UK plans fast-track immigration system for talented scientists

Boris Johnson wants to make visa system easier for scientists and their families

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As the United Kingdom aims to leave the European Union after October 2019, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a new fast-track visa system to attract top scientists to work in the country.

The prime minister has asked the Home Office and BEIS to work on a fast-track visa route to be launched later this year.

The new fast-track visa route is expected to help replace the EU researchers, who account for nearly half of the total workforce of 211,000 scientists. As of now, scientists from EU countries do not need visa to work in the UK.

“I want the UK to continue to be a global science superpower, and when we leave the EU we will support science and research and ensure that, far from losing out, the scientific community has a huge opportunity to develop and export our innovation around the world,” Johnson said in a statement.

When the UK leaves the EU, scientists from EU countries will not have the privilege to live and work in the UK as in the past. The concern is that they will need to undergo the UK's slow and expensive visa process, which may take several months. This will be a big hindrance in attracting talent from EU nations, the Conservative government fears.

“I want the UK to continue to be a global science superpower, and when we leave the EU we will support science and research and ensure that, far from losing out, the scientific community has a huge opportunity to develop and export our innovation around the world,” PM Boris Johnson said.

“We estimate these grants could be worth around £600 million to UK researchers”

Welcoming the PM's plan to scrap the cap on "tier one" visas for scientists and their families, Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, President of the Royal Society, said: “We welcome the government's objective of supporting science by facilitating immigration of researchers at all levels, and look forward to discussing the details of a new immigration system.

The Royal Society has been clamouring for reforms in the UK’s visa system which acts as a barrier to attracting the best international talent.

Most Scientists arrive in the UK first as students and the new visa system will be able to attract young talent from across the world.