UK Waives Visa Fees to Attract Top Global Tech Talent
A report on Monday indicated that the UK government is considering enhancing efforts to attract global talent by potentially waiving visa fees to facilitate the relocation of the world’s leading science and tech professionals to the country. The Global Talent Taskforce, supported by a 54-million-pound Global Talent Fund introduced earlier this year, is intensifying efforts to attract international experts, including Indians, as the US implements restrictions on its H-1B visas utilized by global tech professionals.
The taskforce, reporting directly to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, operates within 10 Downing Street and the UK Treasury to investigate methods for enhancing the UK’s economic growth. “We’re considering the possibility of reducing (visa) costs to zero, the newspaper quoted a government official as saying. We’re discussing individuals who have been educated at the world’s leading five universities or have received esteemed awards,” official statement. Bharat Forge, a leading engineering firm, has expanded its revenue sources by venturing into new non-automotive segments and markets. This strategic shift has led to a decrease in the share of the automotive business, which fell to 58 percent in the financial year 2024 from 80 percent in FY07. I Bharat Forge has entered into an agreement with the UK’s Windracers to implement cargo UAVs in India. President Donald Trump’s order imposing a $100,000 one-off application fee on all new H-1B visa applications came into force on Sunday. The visa is predominantly utilized by American tech giants, with a significant number of Indians among the top recipients.
The UK has implemented a Global Talent Visa system, frequently regarded as overly bureaucratic, prompting Starmer to establish his taskforce in June. The committee is led by Varun Chandra, the business adviser to the UK Prime Minister, alongside Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance. “The launch of the Taskforce and 54-million-pound Global Talent Fund, which will attract world-class researchers and their teams to the UK, covering relocation and research costs over five years starting this year, sends a clear signal to exceptional talent and businesses that the UK seeks to continue its global leadership in growth-driving sectors,” the UK’s Department for Science said in a statement. Since its launch, the taskforce has been dedicated to assisting researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, top-tier managerial and engineering talent, as well as high-calibre creatives, in relocating and collaborating with the UK’s international presence to network and establish a pipeline of talent eager to come to Britain, DSIT stated. “Competition for elite global talent is high, and by establishing this taskforce we are solidifying our position as the first choice for the world’s brightest sparks, as well as turbocharging innovation in medicines and inventions of the future, boosting British business and putting money in working people’s pockets,” said Jonathan Reynolds.
The British government has emphasized that the initiative is in accordance with its Immigration White Paper, aiming to expedite the entry of the brightest and best talent into the UK’s high-growth and strategic industries, all while reducing overall migration figures. In a press conference held in London on Monday, the far-right anti-immigration party Reform UK announced its commitment to abolish the route to indefinite leave to remain, or permanent residency, should they gain power in a future general election. “We are firmly of the belief, with research backing it up, that just over 50 per cent of those who are coming up as part of the ‘Boriswave’ as part of indefinite leave to remain are not working, have not worked and in all probability will never, ever work,” said Reform UK chief Nigel Farage, blaming former Tory prime minister Boris Johnson for a spike in legal migrant numbers.
He stated that his party would establish a “much tougher route to citizenship”, substituting the existing five-year ILR route with a five-year renewable work visa, supported by a “materially higher” salary threshold. Downing Street characterized the announcement as unrealistic, unworkable, and lacking funding. A spokesperson stated, “They (Reform UK) don’t want to tackle the issues facing the country; they want to foster division.”
