Apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa
Applicants must apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa if the applicant wants to come to the UK for a short time for work experience or to do training, or an Overseas Government Language Programme, or research, or a fellowship through an approved government authorised exchange scheme.
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Table of contents
– Overview – UK Government Authorised Exchange visa
– What are the eligibility criteria for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
– Will I require a Certificate of Sponsorship to apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
– How can I get a Certificate of Sponsorship?
– What are the documents required to apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
– When should I apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
– How to apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
– How long does it take to get a decision on a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
– How much does a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa cost?
– How long can I stay in the UK on a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
– What is permitted and not permitted on a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
– Can I extend my UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
– How can I switch to a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
– Can I bring my partner and children to the UK on a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
– How can The SmartMove2UK be of help for your UK Government Authorised Exchange visa application?
Overview – UK Government Authorised Exchange visa
Applicants must apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa if the applicant wants to come to the UK for a short time for work experience or to do training, or an Overseas Government Language Programme, or research, or a fellowship through an approved government authorised exchange scheme.
What are the eligibility criteria for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
The eligibility criteria for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa are listed below:
- The applicant must have a Certificate of Sponsorship from their UK sponsor.
- The applicant must have enough money to support their stay in the UK – a minimum of £1,270 in the applicant’s bank account is mandatory.
- The money must be available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.
Will I require a Certificate of Sponsorship to apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
Yes, the applicant must have a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer before they can apply to come to the UK to work.
How can I get a Certificate of Sponsorship?
- The UK-based employer – also known as a ‘Sponsor’ – must provide the applicant with a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ stating all the information with regards to the job role for which the applicant is employed in the UK.
- It’s an e-Certificate. That means, it is an electronic record and not a paper document.
- The applicant will need the reference number from the Certificate of Sponsorship to apply for the visa.
- The Certificate of Sponsorship must be valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned to the applicant.
What are the documents required to apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
The documents required to apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa are listed below:
- A Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer.
- A valid passport with enough blank pages for the visa, and other documents that proves the identity and nationality of the applicant.
- Evidence of enough personal savings to support the applicant’s stay in the UK. For example, bank statements.
- Proof of relationship with the partner or children, if they apply.
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results (if required).
- The applicant will need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
- A valid ATAS certificate if the employer tells the applicant that they need one because the job role involves researching a sensitive subject at Ph.D. level or higher.
When should I apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
The applicant can apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa up to 3 months before the day they are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
How to apply for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
The applicant must apply online for a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa.
How long does it take to get a decision on a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
Once applied online, submitted identity proofs, and provided valid documents, the applicant will usually get a decision on their visa application within:
- 3 weeks, if the applicant is outside the UK.
- 8 weeks, if the applicant is inside the UK.
How much does a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa cost?
The applicant is required to pay:
- The application fee, which is £259 (the fee is the same whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK).
- The immigration healthcare surcharge, which is £624 for each year granted on the visa.
(Application fees updated as of May 2022).
How long can I stay in the UK on a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
- The applicant can stay for up to 1 year or 2 years (depending on the scheme the applicant is applying for) or the time mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.
- The applicant can enter the UK up to 14 days before the start date of their job.
What is permitted and not permitted on a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
The applicant is permitted to:
- Study (for some courses).
- Work for the sponsor in the job described on the applicant’s 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.
- Apply to change (‘switch’) to a UK Global Talent visa if the applicant is in the government-authorised exchange scheme for sponsored researchers.
- Bring a partner and children (under 18 years), if they’re eligible.
The applicant is not permitted to:
- Get public funds.
- Take a permanent job.
Can I extend my UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
The applicant can apply to extend their UK Government Authorised Exchange visa before their current visa expires.
How can I switch to a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
The applicant can apply to change (‘switch’) to a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa, only if the applicant meets the following eligibility criteria. The applicant must be:
- A student, whether studying, resitting an examination, or writing a thesis.
- A student union sabbatical officer.
- A student nurse.
- A postgraduate doctor or dentist.
- A student visa holder (including Tier 4).
- A sponsored researcher in the UK – on a work permit and the applicant wants to continue in the same job with their sponsor.
- The applicant must have completed a UK Bachelor’s or Master’s degree during their last grant of leave.
Can I bring my partner and children to the UK on a UK Government Authorised Exchange visa?
- The applicant can bring along a partner and children (under 18 years) to join them in the UK as their ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.
- If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as the main applicants.
A dependent partner or child is any of the following:
- Husband, wife, civil partner, or an unmarried partner.
- Children under 18 years – including if they were born in the UK during the main applicant’s stay in the country.
- Children over 18 years if they’re currently in the UK living as a dependant.
How can The SmartMove2UK be of help for your UK Government Authorised Exchange visa application?
The SmartMove2UK is a UK immigration law firm, established in 2009. Our firm has a team of UK immigration solicitors and experts.
- Our law firm was announced as the winner of the IAE Corporate Immigration Law (India) award, in 2016.
- We are recognized by Who’s Who Legal (WWL) as a Corporate Immigration Firm in 2016.
- We take pride in being members of prominent institutions like The Law Society and Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.
Our offices are located in India – Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
We have been assisting clients from all over the world and our clientele is spread across 26+ countries, with 1,000 success stories.
Our UK-qualified solicitors have the expertise of over 2 decades in providing Legal Advice for all UK immigration-related assistance.
We also offer Full Representation service and Filing Appeals for Refused applications.
You can get in touch with our UK immigration lawyer to book a consultation!
A professional advice will go a long way to make your UK Government Authorised Exchange visa application a successful one!
Fill this form and one of our UK Government Authorised Exchange visa consultant based in India or UK will contact you asap.
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