]

Before You Proceed…

This blog post has already helped several people successfully get their UK Global Talent visas, but Tech Nation recently updated their requirements (as of January 22nd, 2025)—after this guide was originally written.

Since this guide was last updated in 2024, and I DO NOT PLAN TO UPDATE IT further. As such, some of the information may now be outdated or no longer applicable.

But here’s the good news…

I’ve put together a brand-new, up-to-date guide based on what’s working right now in 2025—the exact strategies and documents that helped my brother and 10 others get endorsed in the last 3 months.

1. How to get your UK Global Talent Visa (under Tech Nation) yourself.
2. What the updated application process looks like.
3. All the documents I submitted for my own successful application.
4. Real examples of MC, OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4 evidence docs, recommendation letters, CVs, and personal statements.
5. How to structure your own documents, letters, and statement for maximum impact.
6. How you could build your case from the ground up (yes, it is possible in 6-12 months and even less!).
7. How to Raise Money for Your Global Talent Visa Application.
8. Access to an exclusive support group for applicants  and Global Talent Visa recipients. 

Click the link below to access the updated 2025 Global Talent Visa Guide:

Picture from LifeMathMoney on X

A personal Guide To Obtaining A UK Global Talent Visa Through Tech Nation As A Non-Tech Applicant

I am writing this article to guide anyone interested in obtaining a UK Global Talent Visa as a business applicant.

Below are examples of skills business applicants can apply for.

I applied as a sales solution expert.

(This is a long read, but trust me you will find it interesting and thank me later)

Background Story

I am Abiodun Ayobami, a Digital Marketer with over 6 years of experience in the FinTech industry. I co-founded Finxpire Digital Network LTD, a top leading affiliate marketing platform in Nigeria. With expertise in sales strategy, digital marketing, and data analytics, I’ve played a key role in driving growth and securing partnerships for top FinTech companies. I’m passionate about mentorship and leadership, having directly impacted over 5,000 young people globally through various initiatives. As the President of the Abiodun Ayobami Foundation, I’m committed to empowering youth, women, and children through education.

I arrived in the UK on September 10, 2023 on a student visa. In December 2023, I first learned about the UK Global Talent Visa, and one of my top goals for 2024 was to transition from a student visa (Tier 4) to a Global Talent Visa (Tier 1). By God’s grace, I received my endorsement just one day after graduating from university.

What is the UK Global Talent Visa?

The UK Global Talent visa is an immigration route that allows talented and promising individuals to work in the UK’s digital technology sector without requiring a job offer or sponsorship.

Key Benefits

Visa Duration & Settlement

Family Benefits

Additional Advantages

As a Global Talent, you cannot:

Eligibility Criteria

Must demonstrate either:

1. Exceptional Talent – proven to be a leader in the digital technology field with over 5 years of experience in the tech industry.
2. Exceptional Promise – proven potential to become a leader in the digital technology field with a maximum of 5 years experience in the tech industry.

The two categories are quite similar, but they differ in their criteria for endorsement and the time required to qualify for UK permanent residence (ILR). Applicants under the Exceptional Promise category must live and work in the UK for 5 years before becoming eligible for ILR, whereas those under the Exceptional Talent category can qualify after just 3 years in the UK.To read more about eligibility for either Exceptional Promise or Exceptional Talent, visit the official website.

Application Process

1. Stage 1: Apply for endorsement
2. Stage 2: Apply for visa after endorsement
3. Endorsement decision is typically within 8 weeks.
4. Visa decision is usually within 3 weeks.

Stage 1 – Applying for endorsement

This is the first step in the application process,  You need to apply to an approved endorsing body. I applied under digital technology under Tech Nation. There are other route availiable – Arts & Culture and Academia or Research. The registration for this stage cost  £524

During this stage, you will complete the online application form. The key documents needed are your international passport and, optionally, a valid national ID card.

Afterward, you’ll make a non-refundable payment of £524 as the application fee and upload your documents to Tech Nation within the specified time frame.

What are the requirements for getting an endorsement?

Aside from the eligibility criteria already explained above, you need to fulfil the:

Mandatory Criteria: Show that you have been recognised as a leading/potential in talent in the digital technology sector in the last 5 years.

You also need to provide pieces of evidence of any two of the following Optional criteria

Optional Criteria 1 – Innovation as a founder of a product-led digital technology company or as an employee working on a new digital field or concept.

Optional Criteria 2 – A proof of recognition for work beyond your occupation that contributes to the advancement of the field.

