For the last five years, the Global Talent visa was the crown jewel of UK immigration. It offered freedom from sponsorship, no salary thresholds, and a fast-track to settlement in just three years. It was the route for the "brightest and best"—tech founders, award-winning artists, and leading scientists. But in 2026, the exclusi

  For the last five years, the Global Talent visa was the crown jewel of UK immigration. It offered freedom from sponsorship, no salary thresholds, and a fast-track to settlement in just three years. It was the route for the "brightest and best"—tech founders, award-winning artists, and leading scientists. But in 2026, the exclusi

  For the last five years, the Global Talent visa was the crown jewel of UK immigration. It offered freedom from sponsorship, no salary thresholds, and a fast-track to settlement in just three years. It was the route for the "brightest and best"—tech founders, award-winning artists, and leading scientists. But in 2026, the exclusi

  For the last five years, the Global Talent visa was the crown jewel of UK immigration. It offered freedom from sponsorship, no salary thresholds, and a fast-track to settlement in just three years. It was the route for the "brightest and best"—tech founders, award-winning artists, and leading scientists. But in 2026, the exclusi

  If you scroll through TikTok or YouTube in search of immigration advice, you will inevitably find influencers promoting the "Secret Hack" of Skilled Worker Self Sponsorship. The pitch is seductive: "Register a limited company in the UK, make yourself the Director, sponsor yourself, and get a visa!" In 2026, this advice is not just misleadi