Immigration boost promised for UK’s tech and science sectors

21 January 2026

Ministers have unveiled proposals to facilitate immigration for key tech and science sectors and talent crucial to the UK government’s industrial strategy. There are no dates mentioned for future measures, but a written statement to parliament by Department of Trade minister Blair McDougall accompanied a simultaneous press release by the Departments of Business and Trade, Science and Technology and the Exchequer yesterday suggesting an array of measures to encourage global talent to enter Britain’s science and deep tech sectors.

The UK government made the following promises to boost the UK’s growing AI, quantum, science and deep tech sectors and their ability to bring the talent they need to the UK.

• Reimbursing visa fees in a limited and targeted manner for those with skills that will further the British government’s deep tech, innovation and R&D aspirations, including in AI, Quantum and semiconductors and those joining the most promising UK companies in priority sectors.
• Launching a referral route to fast-track sponsorship licences for high growth and high potential global companies expanding into the UK supported by the Global Talent Taskforce or the Office for Investment.
• Expanding the Global Talent visa to make it simpler and easier for those with a relevant academic or research appointment and those in industry to get their visa ensuring the UK can access the talent it needs, “including those working in cutting edge industries.” This builds on a promise in the Immigration White Paper’s promise to facilitate Global Talent visa applications from “top scientific and design talent.”
• Spending over £5 billion on a suite of support for scientific talent, including new funding from ARIA for top AI experts and the £54 million Global Talent Fund which recruits leading science and research talent to the UK.
• Doubling the resourcing of the UK’s Global Talent Taskforce, including bringing in specialist private sector head-hunting expertise, establishing new functions to support individuals to relocate and companies to set up UK offices quickly. This “concierge” service for global talent will start by focussing on international AI talent.
• Providing new government-funded scholarships for International Mathematical Olympiad gold medal winners.

Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “The UK is one of the few places in the world with the infrastructure, skills base, world-class institutions and international ties needed to make the most ambitious ideas a reality we all benefit from. We’re spending over £5 billion on a suite of support for scientific talent, and from our latest recruits through the Global Talent Fund to new funding from ARIA for top AI experts, work is already full-swing to put the world’s best minds bringing their ideas to the fore, in the UK.”

“The UK has all the ingredients for exceptional talent to thrive – global connectivity, a flourishing research and academic ecosystem, rule of law, £10 trillion of capital and a competitive tax regime,” the press release boasted. “Today’s new package of talent measures will help make the UK the first choice for top talent coming to work, study and build businesses, in line with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.”

“We are positioning the UK as the destination of choice for the brightest minds and innovators as we strive to lead the global race for talent,” insisted Department for Business and Trade Minister Peter Kyle.