Optional Criteria 3 – You have made significant technical, commercial or entrepreneurial contributions to the field as a founder or employee of a product-led digital technology company.

Optional Criteria 4 – You have demonstrated exceptional ability in the field by academic contributions through research endorsed by an expert. ( I submitted evidences on OC2 and OC3)

For each of these criteria above, you need to submit a minimum of 2 pieces of evidence (documents), alongside the following:

1. Three recommendation letters from well-established individuals recognized as experts in the digital technology field. These individuals should have detailed knowledge of your work over a period of 12 months or more. The letters must be signed via DocuSign, and each should include the recommender’s CV.
2. Personal statement (not exceeding 1000 words). This statement should connect all the evidence you’ve provided in your application, including the recommendation letters. It’s recommended to write this statement last, after gathering all your supporting documents.
3. Your CV

Here is the list of documents I Submitted:

1. Personal Statement

This a summary of all the evidence I had put together. I told the story of my journey into the tech industry.

Outline of my Personal Statement:

• Born into a lowerclass family in a remote part of Nigeria
• Developed a passion for solving problems through curiosity about how things worked.
• Sponsored my university education independently, driven by a desire to uplift my family and community.

• First university graduate in my family.
• Graduated as the second-best student in Mathematics Education at the University of Ilorin.
• Earned an MSc in Mathematics Education with Distinction (University of Ibadan).
• Completed an MSc in Digital Marketing with Data Analytics with Distinction (Coventry University).

• Transitioned to FinTech as a Sales Strategist, applying problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Key roles and achievements:

• At Company A, grew the user base by 40% and introduced solutions for SMEs, boosting transaction volumes by 25%.
• At Company B, secured 20+ partnerships and pioneered a tuition payment plan module.
• At Company C, secured major FinTech partnerships, leading to a promotion to Lead Sales Solution Strategist.

• Co-founded Finxpire Digital Network, growing to 100,000+ users across Africa in 18 months.
• Recognized with awards such as the Nelson Mandela Leadership Award and ECOWAS Youth Ambassador, reflecting contributions to youth empowerment and innovation.

• The UK’s thriving FinTech ecosystem and culture of innovation.
• Opportunities to collaborate with leading professionals and companies.

• The visa’s focus on innovation aligns with my goals.
• Plans to drive growth and innovation in the UK FinTech sector through strategic sales planning and data-driven projects.

• Aspiration to live and work in London, the hub of the UK’s FinTech industry.
• Interest in leveraging London’s multicultural environment and professional growth opportunities.

Note that this essay must not exceed 1,000 words. I wrote this last after collating all my evidences.

2. C V

This was my standard CV, showcasing my skills, professional experience, and volunteer work.

(Not more than 3 pages)

3. Three Recommendation Letters

I got 3 recommendation letters from:

1. CEO and Co-Founder of a SAAS Company
2. CEO of a Fintech Company ( Crossborder payment)
3. Co-founder of a Fintech Company

My letters were written ‍according to tech nation guide and followed a similar outline to this:

• A brief introduction by the author
• How the author and I met and have worked together
• Some achievements the author noticed and comments about my character and work ethic
• Why the author considers me exceptional; and
• What the author thinks about my prospects in the UK and possible contributions to the UK digital economy

A few things to note:

• You might need to jog the memory of whoever is writing the letter to ensure that some key details are not missed.
• Feel free to share information about the visa guide. I shared the recommendation letter section of the document checklist and this guide to help each person write their letter too.
• To prove that each document didn’t originate from you, it needs to be signed digitally. In my case, I requested for each letter to be signed with Docusign

Each recommendation letter had a page length of between 5-8 pages. This consisted of the letter’s body (less than 3 pages), the certificate from Docusign proving that I didn’t write it, and the PDF document of their LinkedIn page (instead of a CV). I merged these documents using iLovePDF

4. Evidence Documents

I submitted a total of 10 evidence documents to support my application.

Mandatory Criteria

How do I demonstrate that I have been recognised as (or recognised as having the potential to be) a leading talent in the digital technology sector in the last 5 years?

I submitted 4 documents to fulfill this criterion. Since it is a mandatory requirement, I didn’t want to take any chances. Even though the minimum number of documents is 2

Below is a description of the documents I provided to meet the Mandatory Criteria:

I included documentation demonstrating my role as the Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Finxpire Digital Network. This evidence showcased the commercial success and innovation of our company. The document contained:

• Company Value Proposition: An explanation of the unique value our company offers.
• Company Overview: A summary of our mission, vision, and key objectives.
• Company Details: This include links to all social media channels and our registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
• Team Information: A link to our staff page highlighting the expertise of our team members.
• Media Coverage: Links and references to media publications featuring our company.
• Growth Metrics Dashboard: Visual and quantitative data showcasing our growth, such as the number of users we’ve acquired and revenue generated over time.

