Hundreds of Nigerians Enter Britain Using 'Literary Talent' Visa Scheme

A significant number of Nigerian nationals have entered the UK using a little-known visa program designed for individuals with exceptional literary talent, according to a report by The Telegraph.

This “Global Talent” visa allows entry for individuals with proven excellence in fields such as music, theatre, dance, and literature — including poets, spoken word artists, storytellers, and comic book creators. The scheme is endorsed by Arts Council England, which evaluates and approves applications. Successful applicants can stay in the UK for up to five years and bring family members as dependents.

Nigerians have submitted more applications under the literature category than any other nationality over the past five years — 125 in total — more than twice the number submitted by U.S. applicants. Of those, 54 Nigerian applications were approved, making them the most endorsed nationality under the program, although the overall approval rate for Nigerians (59%) is among the lowest, just above Ghana.

Since 2019, applications from Nigerians across all creative categories under the Global Talent visa — including fashion, dance, theatre, music, and visual arts — have soared by over 2,200%, from just 12 in 2019 to 279 in 2024. In total, Nigerians submitted 729 applications across artistic fields, second only to applicants from the United States.

This surge comes during increased scrutiny of UK immigration policies, with the Labour Government facing mounting calls to reduce both legal and illegal migration. Despite this, the government has maintained protected visa pathways for certain skilled professions, including “diversity and inclusion” roles and those listed as “shortage occupations.” These currently include “poets” and “bloggers” under the broader category of authors and translators.

Although the Global Talent visa offers a pathway for high-performing creatives, the financial reality for many writers is stark. A 2022 report revealed that the median income for self-employed writers was just £7,000 annually — well below the income tax threshold of £12,570.

More than 5,000 artistic Global Talent visa applications have been filed since 2019, with 3,600 of them endorsed by the Arts Council. However, it remains unclear how many of those endorsements ultimately led to visas being issued by the Home Office.

In addition to Nigeria and the U.S., other countries with high application numbers include Russia (725), China (492), Australia (233), and India (160). The “shortage occupation” list that currently supports many of these visa routes is scheduled for review and may expire in December 2026.