Types of visas and how to apply

Global Talent Visa (GTV)

For individuals internationally recognised as world leaders or potential world leading talent in their field, and/or filling academic/research-related positions that meet criteria for accelerated GTV endorsement routes. 

Applicants do not need to be sponsored by Imperial College but do need to apply for (stage 1) endorsement from an approved endorsing body before applying for a visa (stage 2).

Please note that, given its significant benefits and reduced restrictions Imperial College encourages those eligible to apply for a GTV rather than a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) visa wherever possible:

• Enter the UK without a job offer, work for any employer or be self-employed
• Apply for up to 5 years’ leave
• Apply for settlement after 3 years (or 5 years if in Exceptional Promise peer review route endorsed by either Arts Council England or Tech Nation)
• Pay reduced application fees than skilled work route, but must still pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
• No English language/maintenance requirements to obtain GTV

There are four GTV endorsement routes, three with fast track/accelerated endorsement processes:

• Awardees/holders of certain Individual Fellowships
  - Holders of these fellowships can make an independent application with no Imperial College support required. Can apply with fellowship award letter, and would not need to wait for employment contract from Imperial. 
• Academic and Research Appointments
  - Must be either providing Strategic Academic leadership and/or independently leading/directing research as significant function of role and meet certain recruitment requirements. Would require a signed employment contract and supporting documentation from Staff Compliance Team to apply.
• UKRI Endorsed Funders scheme
  - The post being filled must meet certain requirements as well as being funded from list of approved funders. Would require a signed employment contract and supporting documentation from Staff Compliance Team to apply.

The three fast track endorsement routes above are in addition to:

Standard Global Talent Peer Review route for exceptional promise and exceptional talent applicants. Support from eminent UK based academic is required for this route, and a PhD or equivalent clinical or industrial research experience is required.

Whichever endorsement route is used, the same GTV status is granted and individuals can choose to apply from 1 to 5 years of this visa type. 

In addition to the UKVI guidance above, please review the guidance on the following pages: 

• Royal Society guidance and FAQs
• Royal Academy of Engineering
• UKRI
• British Academy
• Tech Nation

For further guidance on this route, hiring managers and staff should contact the Staff Compliance team. 

The Imperial College assessment forms to be completed by employing departments and submitted to the Staff Compliance Team can be downloaded:

• Academic & Research appointments route form
• UKRI endorsed funder route form

Skilled Worker Route

For skilled workers with a job offer from a licensed sponsor, which meets specific skill and salary requirements, and who can satisfactorily evidence that their English language skills to the required standard.

Imperial College is only permitted to sponsor workers and issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) when the specific requirements and points have been met and evidenced.

Sponsorship and visa granted will be issued in accordance with the contract of employment dates.

For individuals who wish to check their potential eligibility for Skilled Worker Route, please review the gov.uk eligibility checker here

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Dependent on the type and level of research activity and nationality of the researcher, an additional requirement may be the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). Where ATAS is required for a researcher/academic it is essential that the individual’s ATAS certificate is checked, and a copy retained by Imperial College before they can be provided with a certificate of sponsorship to make their Skilled Worker Route visa application.

Please review the following guidance:

• Information on Skilled Work Sponsorship here
• Information on sponsor and employee responsibilities here
• Information on ATAS here.

Workers & Temporary Workers sponsor guidance is published by UK Visas & Immigration.  

Student visa

Student visa holders are permitted to work for up to a maximum total of 20 hours per week during term time if they are studying at degree level or above at a Higher Education Institution (HEI) or up to a maximum total of 10 hours per week during term time if they are studying below degree level at a HEI. 

They may work full time during vacation times, including the time between the end of their course and the end of their student visa. For PhD students, Imperial College classifies students as being fully completed once final PhD thesis is submitted post-Viva and no further minor corrections are required.

Since July 2023, Students wishing to switch to work routes must have fully completed their studies, or in case of PhD students, completed at least 2 years of study to make an application under an employment visa route.

NB: Those studying at a publicly-funded Further Education (FE) College or on part-time study programmes are not permitted to work at all. This will be reflected on their visa/Biometric Residence Permit.

For general queries regarding Tier 4/student visas please contact the International Student Support team. 

Graduate Route

• Undergraduate and Masters students that successfully apply for this visa will be able to stay in the UK and work - or look for work - at any skill level for two years.
• Doctoral students will be able to stay for three years.
• It is possible to switch into other visa work routes before the end of the graduate visa period. 

