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Is an ATAS certificate required?

From 21 May 2021, relevant international researchers applying for permission to enter or stay in the UK under the Skilled Worker, Government Authorised Exchange (Temporary Work) (GAE) or Visitor immigration routes must apply for an ATAS certificate. The ATAS requirement only applies to certain nationalities, and in certain roles and research fields where the UK government considers that individuals’ knowledge could be used in programmes to develop Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT) or weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) or their means of delivery, research which could result in the Intangible Transfer of Technology (ITT) to WMD and ACMT programmes of concern and any activity which may be “against the UK’s national interests”.

The following information is also available as a downloadable quick reference flowchart.

Please also see our guidance on completing the ATAS application form and our FAQs.

The criteria to assess whether an ATAS certificate is required are as follows (all four must be met for there to be ATAS liability):

Step 1. Visa application type

All new and existing members of staff* who are applying for one of the following routes:

  • Skilled Worker

  • Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work)

  • Standard/Academic Visitor

No other visa routes are currently in scope for ATAS.

*note: all time-limited visas require ATAS clearance if the person is studying for an ATAS-relevant (see step 4) qualification in the UK.


yes If the individual is applying for one of these visa types, go to step 2.

no If they are not, ATAS clearance is not required.

Step 2. Nationality

Nationals of the following countries are exempt from the ATAS requirement:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States of America.


yes If the person's nationality is on the list above, ATAS clearance is not required.

no If it is not, go to step 3.

Step 3. Type of role

For Skilled Worker and GAE visa applicants, roles defined by the following SOC Codes are in scope:

  • 2111 – 2119 & 2162 (encompassing all postdoctoral research positions, including Research Assistants)

The following roles are also in scope, but only where the individual will undertake research at a PhD level as part of the role:

Managerial

  • 2161 (formerly 2150) Research and development managers

Teaching

  • 2311 Higher education teaching professionals

Technicians

  • 3111 Laboratory technicians

For visitors to the University, where applying for a Standard Visitor visa (business or academic category), the following activities are in scope for ATAS:

  • Collaborating, gathering information and facts, or conducting research, either for a specific project which directly relates to employment overseas, or independently;
  • Carrying out research for their own purposes, if they are on sabbatical leave from their home institution;
  • Taking part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts (including doctors) where research in an ATAS-liable research field (see step 4) will take place.

ATAS is not required, for example, for visitors attending conferences, meetings, interviews, workshops etc.


yes If the job is within one of the above SOC codes, or if the visitor will be carrying out any of the listed activities, go to step 4.

no If not, ATAS clearance is not required.

Step 4. Research field

The field/programme of research must be classified under one or more of the following CAH3 codes:

Subject

CAH3 Code

Biological Sciences

Biology (Non-specific)

CAH03-01-02

Biomedical Sciences (Non-specific)

CAH02-05-03

Biosciences (Non-specific)

CAH03-01-01

Biotechnology

CAH10-03-05

Ecology and Environmental Biology

CAH03-01-03

Genetics

CAH03-01-07

Microbiology and Cell Science

CAH03-01-04

Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry

CAH03-01-08

Plant Sciences

CAH03-01-05

Zoology

CAH03-01-06

Others in Biological Sciences

CAH03-01-10

Engineering

Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering

CAH10-01-04

Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering

CAH10-01-09

Civil Engineering

CAH10-01-07

Electronic and Electrical Engineering

CAH10-01-08

Engineering (Non-specific)

CAH10-01-01

Mechanical Engineering

CAH10-01-02

Naval Architecture

CAH10-01-05

Mathematics and Computer Sciences

Artificial Intelligence

CAH11-01-05

Computer Science

CAH11-01-01

Information Systems

CAH11-01-03

Information Technology

CAH11-01-02

Mathematics

CAH09-01-01

Operational Research

CAH09-01-02

Software Engineering

CAH11-01-04

Medicine

Bioengineering, Medical and Biomedical Engineering

CAH10-01-06

Pharmacology

CAH02-02-01

Pharmacy

CAH02-02-03

Toxicology

CAH02-02-02

Physical Sciences

Astronomy

CAH07-01-02

Chemistry

CAH07-02-01

Materials Science

CAH10-03-07

Natural Sciences (Non-specific)

CAH07-04-04

Others in Geographical Studies

CAH26-01-05

Physical Sciences (Non-specific)

CAH07-04-01

Physics

CAH07-01-01

Sciences (Non-specific)

CAH07-04-03

Technologies

Maritime Technology

CAH10-03-04

Materials Technology

CAH10-03-02

Minerals Technology

CAH10-03-01

Polymers and Textiles

CAH10-03-03

Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects

Agricultural Sciences

CAH06-01-02

Others in Veterinary Sciences

CAH05-01-02

 


yes If the research area is within one of the above CAH3 codes, ATAS clearance is required.

no If not, ATAS clearance is not required.

The Department is responsible for providing a completed Statement of research (HR58) (Raven login required) to the applicant to enable an application to be submitted.

The details entered on the application form will be replicated on the ATAS certificate, so care should be taken to ensure the information is correct. The form must be completed in English, including the names of any overseas education/employer institutions.

Skilled Worker Visa and Government Authorised Exchange (Temporary Work) visa applicants

New members of staff who need a Skilled Worker or GAE visa must provide an ATAS certificate before a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) can be assigned. Existing members of staff who are extending permission or switching into an ATAS-liable immigration route in the UK may in some circumstances be able to have a CoS assigned before the ATAS certificate is available – please check with the HR Compliance Team.

Visitor visa applicants

Applications for a Visitor visa do not require an ATAS certificate before submitting a visa application. However, the visit cannot begin until the certificate is provided to the host Department.

Related links

You may find the following useful:

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) ATAS guidance

FCDO guidance on how to apply for an ATAS certificate

Tier 2/Skilled Worker visa

Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa

UK Visitor visa