Record numbers from African nation lead Global Talent applications as government quango endorses dozens of literary hopefuls
Hundreds of Nigerian “poets and bloggers” have entered Britain under a little-known “literature” visa, new figures have revealed.
People from the African country have made the most applications out of any other nationality under the visa for writers, covering “poets” and oral “storytellers”, The Telegraph revealed.
Nigerians have also been the leading nationality in having claims to exceptional literary ability endorsed by Arts Council England.
Government Quango Gatekeepers
The government quango has the ability to review and endorse applications for “Global Talent” visas. The visa allows entry to Britain for exceptional individuals in music, theatre, and dance.
Applicants are expected to prove their artistic merit to gain entry.
A category for great talents in “literature” also exists, covering a variety of writers, including novelists, poets, spoken word performers, storytellers and creators of “graphic novels and comics”.
Applicants which are successful can also bring their family to the UK as dependents and are able to stay up to five years at a time once they have been endorsed by the Arts Council and approved by the Home Office.
Nigerian Applications Lead the Way
Over the past five years, Nigerians have dominated the scheme with 125 applications submitted.
That is more than double the applications received by the USA with 61.
It is also far more than other English speaking nations, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand altogether.
During that same period, 70 were rejected, however, 54 were endorsed – which is more than any other country, according to official figures.
Immigration Pressure Mounts
The revelation of visa numbers comes as the Labour Government has faced pressure to strengthen its stance on immigration – which has recently reached record levels for both legal and illegal arrivals.
While Nigerian writers have built strong reputations over the past five years, including Ben Okri, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, the use of literature visa looks to be part of a broader trend.
Since 2019, the number of Global Talent visa applications has risen by 2,225 per cent with only 12 applications made.
That has since rose to 279 in 2024.
Broader Creative Industries Trend
Over that period, Nigerians have made 729 applications across artistic Global Talent categories, including dance, fashion, music, film and TV, theatre, combined arts, and visual arts.
That is second only to the US which has submitted 977.
However, just 59 per cent of the entries coming from Nigeria had been endorsed – the lowest of any country except for Ghana.
Of the more than 5,000 applications made across all nationalities since 2019, the Arts Council endorsed 3,600.
But, the Home Office doesn’t break down figures for how many of the endorsements actually eventuated in people receiving visas.
Other nationalities, including Russia with 725, China with 492, Australia with 233 and India with 160, have also submitted large numbers of applications.
Rising Literary Profile
The surge in applications coincides with what critics have called “the irresistible rise of Nigerian fiction” over the past two decades.
Ben Okri’s 1991 Booker Prize win for The Famished Road energised writers’ groups back home and signalled the international character of future Nigerian literary expression.
By the time Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie showed up on the Orange Prize shortlist with her debut novel Purple Hibiscus in 2004, Nigerian fiction was in full stride.
Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ became the sixth Nigerian-born novelist to be nominated for the Booker Prize when her second novel A Spell of Good Things was longlisted in 2023.
How the Visa Works
The Global Talent visa allows talented and promising individuals from the fields of science, engineering, medicine and humanities, digital technology and arts and culture to live and work in the UK for up to five years.
To qualify for a Global Talent visa in the Arts and Culture field, applicants must satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that they have been issued with an endorsement letter by Arts Council England or have been awarded a qualifying prestigious prize.
In order to qualify for an Arts and Culture endorsement by Arts Council England, applicants must be professionally engaged in producing work of outstanding quality which has been performed, presented, distributed or exhibited internationally.
Exceptional Promise applicants must be at an early stage in their career, while applicants at later stages should apply under the Exceptional Talent criteria.
Supporting Evidence Required
To support an endorsement application, applicants need to provide three letters of support, 10 pieces of physical evidence of their work and recognition of their talent or promise, and an artistic CV or résumé.
At least one of the letters must be from a UK-based organisation that is an expert in the applicant’s field.
The evidence must show a substantial track record in at least two countries for Exceptional Talent applicants, or a developing track record in one or more countries for Exceptional Promise applicants.
Arts Council England judges applications and typically returns decisions within eight weeks.
Personal Testimonies
Nigerian writers who have successfully navigated the visa process describe months of preparation.
Faith, a writer and poet who secured a Global Talent visa in 2024, told Zikoko: “I dedicated the two years I had in Nigeria to becoming the best poet ever. I was very active in the Nigerian creative space.”
“If you want to get this visa, you want to have a track record of being active in your industry over multiple years. You might even want to take up free gigs to build your resume,” she said.
The visa requires proof of performance, publication, appearance, exhibition or sales of work, as well as media recognition and awards.
Cost Considerations
The Stage 1 application fee for endorsement is currently £561, while the visa application itself costs £192.
Applicants must also pay the healthcare surcharge of £624 per year for each person applying – meaning a five-year visa requires £3,120 upfront for healthcare alone.
Unlike the UK’s main Skilled Worker visa, Global Talent is an unsponsored immigration category, meaning visa holders have flexibility to change roles or employers without seeking permission from the Home Office.
The visa also offers a fast-track to settlement after three years for Exceptional Talent visa holders, or five years for those on Exceptional Promise visas.
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Image Credit:
UK Border, Heathrow – Photo by Steve Parker, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
