The Home Office guidance on Global Talent endorsing bodies, updated 1 July 2026, lists the Design industry as a discipline considered by the Design Business Association (DBA) for Exceptional Talent and Exceptional Promise applications.
Key facts
- Who: Global Talent applicants working in the design industry who apply for endorsement under Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise
- From: 1 July 2026
- Source: Global Talent endorsing bodies
Body
The guidance page "Disciplines covered by Arts Council England or its associated bodies" was updated on 1 July 2026. It now says that Arts Council England accepts applications on behalf of four organisations: the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT), the British Fashion Council (BFC), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Design Business Association (DBA).
Under the heading for Exceptional Talent and Exceptional Promise applications, the page lists the disciplines each body considers:
- Arts Council England: combined arts, dance, literature, music, theatre, and visual arts (including museums and galleries)
- British Fashion Council: fashion design industry
- Royal Institute of British Architects: architecture
- Design Business Association: design industry
PACT is listed separately, under Exceptional Talent applications only. It considers animation, film, post-production, television and visual effects.
Applications in a discipline covered by PACT, BFC, RIBA or DBA are transferred by Arts Council England to the relevant organisation for a specialist assessment. Arts Council England covers its own listed disciplines for the whole of the UK and, where appropriate, liaises with the 3 national arts bodies covering Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
The guidance states that the endorsing bodies do not cover an exhaustive list of disciplines, and that an applicant's speciality may not currently be assessable. The Home Office says it cannot advise on which endorsing body is best placed to consider a particular skill set.
What this means for applicants
Applicants in the design industry can now apply for Global Talent endorsement in the Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise categories, and the application is assessed by the DBA after transfer from Arts Council England. Applicants should read the discipline lists carefully to identify the right endorsing body. The guidance says that anyone ineligible to be considered by an endorsing body should consider whether alternative immigration categories would be more suitable, and a full list of alternative work routes is available on GOV.UK.
Related guide
Sources
- Global Talent endorsing bodies, UK Visas and Immigration guidance, GOV.UK
- Disciplines covered by Arts Council England or its associated bodies, updated 1 July 2026