FOI release

FOI2026/00564: Global Talent visa endorsement decision-making

This request was refused in part, so we didn't provide some of the information the requester asked for. This may include information where we can neither confirm nor deny that we hold it.

Case reference FOI2026/00564

Received 6 July 2026

Published 23 July 2026

Request

Response received: 6 July 2026

Please provide the following information concerning your role as an endorsing body for the Global Talent immigration route (and, where held, Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)):

1. For each calendar year from 2015 (or the earliest year held) to date: the number of Stage 1 endorsement applications assessed; the number endorsed; the number refused; and, where held, the number of endorsement review requests and their outcomes — broken down, where recorded, by Exceptional Talent versus Exceptional Promise [for ACE add: and by art form or sub-endorsing organisation].

2. Where recorded, an annual breakdown of refusals by the criterion or criteria not met.

3. Copies of the current internal guidance, assessment frameworks, scoring templates, or assessor instructions used to evaluate endorsement applications, and a description of the composition and selection of assessment panels (numbers and roles only; no names required).

4. Copies of any internal quality assurance, calibration, or consistency-review documents concerning endorsement assessments, from 1 January 2020 to date.

Response

Response sent: 23 July 2026

Full details of this response are available in the attached documents.

Documents

• FOI2026_00564 Annex 1_Redacted.pdf (3.4 MB)
• FOI_Response_Letter - FOI2026_00564_Redacted.pdf (268.8 KB)

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