Getting the UK Global Talent Visa: Lessons from Prosper Otemuyiwa

When you’ve spent years building as a software engineer, writing code, leading projects, and contributing to open source, it’s only natural to start wondering: What's next? For many African developers, the answer is simple: global opportunities. But while the UK’s Global Talent Visa opens doors for top tech talent, figuring out the steps can feel daunting.

At Bitnob, we’ve seen this curiosity firsthand in our community of engineers doing incredible work, yet unsure of how to package that work into a compelling application. So, we decided to do something about it.

We hosted a webinar titled “Steps to Getting the UK Global Talent Visa as a Software Engineer”, and our guest was none other than Prosper Otemuyiwa, a developer advocate, software engineer, and someone who’s been through the process himself. In this session, Prosper broke down the process in the most practical, honest way possible from the types of evidence needed to how to tell your story.

Here’s what he shared.

Meet Our Guest: Prosper Otemuyiwa

Prosper Otemuyiwa is the co-founder and CTO of Eden Life and a well-respected figure in the developer ecosystem across Africa. Known for his technical expertise, community leadership, and mentorship, Prosper has been at the forefront of tech growth on the continent for over a decade.

He’s also a successful recipient of the UK’s Global Talent Visa, and during our session, he generously explained exactly how he achieved it, what he learned, and how other engineers can follow the same path. In this session, Prosper shared not just a checklist but the mindset, strategy, and documents that helped him secure the visa.

Key Takeaways from the Webinar

 Why Prosper Chose the Global Talent Visa

Prosper didn’t wait until he was desperate to leave. He made a proactive decision to explore global opportunities while already in a good place in his career. What drew him to the visa was its flexibility, no job offer required, the freedom to work or build your own company, and a faster track to permanent residency.

How He Prepared His Application

Rather than relying on secondhand information, Prosper read the Tech Nation guide multiple times. He emphasized the importance of understanding what the endorsing body wants and crafting a story that aligns with that.

Documents He Submitted:

• Three letters of recommendation from respected tech leaders familiar with his work.
   
• A personal statement outlining his journey in tech and community building.
   
• A CV that went beyond job titles to show growth, impact, and leadership.
   
• Supporting evidence, including speaking engagements, open-source contributions, media features, and product work.
   

 What Made His Application Stand Out

Prosper stressed that he didn’t have a viral story or massive press coverage, what set him apart was consistency. He showed a long-term track record of contributing to tech and mentoring others, all documented and verifiable.

 Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Fabrication: Never exaggerate or include unverifiable work.
   
• Weak documentation: Poorly written or generic recommendation letters can hurt your chances.
   
• Unclear narrative: Reviewers want a cohesive story, not just a list of accomplishments.

Final Thoughts

In Prosper’s words: “Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready. If you’ve been building and showing up in your space, you probably already have the track record they’re looking for.”

If you’ve been actively contributing to the tech space, whether through engineering, leadership, community work, or public speaking, you likely already have what it takes. The key is to package it clearly and honestly. As a company deeply invested in African innovation, Bitnob is proud to host conversations like this because we believe access to knowledge is access to power. Whether you decide to stay or relocate, your potential deserves a global platform.

Missed the live session? Don’t worry. You can watch the full webinar here to hear directly from Prosper Otemuyiwa and get inspired by his journey. Stay tuned for more sessions and continue to build boldly.