Tech Nation has, for the fifth-year running, revealed a continued rise in demand for applications for the Tech Nation Visa, up 45 per cent for 2018-19 with a total of 650 applications.

The countries with the highest amount of visa applications continue to be India and the USA, from software engineers and business developers in artificial intelligence and machine learning, FinTech and enterprise/cloud sectors. Nigeria, Russia, Canada, Australia, China and South Africa also top the list for number of applications.

First launched in 2014, the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa for Digital Technology enables tech talent from around the world to come and work in the UK’s digital sector, with year-on-year growth in the number of applications received since.

Tech Nation is one of five designated competent bodies (DCB) appointed by the Home Office for the visa, which together endorse applicants who can demonstrate exceptional talent or exceptional promise across digital technology, engineering, medicine, science, the arts and media.

Each DCB is allocated 200 endorsement places per financial year, with the opportunity to draw upon a contingency pot of 1,000 additional places allocated by the Home Office in the event of unprecedented levels of incoming exceptional talent.

As a result of the outstanding quality and demonstrable talent of applicants during this financial year, Tech Nation endorsed roughly half of the applications it received, and as a result exceeded its allocation of 200 endorsement places by roughly 63 per cent. The visa has received over 1,650 applicants, with more than 900 endorsed from over 50 countries worldwide since 2014.

Margot James, minister for digital and the creative industries, commented: "The UK continues to attract talent from all around the world – this is thanks to our world-leading academic institutions, strong access to finance and long standing reputation for innovation.

"Making sure we have the talent and skills so the tech sector can continue its incredible growth, is a priority of our modern Industrial Strategy,” she continued, adding: “Following the publication of the Immigration White Paper, Home Office have also launched the new Startup and Innovator routes as part of Tier 1 to attract the brightest tech entrepreneurs.”

Matt Jeffs-Watts, head of visas at Tech Nation, added: “The UK tech sector is an incredibly attractive place to work, with its unparalleled connectivity, access to exceptional talent, and significant levels of innovation and investment.

“This view is evidenced by the overwhelming enthusiasm from Tier 1 Exceptional Talent applicants wishing to enter the UK tech sector. It is this level of talent and skill that will help in the UK keeping its position at the forefront of the global digital economy.”

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