The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

The RIBA has been working with Arts Council England, in partnership with the Home Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to develop assessment criteria for the Global Talent visa for architecture applicants from outside the EEA and Switzerland.

The visa is an immigration route into the United Kingdom designed for those from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland. You may be eligible to apply under one of the following categories:

1. Exceptional Talent (Recognised Leader)

You are internationally established with a proven record of outstanding architectural work, widely published or exhibited, and have won major international awards or recognition.

2. Exceptional Promise (Emerging Leader)

You show the potential to become a leader in the field of architecture, with a growing track record of exceptional work and early recognition such as national or international awards, nominations, or publications.

What criteria do you need to meet?

The RIBA has worked in partnership with the Home Office and Arts Council England to develop a set of specialist assessment criteria for Global Talent visas for architecture applicants. These criteria are designed to be consistent with Arts Council England’s broader criteria for arts and culture applicants and have been agreed by the Home Office.

If you wish to be considered as a Global Talent visa applicant in architecture, you must be able to demonstrate that you are established as a leader and/or an internationally recognised expert in the field, including evidence such as:

Letters of Recommendation (Mandatory Requirement)

As part of your Global Talent Visa endorsement application under the Architecture pathway (via RIBA), you must provide 3 letters of recommendation that adhere to the following guidelines:

General Requirements:

• Two letters must be from established organisations that are experts in your field of architecture.
• At least one of these organisations must be based in the UK.
• The third letter can be from either:
• an established organisation, or
• a recognised individual expert in the field of architecture.

Important: You must have previously worked with the organisations or individuals who are writing the recommendation letters. The collaboration must be directly relevant to the work for which you are seeking endorsement.

Each letter must:

• Be specifically written for your Global Talent application (not reused from other purposes).
• Be signed by a senior member of the organisation or, if written by an individual, by the author themselves.
• Clearly describe the relationship between the letter writer and the applicant:
• How they have worked with you.
• How your role and contributions relate to architecture and design.
• Detail your achievements in architecture and provide examples that demonstrate your status as a leader or potential leader in the field.
• Explain:
• How you would benefit from living in the UK.
• How you would contribute to the UK’s cultural or architectural life.
• What your future plans are for work and how they align with UK-based opportunities.

Formatting and Submission Standards:

• Must be typed and dated.
• Maximum length: Up to 3 single-sided A4 pages (excluding the author’s contact information and credentials).
• Must include:
• Signature of the author (or a representative, if signed on behalf of an organisation).
• Organisation’s logo and registered address, where applicable.
• Telephone number and email address of the author.
• The author’s CV or other documentation that confirms their expertise (to be assessed by RIBA).

Other Evidence You Must Provide

In addition to letters of recommendation, you must supply evidence of at least two of the following categories:

Please note: In order to practise using the title ‘architect’ in the UK, you must first register with the Architects Registration Board (ARB).

We Only Take Clients Who Are 100% Eligible

Our expert team carefully assesses each profile. If we take you on, it means we genuinely believe you will succeed — and that’s how we’ve maintained a 95% success rate.

Global Talent Visa Specialists – 95% Success Rate

How Themis Technologies Can Help

At Themis Technologies, we understand the specific criteria and rigorous evidence-based assessments involved in the Global Talent Visa application. Our experienced consultants work closely with applicants to:

• Evaluate your eligibility based on RIBA's official criteria
• Curate and structure your supporting evidence (up to 10 documents)
• Craft compelling recommendation letters
• Guide you through CV and portfolio preparation to highlight your achievements
• Assist with the online application and provide ongoing support through both stages of the process

Whether you’re applying as a leader or as a rising talent, we provide tailored strategies to strengthen your case.

Your Architectural Influence Matters — Even Without the Spotlight

At Themis, we recognise that the Global Talent visa is about impact, not celebrity. You don’t need to have won high-profile awards or only be featured in the mainstream press to qualify — what matters is the substance of your contributions to architecture.

We’ve supported professionals who have made significant and meaningful impact through influential projects, publications, exhibitions, or built environments — even if they’re not widely known outside their field.

Join a Community of Globally Recognised Architects

From urban designers and conservation specialists to academic researchers and innovative studio leaders, we’ve helped architects across disciplines present strong, compelling cases for endorsement under the Global Talent visa route.

We understand the language RIBA looks for — and how to help your portfolio, achievements, and vision align with the UK’s global architectural goals.

Let’s Build Your Path to the UK

Interested in taking the next step?

Start your journey with a first discovery call request at gtv@themistl.co.uk.

We’ll work with you to craft a bespoke Global Talent visa application, backed by credible evidence, expert guidance, and your unique architectural story.

Your work deserves a global stage. Let us help you claim it.