You must: have a certificate of sponsorship reference number from your UK sponsor have enough money to support yourself in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt) Certificate of sponsorship A certificate of sponsorship is a reference number which holds information about the job and your personal details. It’s not an actual certificate or paper document. Your sponsor will give you your certificate of sponsorship reference number. They must also give you some other information to help you to apply, for example your working hours. You’ll need to add your certificate of sponsorship reference number to your application form - you can only use it once. Your certificate of sponsorship is valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned to you. Money to support yourself You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK. You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa. You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply , unless either: you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270 Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need . Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it. If your employer can support you instead Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.

Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide: your certificate of sponsorship reference number - your employer will give you this a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK , for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you) proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test a valid ATAS certificate if your employer tells you that you need one because your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher You need a blank page in your passport for your visa. You must also provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh. Read the guide for a full list of documents you can provide. You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Read the full guidance before you apply. Apply from outside the UK You must apply online for this visa. As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have. You’ll either: have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. If you do need an appointment: the centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application you may have to travel to get to your nearest visa application centre (this could be in another country) If you’ve applied through a visa application centre, find out if you can pay to get a faster decision - this depends on where you’re applying from. Apply from inside the UK You can only extend your existing visa or switch to this visa if you’re already in the UK.

You can apply to extend your Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa. You should apply before your current visa expires. Eligibility You might be able to extend your stay. You must still meet the eligibility requirements . You must apply while you’re still in the UK. How long you can stay You can apply to stay in the UK for up to a maximum of: 12 months, if you’re doing work experience 24 months, if you’re doing research, training or an Overseas Government Language Programme You can also stay for the length of time on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter. Fees Check the fees for your visa. How to extend your visa You should read the full guidance before you apply. You must apply online . Your partner and children Your partner or children will need to apply separately to extend their visa. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires. Providing biometric information and supporting documents As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have. You’ll either: give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) - this is to get a biometric residence permit use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do. How long it takes A decision will be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service. You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you’ll be told if you can when you apply. Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive. You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because: if your supporting documents need to be verified if you need to attend an interview because of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction Changing your sponsor You must apply again and meet all the eligibility rules if you want to change your sponsor within the same organisation or move to a new organisation.

You can apply to change (‘switch’) to a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa. You should apply before your current visa expires. Eligibility You can apply if you’re a: student, whether studying, resitting an examination or writing a thesis student union sabbatical officer student nurse postgraduate doctor or dentist student visa holder (including Tier 4) sponsored researcher who came to the UK on a work permit and you want to continue in the same job with your sponsor You must have completed a UK bachelor’s or master’s degree during your last grant of leave. You must also meet the other eligibility requirements . Fees Check the fees for your visa. How to switch your visa You must apply online . Your partner and children Your partner or children will need to apply separately to switch their visa. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires. Providing biometric information and supporting documents When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can: upload them into the online service have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do. How long it takes A decision will be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service. If you use the super priority service a decision will be made: by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday 2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays. You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example: if your supporting documents need to be verified if you need to attend an interview because of your personal circumstances, for example you have a criminal conviction

Your partner and children

Your partner and children can apply to join you or to stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible. If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours. Your relationship A dependant partner or child is any of the following: your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply. Your partner You must be able to prove that either: you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply If your child is 16 or over They must: live with you (unless they’re in full-time education at boarding school, college or university) not be married, in a civil partnership or have any children be financially supported by you If your child lives with you, you’ll need to provide evidence of their address such as: a bank statement credit card bills driving licence NHS registration document an official letter from their university or college Money they need to support themselves Your partner and children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK. You - or your partner or child - will need: £285 for your partner £315 for one child £200 for each additional child Example You - or your partner or child - would need to have £600 to bring your partner and one child with you to the UK (£285 for your partner and £315 for your child). You would also need to have £1,270 available to support yourself for your own application. You - or your partner or child - will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of you or them applying for this visa. You’ll usually need to show proof of this when they apply , unless either: you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months your employer can cover your family’s costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship If your partner or child is applying at a different time to you, they’ll only need to prove they have enough money to support themselves if they have been in the UK for less than 1 year. Apply from outside the UK Your partner and children must either: apply online as your partner apply online as your child Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee . They’ll also need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application. Proving their identity As part of their application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity. They’ll either: have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document - they’ll also create or sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account They’ll be told what they need to do when they apply. If they do need an appointment: the visa application centre may need to keep their passport and documents while they process their application they may have to travel to get to their nearest centre (this could be in another country) How long it takes to get a decision Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks. They may be able to pay to get a faster decision - they’ll be told if they can when they apply. Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa) Your partner or child can apply to extend or switch their visa either: at the same time as you apply to extend or switch your own visa at any time before their current visa expires This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay. Your partner or children cannot apply to switch to your visa as your dependants if they are currently in the UK: on a visit visa on a short-term student visa on a Parent of a Child Student visa on a seasonal worker visa on a domestic worker in a private household visa on immigration bail because they were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules , for example on compassionate grounds How to apply Your partner and children must apply online to either: extend or switch to your visa as your partner extend or switch to your visa as your child They’ll need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application. Proving their identity As part of their application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity. They’ll either: have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point - this is to get a biometric residence permit use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document - they’ll also create or sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account They’ll be told what they need to do when they apply. They must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they get a decision. Their application will be withdrawn if they do. How long it takes to get a decision Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks. They may be able to pay to get a faster decision - they’ll be told if they can when they apply. Children born in the UK If you have a child while you’re in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen . You can apply online for their visa as your dependant . You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child. You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents. You must apply for their dependant visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.

Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa

Overview

You can apply for a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa if you:

want to come to the UK for a short time for work experience or to do training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, research or a fellowship through an approved government authorised exchange scheme
have a sponsor
meet the other eligibility requirements

This visa has replaced the Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa (T5).

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you or your family member started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme.

The deadline to apply was 30 June 2021 for most people. You can still apply if either:

you have a later deadline - for example, you’re joining a family member in the UK who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020
you have ‘reasonable grounds’ for being unable to apply by 30 June 2021 - for example, you had an illness or were the victim of domestic abuse

Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Otherwise you need a visa to work in the UK.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Sponsorship

You need to have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you can apply to come to the UK to work.

Your work, training or research in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organisation.

Your sponsor can be any of the following:

an organisation running an approved exchange scheme
a higher education institution (if you are a sponsored researcher, visiting academic or examiner)
a government department or agency

How long it takes

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

It’s currently taking longer to get a decision on Government Authorised Exchange visas when you apply from outside the UK. Find out visa decision waiting times.

If you need to go to an appointment, you may be able to pay for a faster decision. How you do this depends on whether you’re outside the UK or inside the UK.

How much it costs

You, your partner or children will each need to:

pay the application fee
pay the healthcare surcharge, which is usually £624 per year - you can check how much you’ll have to pay
prove you have enough personal savings - check how much in the eligibility requirements

Application fee

The application fee for each person applying is £259.

The fee is the same whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for up to 12 or 24 months (depending on the scheme you’re applying for) or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.

You can enter the UK up to 14 days before the start date of your job.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

study (for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate)
work in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
do a second job for up to 20 hours per week
do a job on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week as well as your main job
apply to change (‘switch’) to a Global Talent visa if you’re in the government authorised exchange scheme for sponsored researchers
bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible

You cannot:

take a permanent job
get public funds

View a printable version of the whole guide

Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa

Overview

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Sponsorship

How long it takes

Getting a decision

How much it costs

Application fee

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

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Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa

Overview

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Sponsorship

How long it takes

Getting a decision

How much it costs

Application fee

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

Related content

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK