You must have both of the following: a certificate of sponsorship reference number from your UK sponsor 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. Multiple entry Your sponsor can give you a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship so you can leave and return to the UK. 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 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. You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of your application. You’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you said you’d arrive in the UK (even if you actually arrive at a later date). Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in. Check if your visa application centre offers faster decisions and other services. 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 worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa (T5). 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 You can add your partner and children to your online application - including children who have turned 18 during your stay. 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. 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 Worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa (T5). 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 You can add your partner and children to your online application - including children who have turned 18 during your stay. 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

Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa (T5)

Overview

You can apply for a Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa (T5) 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 Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange) visa.

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you or your close family member started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may be able to apply to the free 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 will take

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before the date you’re due to start work. This date is on your certificate of sponsorship.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Application fee

The application fee for each person applying is £244.

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

If you’re from an eligible country

Your application fee will be automatically reduced by £55 if you’re from one of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden or Turkey.

This reduction only applies to your visa application. Your partner and children will still need to pay the full application fee.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK

You’ll need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

Get a faster decision on your application

If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.

You can pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a decision:

by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday
2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

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

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Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa (T5)

Overview

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Sponsorship

How long it will take

Application fee

If you’re from an eligible country

Healthcare surcharge

If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK

Get a faster decision on your application

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

Brexit

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Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa (T5)

Overview

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Sponsorship

How long it will take

Application fee

If you’re from an eligible country

Healthcare surcharge

If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK

Get a faster decision on your application

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

Brexit

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Help us improve GOV.UK

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