Why is there a second stage after endorsement?
The endorsement confirms your talent, but it is not the visa itself. Tech Nation, as the endorsing body, assesses whether you meet the Digital Technology criteria at Stage 1; the Home Office then grants the actual immigration permission at Stage 2. They are two separate decisions and two separate payments: the £561 endorsement fee, and later the £205 visa fee. Being endorsed does not put you in the UK on its own — you must complete the visa application to receive your permission to stay.
How long do you have to apply for the visa?
You should make your Stage 2 visa application within three months of receiving your endorsement decision. The endorsement does not last indefinitely, so this is the one deadline to hold in mind once the good news arrives. If you applied for the endorsement and the visa at the same time — which is permitted — the visa stage follows on automatically once the endorsement is granted. Always confirm the current timing on GOV.UK before you rely on it.
What does the visa stage cost after endorsement?
The Stage 2 visa fee is £205, paid after the £561 endorsement, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge at usually £1,035 per year for each person applying. For a single applicant taking the full five-year grant, that is roughly £5,941 all-in once the surcharge is included. You may choose a shorter grant and pay proportionally less surcharge up front. Each dependant who joins you pays their own £766 application fee plus their own surcharge, so family totals rise well above the headline figure. Government fees are paid directly to the Home Office and are never marked up by us.
When can you settle after the visa is granted?
You can apply for indefinite leave to remain after 3 years if you were endorsed as a leader — the Exceptional Talent track — and after 5 years if you were endorsed as a potential leader, which is the Exceptional Promise track. The track stated in your endorsement decision therefore sets your settlement horizon; the immediate next step, the £205 visa application, is identical for both. This is the practical difference between the two tracks once you are through the door, and it is worth knowing which one you hold. Verify the current settlement rules on GOV.UK, as the qualifying periods can change.
How does the £200 Fit Assessment help with your next steps?
The £200 Fit Assessment tells you, before you spend anything at the Home Office, whether your evidence points to the Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise track — which is exactly what decides your 3-year or 5-year settlement clock. It is a scored report out of 20 with a route recommendation, a component-by-component breakdown, a ten-document evidence plan and a 45-minute review call to walk you through it. Getting the track right at the outset means the "what happens next" question is answered before you begin, not discovered after a decision you cannot change. The £200 is credited in full against any package you go on to take within 14 days.
Know your track before you reach the visa stage
A £200 Fit Assessment scores your case and tells you whether you are on the 3-year or 5-year path — credited to any package within 14 days.
Frequently asked questions
After endorsement you make the visa application itself — Stage 2 — which costs £205 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of usually £1,035 per year. You should apply within three months of your endorsement decision. Once granted, you can apply to settle after 3 years on the Exceptional Talent track or 5 years on the Exceptional Promise track. Figures verified against GOV.UK on 6 July 2026.
You should make your Stage 2 visa application within three months of your endorsement decision. The endorsement is the qualifying step; the visa is a separate application to the Home Office with its own £205 fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Verify current timing on GOV.UK before applying.
The Stage 2 visa fee is £205, paid after your £561 endorsement, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge at usually £1,035 per year for each person applying. A single applicant on a five-year grant pays roughly £5,941 all-in. You may choose a shorter grant and pay proportionally less surcharge up front. Verify all fees on GOV.UK.
You can apply for indefinite leave to remain after 3 years if you were endorsed as a leader (Exceptional Talent) and after 5 years if you were endorsed as a potential leader (Exceptional Promise). The endorsement track you receive therefore sets your settlement timeline. Verify current settlement rules on GOV.UK.
The immediate next step — the £205 visa application within three months — is the same for both tracks. The difference is the settlement horizon: 3 years for Exceptional Talent and 5 years for Exceptional Promise. Which track you were endorsed under is stated in your endorsement decision.
Related reading: Talent vs Promise, processing time, full cost breakdown, switching from Skilled Worker and refused? your 28-day window. See also our endorsement criteria and who qualifies guides, and the pain points hub.
Last updated: 6 July 2026. All figures verified against GOV.UK on 6 July 2026.