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The Academia Visit Visa is intended for scientists, researchers, and academics who want to travel to the UK for up to six months or 12 months if they engage in approved unpaid scientific or academic activity.
The Eligibility Requirements is additional if you apply for more than 6 months.
Eligibility requirements
You must be able to show that:
- You are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for the purpose you are applying for.
- You’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit.
- You’re able to support yourself and your dependants during your trip and return or onward journey. (or have funding from someone else to support you)
- You’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.
- You have a formal letter, for example from:
- Your employer outlining the dates of your sabbatical or exchange
- Your employer outlining the research to be undertaken
- The UK host organisation confirming the arrangements for your research, exchange or clinical practice
- If you want to stay more that 6 months in the UK You must prove you’re:
- highly qualified in your field of expertise – this will usually mean you have a PhD or higher
- currently working in that field of expertise at an academic institution overseas
- not filling a permanent teaching post
If you’re an academic, but not a senior doctor or dentist, you must also prove you’re visiting to do research or a formal exchange.
If you’re a senior doctor or dentist, you must also prove you’re visiting to do research, clinical practice, a formal exchange or to teach.
If you’re from an academic institution overseas, you can:
- take part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts
- carry out your own research during a sabbatical
If you’re a senior doctor or dentist you can also:
- take part in research
- teach (as long as it’s not a permanent teaching post)
- undertake clinical practice (as long as it’s not a permanent position)
To research certain subjects at postgraduate level or above, you may need to get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificatebefore you start your research.
Depending on your situation, there may be differences in the specific standards you must meet. Seeking advice from an immigration specialist can be beneficial. Call us on 020********
If you want to visit for more than 6 months
All academic visits lasting longer than 6 months require a Standard Visitor visa regardless of your nationality.
You can:
- apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you travel to the UK that lasts for up to 12 months and costs £200
- visit for up to 6 months and apply to stay longer when you’re in the UK for a fee of £1,000 (you can stay up to 12 months in total)
Your partner and children can apply to stay with you for up to 12 months. They can apply for a Standard Visitor visa in advance or visit for 6 months and extend their stay once in the UK.
Useful link and recourse to support documents from the UK government: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visitor-visa-guide-to-supporting-documents/guide-to-supporting-documents-visiting-the-uk