The United Kingdom has initiated the process to attract additional foreign talent with the launch of a review of the immigration system’s talent routes.
Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, Professor Brian Bell, said the outcome will build on the gains of existing routes, including the Global Talent Visa and Skilled Worker.
In a memo published on Friday, Bell informed Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood that attracting talent “is a key priority” as set out in the Immigration White Paper and the Chancellor’s commitments at Davos 2026.
The chairman said his team will assess how well the immigration system allows the highly skilled to enter the UK, through both routes specifically aimed at talented individuals.
Other focal areas include what brilliant migrants do when in the UK, their economic and wider value, and Policy Design—what constitutes global talent and the endorsement body model.
The Committee will also evaluate how talent routes interact with each other and other immigration routes. An independent analysis and evidence-based advice will be presented upon completion of work.
Bell urged the Home Secretary to ensure the cooperation of the government and requested the Home Office to swiftly provide the necessary data required for the study.
“We intend to complete our review in the winter of this year,” he noted. “This timescale is intended to allow time for sufficient stakeholder engagement to inform any conclusions.
In October 2025, China rolled out the new ‘K visa’ program to attract young foreign talent in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The route allows candidates with outstanding work, research, or educational backgrounds to engage in academic exchanges, establish businesses, or work in China without sponsorship from an employer.
China’s new visa policy and the latest move by the UK follow the changes to the United States H-1B visa program, which many U.S. tech companies have relied on to bring in skilled foreign workers.
Last September, President Donald Trump imposed a $100,000 annual fee on new H-1B applications, causing anxiety for current and prospective H-1B holders and employers, amid concerns over a potential shift of talent.
UK reviews immigration system to attract more foreign talent