For this document, I provided evidence of my high earnings to support my application. The submission included:

• Pay Slips: Three months’ worth of salary slips to demonstrate consistent and substantial income.
• Industry Comparison: A comparison of my salary against industry standards using screenshots from platforms such as Glassdoor and Payscale, illustrating that my earnings were above average for marketers in my role in Nigeria.
• Equity Ownership: Documentation of my shareholding in the company.

To demonstrate my professional achievements and recognition, I included the following:

• I highlighted the significance of the award by mentioning notable public figures and tech icons who had previously received the same honor.
• Links to the award’s official website and a newspaper publication that featured my recognition were also included for credibility.

• Proof of my membership in the Chartered Institute of Marketers (UK), the highest professional body for marketers.
• Evidence of my membership in the Chartered Management Institute, further showcasing my qualifications and standing in the field.

To highlight my significant commercial contributions to Finxpire Digital Network, I included a detailed reference letter from my Co-founder, who also serves as the CEO of our company.

This letter:

• Validated My Contributions: Detailed my specific role and impact as the Chief Marketing Officer, emphasizing how my efforts have driven the company’s growth and success. This was in the same format as the recommendation letters explained above.

Optional Criteria

For the optional criteria, I chose to provide evidence for optional criteria 2 and 3. (Remember, you need to select any 2 criteria from the optional category and present a minimum of 2 pieces of evidence for each of them).

Optional Criteria 2: How do I demonstrate that I have been recognised for my work outside of my immediate occupation that contributed to the advancement of the sector?

(Recognition outside work)

To meet the criterion of recognition for contributions beyond my professional role, I submitted 2 evidences here, which are:

1. Evidence of Speaking Engagements

I was invited as a speaker at this summit, organized by Akin Alabi, to share insights on digital advocacy and marketing. My submission included:

• Visual Proof: Photographs taken while I was speaking and engaging with the audience, as well as a two-minute video of my presentation.
• Event Impact: Testimonials and reviews from attendees posted on social media, demonstrating the positive reception of my talk.
• Notable Context: I highlighted other prominent speakers at the event to showcase the caliber of the summit and its participants.

I actively participated in the London Tech Show 2024, recognized as one of the UK’s premier technology events.

• Names of notable participants to validate the event’s importance.
• Pictures taken during the event and my social media posts about my experience.
• A copy of the invitation email and the official website link for the event.

2. Publications

To showcase my thought leadership and expertise in Marketing, I included my 10 published articles, which have collectively garnered over 100,000 views across various reputable tech blogs on topics such as marketing, AI, fintech, and technological advancements in Nigeria and Africa.

• Titles: A complete list of the article titles.
• Links: Direct links to each article for verification.
• Metrics: Corresponding view counts for each article to demonstrate their reach and impact.

Optional Criteria 3: How do I demonstrate that I have made a significant technical, commercial or entrepreneurial contributions to the field as a founder, senior executive, board member or employee of a product-led digital technology company?

Commercial contribution (As a business Applicant)

I shared 4 pieces of evidence in this category, they are:

I included comprehensive documentation that illustrates my upward trajectory and the financial rewards associated with my achievements. These documents include:

• Employment Contract: Proof of my initial terms of employment, establishing a baseline for my professional journey.
• Substantial Salary Increase: Documentation reflecting significant growth in my remuneration, correlating with my contributions and expertise.
• Letter of Promotion: A formal letter confirming my promotion from Sales Strategist to Lead Sales Solution Strategist, underscoring my advancement within the company.
• Staff of the Year Award: A certificate recognizing my outstanding performance and contributions to the organization.

To establish my track record of driving growth in a product-led company, I submitted detailed evidence highlighting my role and measurable contributions to the company’s success.

• Company Introduction: A brief overview of the company I worked for, including its mission, vision, and core value proposition.
• Company Details: Evidence of the company’s legitimacy, including registration details, social media links, and other relevant information.
• My Contributions: A detailed explanation of my role and specific actions that contributed to the company’s growth.

• Focused on my impact in areas such as increasing user acquisition and driving revenue growth.

