Finding Referees for Your UK Global Talent Letters
Where UK residency actually matters, and where it doesn't — this differs by route, and getting it wrong wastes real time.
"Find UK-based referees" is not one universal rule. It's a real requirement for one route, a partial requirement for another, and not required at all for the third. Below is what's actually true for each.
Digital Technology (Tech Nation) UK residency not required
Your referees do not need to be based in the UK. International referees are common and accepted, especially if you've worked globally. What actually matters: each referee must be senior (a CTO, VP, founder, professor, or similarly recognised figure — not a peer or line manager), and must genuinely know your work well, commonly expected to be for at least 12 months. Letters must come from 3 different organisations, be written specifically for this application (not a general reference), and stay under 3 sides of A4 each.
Arts & Culture (Arts Council England) 1 of 3 must be UK-based
Confirmed directly from GOV.UK: you need 2 letters from established organisations that are experts in your field, and at least one of those two must be UK-based — not both, and not the third letter. The third letter can be from another organisation or an individual anywhere, as long as they're a genuine expert in your field. Important: you must have actually worked with whoever writes your letters — this isn't optional, and it's specific to the work you're applying under.
Academic Research (Peer Review route) A UK-resident letter is genuinely required
This is the one route where UK residency is a real, stated requirement — not just helpful. You need a dated letter of personal recommendation from an eminent person resident in the UK, who is familiar with your work and qualified to assess your standing in the field.
Where to actually find a UK-based referee, if your route needs one
If you're on Arts & Culture or Academic Research and need a genuine UK connection:
- People you've already worked with — a UK client, collaborator, co-author, or someone from a UK institution you've genuinely engaged with. Not optional for Arts & Culture: a real working relationship is required.
- UK professional bodies in your field — the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Academy, and equivalent bodies.
- UK conferences and events — genuinely engaging with a UK-hosted event, not just a networking shortcut.
- Academic supervisors or collaborators at UK institutions — for the Academic Research route specifically.
What to avoid, regardless of route
- A line manager, or anyone from your own organisation — letters need to come from separate, independent organisations.
- Someone who has to be briefed on your work before they can write about it.
- A generic reference letter repurposed for this application — it must be written specifically for this Global Talent submission.
Before you approach anyone
Have ready: your CV, a clear summary of your achievements, and — if useful — a short outline of what you'd like the letter to cover, so your referee isn't starting from a blank page.
When you're ready to draft and track the letters themselves, do it in the Evidence Workspace.