skip to content
 

This visa route was formerly known as Tier 5 (GAE).

The Government Authorised Exchange (Temporary Work) (GAE) visa category “is for individuals coming to the United Kingdom through approved schemes that aim to share knowledge, experience and best practice” and is open to all non-UK nationals.

In practice, as a Higher Education Institution, we are permitted to use the GAE visa route to sponsor 'researchers' (which includes academics, researchers, scientists, research engineers or other skilled research technology specialists) for a maximum duration of 2 years to undertake the following activities:

  • A formal research project or collaboration*;
  • A period of work-based training/work experience/internship/placement;
  • Skill development/knowledge transfer;
  • A series of lectures, which doesn’t amount to a formal teaching post*;
  • External examinations*.

* Visits of 6 months or less which involve these activities can now be accommodated under the Standard Visitor (business category) visa route.

The full criteria for the Higher Education GAE visa scheme can be downloaded here.

 

GAE visa eligibility

The manner in which we can engage with an individual through one of the above activities is governed by a strict set of parameters, set out below.

The activities/work:

  • must never amount to ‘a genuine vacancy’ (in other words, the work/activity must be over and above the department/institution's normal staffing requirements, and the role would not be automatically refilled once the individual leaves); and

* Individuals undertaking work shadowing, work experience or internships may not be entitled to the National Minimum Wage due to specific legislative exemptions. Further guidance is available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-minimum-wage-work-experience-and-internships. Individuals funded by Erasmus+ are likewise exempt from the requirement to meet UK NMW.

The individual:

  • may be funded by the University, their overseas employer, or an independent UK or non-UK funding body; and
  • can be our employee, if necessary; and
  • does not have to be employed overseas to be eligible for sponsorship under this scheme; and
  • is permitted to receive funding on a weekly, monthly or annual basis, or in one lump sum; but cannot be self-funded (i.e. funds from savings/loans, a pension, money borrowed from family/friends); and

 

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) requirement

International researchers who are applying for a GAE visa and who meet the eligibility criteria* must have obtained an ATAS certificate before submitting their visa application. 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 recruiting department/institution, via an HR58 form.

* For further guidance on the ATAS scheme and making an application, please see:

 

Obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Any individual seeking to come to the University through the GAE visa route must first be issued a CoS from the University. Faculties/departments, not individuals, must request a CoS.

To apply for a GAE CoS, faculties/departments should provide the following documentation to the HR Compliance Team:

  • GAE CoS application form
  • CV
  • Photo page of the individual’s valid passport
  • Copy of qualifications held, with certified translation(s) if not in English
  • Evidence of funding – a copy of the letter from the organisation (or the department/institution, if internally funded) that is going to financially sponsor their stay whilst they are at the University of Cambridge. The letter should include details of the dates of their stay and the total amount of funds they will receive.

 

Sponsor duties

To hold a sponsor licence, the University must adhere to the required record keeping and reporting duties. These duties apply equally to individuals sponsored under GAE visa route, even if they are not University employees. These duties include:

  • Reporting late arrivals to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI);
  • Reporting visa refusals;
  • Keeping an up to date record of the individual’s contact details while in UK;
  • Keeping a record of the individual’s absences;
  • Reporting unauthorised absence to UKVI;
  • Reporting when an individual’s visit/work ends before the CoS end date.

Please see our record keeping and reporting duties webpages for full details.

 

Family members

A GAE visa holder’s family members are allowed to work if they are accompanying or joining them in the UK provided they have the correct visa to do so. Please see our dependant visas webpage for guidance. Family members who come to the UK on a Standard Visitor visa are not permitted to work.

 

Fees

A GAE CoS will cost the faculty/department £25.

The individual is responsible for paying the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. The total cost will depend on the length of the proposed engagement.