• Growth Metrics Dashboard: A visual representation of key performance indicators, including:

• User Metrics: Data showing an increase in the number of users.
• Revenue Metrics: Evidence of revenue growth achieved during my tenure.

• Media Recognition: Links to publications and articles about the company featured on various tech blogs, further validating its reputation and success.

To further substantiate my contributions to the company’s growth and success, I included a reference letter from the Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

• Validation of Contributions: The CTO outlined my specific role as Chief Marketing Officer and detailed how my efforts directly influenced the company’s growth in areas such as user acquisition, revenue generation, and brand visibility.
• Format: The letter followed the structured format of the recommendation letters required for the UK Global Talent Visa, ensuring clarity and compliance with the application guidelines.

To demonstrate my academic achievements and their relevance to my professional success, I submitted evidence highlighting my distinction in Digital Marketing with Data Analytics and my ongoing academic contributions.

• Academic Transcript: Proof of graduating with distinction, showcasing my exceptional performance in the course.
• Course Details: A brief overview of the program, including key skills and knowledge areas I gained, such as advanced data analytics, strategic marketing techniques, and digital innovation.
• PhD Research Proposal: A copy of my research proposal, reflecting my dedication to contributing to academic and practical advancements in the field.
• Dissertation: A summary and full copy of my dissertation, which demonstrated my ability to conduct high-level research and address real-world challenges in digital marketing.
• Recommendation Letter: A formal letter of endorsement from my course director, a distinguished professor, emphasizing my academic performance, commitment to excellence, and potential for further contributions to the industry.

P.S: Each applicant’s application is unique, so there’s no need to arrange your documents exactly as I did or to submit all the same documents I mentioned above. From my experience, no two people have had identical document formats. Focus on tailoring your application to your individual achievements and evidence

A few things to note about these documents:

• Create an evidence list when you start, this will help guide you while updating the documents. I created a folder on google drive with subfolders to arrange my documents.

Here is the link to the evidence checklist, which you can use as a guide to organize your evidence effectively. This resource can help ensure that your documentation aligns with the requirements and strengthens your application.

After that, I progressed to the next stage.

Stage 2

In this stage, you will need to complete another online application form, whether you are applying from inside or outside the UK. The form may require you to provide similar details as those entered in Stage 1. If this is your first application, be sure to select ‘Initial application.

’You will be required to pay the visa fee, which is £192. Additionally, you must pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. This costs £1,035 per year for each applicant. For a 5-year visa, the total healthcare surcharge amounts to £5,175 (£1,035 × 5). While it’s not mandatory to pay for all 5 years upfront, it is strongly recommended by those who have successfully obtained the visa.

If you are traveling with dependents, each dependent must pay £716, covering both the endorsement fee and the visa fee, along with the healthcare surcharge of £1,035 per year per dependent.Once the payments are made, the next step is to book an appointment for biometrics.

Since I applied from within the UK, I only needed to upload my passport data page and endorsement email for the biometric process. However, applicants outside the UK are also required to upload a Tuberculosis test certificate in addition to these documents.

I have an upcoming book, “Japa Like A Boss: Your Ultimate Guide to Migrating on a Global Talent Visa”, launching soon! This comprehensive guide will provide exclusive access to my personal guidiance on securing a Global Talent Visa. Want to be among the first to know when it’s available? Join the waitlist by dropping your email HERE! To check your eligibility for endorsement, you can take this UK GLOBAL TALENT SCORING TEST BY KOSMO

If you would like to not go through this whole process alone and get the help of a paid professional to guide you through, reach out to KOSMO. I have seen their work and believe they’re a great fit to guide you through. Do mention that you’re from ABIODUN AYOBAMI for a 5% discount in their service.

Helpful Resources

1. The Official Guide

2. The Tech Nation Visa Alumni Forum is an open platform where UK Global Talent Visa (GTV) applicants can ask questions and receive guidance from alumni or fellow applicants. It’s a highly active and supportive community, and I highly recommend it to any applicant. Beyond asking your own questions, you can search for relevant keywords to find discussions on similar topics. Most importantly, the forum provides insights into the types of evidence others in your field are submitting, offering valuable guidance for your application.

A screenshot of the UK Tech Nation Visa Alumni forum

3. Adeola Adeyemo’s Story, Oyinlola Akindele’s Story, Amarachi Johnson’s Story.

4. Tolulope Ogunjuyigbe’s Transcript, Ayotunde’s Transcript, and Steve Frankie’s Transcript

5. Youtube Videos: Pece Itimi, Light Bella, Raheemat Atata, and Dr Yemz

My Advice for You:

1. Thoroughly read the Tech Nation guide. I dedicate at least 30 minutes daily to studying the guidelines. It may feel overwhelming at first, but over time, it becomes much clearer.

2. Don’t Rush the Process: Take your time to gather all the necessary evidence. My friend Abimbola, for instance, spent up to a year working on his evidence. It’s tempting to compile your application quickly and submit it to meet a personal deadline, but based on my observations from reading rejection cases and appeals, your first submission should be your absolute best. Ensure you don’t omit any critical information—find a way to incorporate it into your 10 pieces of evidence.

3. Make sure your evidences is properly compiled and ensure each piece of evidence has a clear, descriptive title to provide proper context alongside the the criteria it is satisfying and make your submission more professional and organized. You can make use of Canva (A4 size) or Figma to compile your evidence. These tools allow you to easily adjust text, images, and margins, offering far more flexibility than Word documents.

For example, a good title should look like this:

Mandatory Criteria: Evidence of High Salary and Bonuses

(Name the documents the same way)

4. Avoid lengthy narratives in your evidence—remember, it’s called “evidence” for a reason. Use visuals like pictures, screenshots, and impact data to tell your story effectively. Ensure your evidence directly connects to you and your contributions. For example, if you include a chart showcasing a company’s growth, also provide proof of your direct role in achieving that growth.

5. Build a unique story that captivates the assessor. Avoid stating the obvious, such as “The UK has the best technology, which is why I want to come and start my business”—they already know this. Instead, focus on how you will add value beyond what the UK already offers. Take your time to think carefully and put in the effort to craft a compelling and meaningful narrative.

6. If possible, get reference letters to support your claims for each criteria. As shown in my evidence above, having the founder, CEO, or CTO vouch for your contributions and impact can make a significant difference. These endorsements add credibility and strengthen your application.

7. Be generous with links and include them to external resources as a secondary option. For example, if you need to share additional materials such as videos, photos, publications, GitHub repositories, email screenshots, chat logs, Slack messages, social media posts, blog post screenshots, or newspaper clippings, include the relevant links. While they might not check every link, having them available can strengthen your case and provide extra evidence of your work and impact. Try to include as much as you can in the 3 pages limit and favor clear images (screenshots).

8. Make sure to include a DocuSign certificate and your recommender’s CV (or their LinkedIn profile, Wikipedia page, etc.) with your recommendation and reference letters. This adds credibility and authenticity to your endorsements. Also ensure the recommendation content is not more than 3 pages.

9. Ensure that your personal statement is consistent and coherent with the rest of your application. It’s best to write it last, once you’ve gathered and organized all your other documents. This way, you can ensure your statement ties everything together seamlessly.

10. It’s strongly advised not to forge any evidence, as doing so is not only wrong but can significantly harm your chances of success. If you feel you don’t have all the necessary requirements right now, take the time to gather them properly. Falsifying documents for your application can severely impact your future chances of moving to the UK if discovered, so it’s crucial to be honest and patient in the process.

11. Don’t hesitate to reach out to other talents on social media for guidance. It’s a great way to gain insights and advice from those who’ve been through the process. Additionally, having a second set of eyes to proofread your CV, recommendation letters, and personal statement is invaluable. If possible, try to have a Global Talent visa holder review your documents, as their experience can provide crucial feedback.

12. Let your evidence scream exceptionalism! Provide context that highlights your excellence, demonstrating how only someone highly gifted could achieve what you have. Without this, you risk being seen as a capable individual rather than an exceptional one. Be sure to back up your claims with authentic evidence, such as independent news coverage, recognized awards, or product profiles across reputable platforms. This will solidify your exceptional status and make your application stand out.

A big shoutout to everyone who was helpful throughout my application process: Mr. Jarehmeel, Abimbola, Ayotunde, Oyin Akindele, Raymond, Deolaj, and all the other talents whose resources and support were invaluable to me during this journey. May God bless you all.

Once you’ve gathered all your evidence and are ready for submission, feel free to reach out to me for a review of your documents. I’ll be happy to help, free of charge. You can contact me at info@abiodunayobami.com. Manifesting UK Global Talent endorsement for everyone who read this article.

Wishing you the best in your application! Got questions? Ask in the comment section, please.

I BELIEVE IN YOU!
YOU ARE INCREDIBLE, AND YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME A UK GLOBAL TALENT.
GO AHEAD AND MAKE IT HAPPEN—YOU’VE GOT THIS!