More information can be found on the International Student Support webpages, and the UK Government has provided a Graduate Worker Route factsheet.

T5 Government Authorised Exchange (Sponsored Researcher Scheme for HEIs)

Please see our ‘Other Engagements’ guidance on Government Authorised Exchange which allows the College to host and sponsor researchers who meet the requirements of the scheme for a maximum of 24 months.

This route cannot be used for filling general job vacancies, as the route is only to be used for supernumerary research and permitted activities.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Dependent on the type and level of research activity and nationality of the researcher, an additional requirement may be the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). Where ATAS is required for a researcher/academic it is essential that the individual’s ATAS certificate is checked, and a copy retained by Imperial College before they can be provided with a certificate of sponsorship to make their Temporary Worker Route visa application.

Please see the ATAS information on Immigration & Compliance webpages here.

Updated Workers & Temporary Workers sponsor guidance is published by UK Visas & Immigration.  

The Youth Mobility scheme does not require the College to be a licensed sponsor since the national government of the participating countries will be the sponsor.

To employ workers in this category a reciprocal agreement must be in place between the UK and the country of which the migrant is a national.  Currently agreements have been reached with the countries listed below.

There are some exceptions to usual 18-30 age requirements and 24-month maximum period rules, and some countries apply via a ballot process, these are stated below.

An individual can apply for a visa if they are aged 18 to 30 and from:

• Andorra 
• Australia (aged 18 to 35)
• Canada (aged 18 to 35)
• Iceland
• Hong Kong (via Ballot)
• Japan (via Ballot)
• Monaco
• New Zealand (aged 18 to 35)
• San Marino
• South Korea (via Ballot)
• Taiwan (via Ballot)
• Uruguay 
• British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens and British nationals (overseas) can apply under the scheme and do not need a sponsor.

Successful applicants will be given permission to enter the UK for up to a maximum of 24 months. New Zealand, Australia and Canada nationals can extend by a further 12 months.

Holders of this visa will be able to undertake most types of work during that time. Subject to eligibility criteria and having a suitable job/offer, it is now possible to ‘switch’ to a Work visa in-country (subject to usual eligibility requirements) before the Youth Mobility visa ends.

Youth Mobility Scheme workers are responsible for applying for their own visa and are awarded points based on their nationality, age, and available maintenance (funds).

There is a similar scheme for Indian nationals. India Young Professionals Scheme visa.

Please visit the Government's website for further information on the Youth Mobility Scheme visa process.

High Potential Individual Route

• A High Potential Individual (HPI) visa gives permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years.
• This type of visa does not need an employment contract or job offer to apply, and will allow most work in the UK, including self-employment
• To apply, an individual must have been awarded a qualification by an eligible (Non-UK) university in the last 5 years.
• An HPI visa usually lasts for 2 years. However, if the applicant has a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.
• It is not possible to extend a HPI visa. However, holders may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker or Global Talent visa.

As outlined in Imperial College’s Expenses Policy, departments may consider reimbursing UK visa and immigration application fees for current or prospective staff and their dependants at their discretion.  Applicants are not able to appeal against a department’s decision to exercise discretion. Please note that, where the research funder permits reimbursement of UK visa and immigration application fees, departments should charge eligible costs to the relevant project code.

• Where a prospective member of staff is not yet in the UK, reimbursement of the initial visa application fees and/or Immigration Health Surcharge costs is non-taxable. Claims should be made using an Expense Claim (E1) form and submitted to Accounts Payable for processing.
• Where the applicant is already in the UK and is applying to extend or switch their visa or is applying for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)), reimbursement of the application fees is taxable as it is considered a benefit-in-kind. Claims should be made using an Expense Claim (E1) form and submitted to Payroll for processing as a taxable pay supplement and not via the Expenses system.
• Reimbursement of any dependant application fees, for applications made inside or outside the UK, is taxable.  Claims should be made using an Expense Claim (E1) form and submitted to Payroll for processing.

Imperial College can provide an interest-free loan facility through Payroll to assist current or prospective staff and their dependants with payment of UK visa and immigration application fees.

For more information, please refer to the process outlined on the Salary Advance Form - UK Immigration Application Fees or contact the Staff Compliance Team should you have any queries.