Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa Name	Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa
Stay	Up to 12 or 24 months
Cost	£340 application fee plus healthcare surcharge
Eligibility Timing	Apply up to 3 months before work starts
Work Rights	Sponsored job; second job up to 20 hours
Study	Allowed (some courses require an ATAS certificate)
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Enter up to 14 days before work starts
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family Sponsorship	Eligible partner and children can apply as dependants
Visa Record	eVisa (digital record of immigration status)

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Purpose and Overview

The Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa allows individuals to come to the UK temporarily for work experience, training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, research, or a fellowship through an approved government authorised exchange scheme. This route replaced the Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa (T5).

Eligibility and Sponsorship

To be eligible, you must:

• Have a valid certificate of sponsorship reference number (valid for 3 months) or sponsorship reference number (valid for 90 days) from a licensed UK sponsor.
• Ensure the work, training, or research relates directly to the sponsor organisation's work.
• Be paid at least the National Minimum Wage and comply with UK weekly working hour limits.
• Have at least £1,270 in personal savings held for at least 28 consecutive days (day 28 must fall within 31 days of applying), unless:
  • You have been in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months, or
  • Your employer confirms on your sponsorship record that they will cover your maintenance costs up to £1,270 for your first month.

Sponsors

Your sponsor must be:

• An organisation running an approved exchange scheme,
• A higher education institution (for sponsored researchers, visiting academics, or examiners), or
• A government department or agency.

Stay and Validity

• Work experience schemes: Maximum stay of up to 12 months.
• Research, training, or Overseas Government Language Programmes: Maximum stay of up to 24 months.
• Travel buffer: You may enter the UK up to 14 days before your job start date (not earlier than your visa valid date) and remain up to 14 days after your job end date (not past your visa end date).

Fees and Healthcare Surcharge

• Application Fee: £340 per applicant (inside or outside the UK).
• Healthcare Surcharge: Usually £1,035 per person per year.

Processing Times

• Outside the UK: Usually 3 weeks.
• Inside the UK (extensions/switching): Usually 8 weeks under standard service (next working day or 2 days for super priority).

Rights and Conditions

Allowed:

• Work in the sponsored role specified on your certificate/reference number.
• Work a second job for up to 20 hours per week.
• Work in a role on the Skilled Worker immigration salary list for up to 20 hours per week alongside your main job.
• Study (an ATAS certificate may be required for sensitive subjects at PhD level or higher).
• Bring eligible dependants.

Not Allowed:

• Take a permanent job.
• Access public funds.

Documents Required

• Certificate of sponsorship reference number or sponsorship reference number.
• Valid passport or identity document.
• Proof of personal savings (e.g., bank statements), unless exempt.
• Proof of relationship for accompanying partner/children.
• Tuberculosis test results (if from a listed country).
• ATAS certificate, if required by your employer.
• Letter of consent from a government or international scholarship agency (if applicable).
• Certified translations for documents not in English or Welsh.

Family Provisions (Dependants)

Eligible partners and children under 18 (or over 18 if currently UK dependants) may apply.

Financial Requirements for Dependants

Funds must be held for 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of applying:

• Partner: £285
• First child: £315
• Each additional child: £200

Exemption: Family has lived in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, or the sponsor covers maintenance.

Dependant Rights

• Dependants can work (except as a professional sportsperson or coach) and study.
• They cannot access public funds or the State Pension.

Switching and Extending in the UK

• Extending: Apply online before your current visa expires to extend up to the maximum permitted scheme limit (12 or 24 months). You must reapply if you change sponsors.
• Switching: Available to Student visa holders (including Tier 4), student union sabbatical officers, student nurses, and postgraduate doctors/dentists who completed a UK bachelor's or master's degree during their last grant of leave. The sponsored exchange must relate directly to that degree.
• Switching Restrictions: Individuals on visit visas, short-term student visas, Parent of a Child Student visas, seasonal worker visas, domestic worker visas, immigration bail, or leave outside the immigration rules cannot switch inside the UK.

How to Apply

1. Apply online via GOV.UK:
   • Apply from outside the UK
   • Extend or switch from inside the UK
2. Prove identity by using the "UK Immigration: ID Check" app or attending an appointment at a visa application centre / UKVCAS service point.
3. Pay the visa application fee and healthcare surcharge.
4. Upload or scan required supporting documents.

Important Warning: If applying from inside the UK, you must not travel outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man) while your application is pending, or your application will be withdrawn.