Academic Visitor visa

Last updated 4 January 2024

Visitor Visa Routes

Please refer to the Academic Visitor guidance below for information on the procedure for inviting Academic Visitors to the University and the Request for Invitation form.

Academic Visitors, other than British and Irish nationals and individuals granted pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, may require a visa for their visit to the University. Please refer to the UKVI’s visa requirement webpage below for clarification on whether a visa is required for the visit, as the visitor may not need to apply for a visa to enter the UK depending on their nationality, the purpose and duration of the visit.

If a visa is required for the visit, the Academic Visitor will need to apply for a Standard Visitor, Temporary Work - Government Authorised Exchange or Permitted Paid Engagement visa depending on the purpose of the visit. Please refer to the table below which details the different visa categories and the permitted activities;

 A document check must be completed by Human Resources prior to the commencement of the visit. If the visitor requires a visa and the visit duration is more than 6 months, the visitor must collect a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) on arrival in the UK.

Academic Visitors granted a Standard Visitor visa cannot do paid or unpaid work for the University or study in the UK for longer than 6 months other than engaging in the academic activity for which their visa has been granted.

If the visitor is an academic and meets the eligibility requirements of being an academic employed by a university overseas who is highly qualified in their field of expertise, they may apply for a Standard Visitor visa of up to 12 months duration.

Visitors entering the UK on a Standard Visitor visa must leave the UK at the end of their visit and cannot switch into another visa category.

The visitor should not receive any funding from a UK Source, except reasonable payments for expenses.

The visitor may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before their visit can commence (see ATAS webpage for further information).

A visa application typically takes 3 weeks from when the visitor submits their biometrics at the Visa Application Centre.

Further information on the Standard Visitor visa is available below. 

The Academic Visitor will need to be sponsored by the University for the duration of their visit if they will be involved in collaborative research whilst at the University. A Certificate of Sponsorship will be assigned by Human Resources to support the visitor’s visa application.

Prior to assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship, the visitor must provide Human Resources with a scanned copy of their passport, confirmation of their funding (must include visit dates and amount of funding which must meet or be above the national minimum wage) and an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate (if applicable – see ATAS webpage for further information).

A Certificate of Sponsorship can be assigned to the Academic Visitor up to 3 months prior to the expected visit start date. Visa applications typically take 3 weeks from when the visitor submits their biometrics at the Visa Application Centre.

Further information on the Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa is available at the UKVI webpage.

If the Academic Visitor requires a visa and is being invited to the University as an expert in their profession to undertake specific paid work and the visit duration is for a month or less, they may be eligible to apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement visa.

The Permitted Paid Engagement visa allows an individual, for example, to take part in selection panels, give lectures and do minor activities relating to their overseas role such as attending meetings.

An Academic Visitor on a Permitted Paid Engagement visa will not be allowed to do any paid work unrelated to their role or area of expertise overseas.

Visitors entering the UK on a Permitted Paid Engagement visa must leave the UK at the end of their visit and cannot switch into another visa category.

Further information on the Permitted Paid Engagement visa is available below.