Any non-UK academic or researcher who wishes to visit the UK can do so via the visitor visa sytem. For some nationalities, they will require a visa in advance of travel, but some nationalities will be able to seek entry as a visitor at the border without the need to gain a visa in advance of travel (for example, EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand nationals etc.). For a full list of nationalities who do require a visitor visa in advance on travel, please see the Home Office guidance here.
The Visitor (Standard) visa, or where entry is sought at the border, will be granted for a maximum of 6 months (there is an exception for academic visitors - please see below)
There is a wide range of activities that individuals can undertake on the Visitor (Standard) visa. For full details, see the UK Visas and Immigration webpages. However, for individuals visiting the University to undertake a short period of work, the majority of these activities will not be relevant. Therefore, only the activities which are relevant to the University have been described in the eligibility section below.
ATAS requirements
From May 2021, relevant international researchers applying for a Visitor Visa must obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before they can undertake any research in the UK. The ATAS requirement only applies to certain nationalities, and in certain roles and research fields.
As part of the ATAS application process, the individual will be required to submit information about their programme of research including the relevant 'CAH3' code. This must be arranged by the hosting department/institution, via the HR58 form.
Note: though the ATAS certificate is not required for a Visitor visa application, we strongly recommend that you do not issue an invitation letter supporting a visa application until the visitor can provide you with the certificate. This is to eliminate the risk of the visitor arriving in the UK without ATAS clearance and being unable to begin their visit, either because the application has not yet been decided, or because it is refused.
For further guidance on the ATAS scheme and making an application, please see gov.uk and our guidance webpages.
Eligibility
The table below outlines the types of permissible activities that can be undertaken depending on the type of person being invited to the University.
Note: individuals coming to the UK to undertake an internship or a work-placement cannot use a visitor visa/visitor status conferred at the border to facilitate this. Please see the GAE T5 temporary worker visa route as an alternative.
|
Type of visitor
|
Permissible activities |
Maximum validity of visa |
|
Any person invited by the hosting department/institution
|
In addition to undertaking the above activities, visitors are also permitted to:
|
6 months |
|
Scientists and researchers:
|
|
6 months |
|
Academic Visitors:
(Note: Undergraduate and post-graduate students currently studying would not qualify as an academic under this definition) |
|
12 months * |
* It is only possible to obtain a 12 month visa where the individual applies for a visitor visa in advance of travel to the UK. Where seeking entry at the border as an 'academic visitor', entry will only be granted for a maximum of 6 months.
How to apply for a visa
For further details, please see the How to Apply section of our webpages.
Visitor visa restrictions
In all cases, holders of a Visitor (Standard) visa cannot:
- Undertake any form of employment in the UK (except for the permissible activities listed above);
- Fill a normal post or a genuine vacancy, even on a temporary basis;
- Receive funding for their work from any UK source (payments of expenses, including travel and subsistence may be disregarded – see below);
- Stay in the UK for more than 6 months (or 12 months for visiting academics);
- Switch to any other immigration category whilst inside the UK;
- Have recourse to public funds.
Acceptable Payments
The individual must not receive payment from a UK source for any activities undertaken in the UK, except for reasonable expenses to cover the cost of their travel and subsistence, including fees for directors attending board-level meetings.
A visitor’s travel, maintenance and accommodation may be provided by a third party (which can be the University) provided:
- They have a genuine professional or personal relationship with the visitor; and
- They are legally present in the UK, or will be at the time of the visitor’s entry to the UK; and
- They can and will provide support to the visitor for the intended duration of their stay.
Children - attending state school in the UK
The only circumstance in which a Visitor Visa holder's child(ren) may attend a state school in the UK is if the adult they are accompanying has been granted an Academic Visitor Visa before they travel to the UK (regardless of whether or not they were required to do so by their nationality or the duration of their visit). Responsibility for deciding whether to admit a child to a school rests with the school’s admission authority, which is the local authority in the case of a community or voluntary controlled school, and the school’s governing body in the case of voluntary aided or foundation school. Please see the University Childcare Office's website for more information.