The Government Authorised Exchange Visa is not a route to settlement, but individuals on the Government Authorised Exchange route can be joined by a dependent partner and children under the age of 18.

Requirements for a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa

In order to qualify for a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the role you are planning to undertake, issued by an overarching body (sponsor) that holds a valid Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange sponsor licence;
• The role you are planning to undertake meets the requirements of an approved Government Authorised Exchange scheme;
• The role does not fill a vacancy in the UK workforce;
• The role appears in Table 1 or Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations;
• You have sufficient personal savings to support yourself in the UK;
• Your application does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal;
• You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required.

Government Authorised Exchange Visa Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Requirement

In order to obtain a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa you will need to have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship issued by a Home Office-approved sponsor for the role you are applying to undertake in the UK.  Your sponsor will need to hold a valid Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange sponsor licence.

Your sponsor will be the overarching body responsible for the approved internship, training, work experience or research programme that you wish to undertake.

The Home Office has published a list of all approved Government Authorised Exchange schemes and their respective Home Office approved overarching bodies (sponsors).

Your sponsor must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors, unless you were last granted permission on the Government Authorised Exchange route and are applying to continue working for the same sponsor as in your last permission.

Your Certificate of Sponsorship must have been issued not more than 3 months before the date of your Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa application.

Your Certificate of Sponsorship must include certain mandatory information, including:

• Details of your name, job and salary;
• A start date which is no more than 3 months after the date of your Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa application;
• Confirmation that the role meets the requirements of the individual exchange scheme;
• Confirmation that the role does not fill a vacancy in the workforce;
• Confirmation that the role appears in Table 1 or Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations;
• Confirmation that the Certificate of Sponsorship has not been used in a previous application which was either granted or refused and has not been withdrawn by the sponsor or cancelled by the Home Office.

Genuine Job Requirement

In order to be granted a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa, you will need to satisfy the Home Office that you are being sponsored to undertake a genuine job.

You must genuinely intend to, and be able to, undertake the role for which you are sponsored and not intend to undertake employment other than in the role for which you are being sponsored, or as otherwise permitted.

Duration of a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa

If your Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa application is approved you will be permitted to enter and remain in the UK for either the time stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus up to 14 days before and after or the maximum amount of time permitted under the terms of the approved Government Authorised Exchange scheme that you have applied for.

If you apply for permission to stay and your application is approved then you will be granted either the period of the job on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days or  the difference between the amount of time you have already spent in the UK since your last grant of permission on the Government Authorised Exchange route and the maximum amount of time permitted under the terms of the specific approved Government Authorised Exchange scheme that you have applied for, whichever is shorter.

The maximum period of time permitted under the terms of your approved Government Authorised Exchange scheme will be either 12 or 24 months depending on the scheme.

How Our Immigration Advisers Can Help

Our immigration advisers have experience in assisting foreign skilled workers and employers with sponsor licences, certificates of sponsorship, and skilled worker visa applications.  Our advisers are experts in immigration options and will guide you through the complex Home Office rules and policies.

We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our client’s needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to clients as part of a professional and friendly service.