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Tier 1 (Exceptional talent)

Business persons in an airport

Documents

This page describes the photographs and identity documents that you must provide when you apply for a Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) visa.

Your photographs

You must send 2 recent passport photographs of yourself and any dependants that are included in your application. You must write the name of the person in the picture on each photograph.

All the photographs should:

  • measure 45mm x 35mm;
  • be in colour;
  • be taken against a grey or cream background;
  • be clear and of good quality;
  • not be framed or backed;
  • not be digitally altered, for example, you cannot use Photoshop to change anything in the image; and
  • be full face, without sunglasses, hat or head covering unless you wear this for religious reasons.

The photograph you send will be used on your visa which will be fixed in your passport.

Passport or travel document

You must send your original passport or travel document and the original passport or travel document of all dependants.

If you need your passport for identification reasons, such as opening a bank account, before we decide your application, we will return your passport. You should send your passport back to us as soon as you have used it to confirm your identity. We will not be able to decide the outcome of your application until you have returned it to us. Obviously this may delay the decision of your application.

You should not make plans to travel outside the common travel area while we are considering your application. If you ask for your passport, your application is automatically withdrawn when we send your passport back to you, even if you decide not to travel. If you decide not to travel and still want to stay in the UK, you will need to apply again and pay a new fee.

If you need to ask for the return of your passport, contact the Croydon contact centre, whose number you can find on the right side of this page.

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