Academic Visitor Visa UK

Overview of Academic Visitor Visa

The exact type of Visitor Visa issued to overseas travellers is determined by the activities they plan to engage in when they arrive in the UK.

Within the Academic Visitor Visa route, eligibility is restricted to those engaged in teaching or research roles within higher education or research institutions in the UK. Notably, this path caters to research professionals, excluding students engaged in research activities.

Individuals on sabbatical leave from private research businesses, researchers on grants, recent graduates, and sponsored researchers should take a different immigration path as they are not eligible to be academic visitors in the UK.

Under the academic visitor subcategory of the Standard Visitor Visa, various individuals are accommodated. This includes academic visitors who, during leave from their overseas academic institution, visit to conduct private study, such as research for a book. It also includes visitors attending non-profit seminars or conferences. Also, renowned senior physicians or dentists at the top of their profession, qualify as academic visitors when engaging in clinical practice, teaching, or research.

Academic Visitor Visa Requirements

You must fulfil the conditions required for a standard Visitor Visa in order to be qualified for an Academic Visitor Visa. Also, if you are an academic visiting the UK for a duration longer than six months, you must meet extra qualifying conditions.

The requirements for eligibility for visitors are:

• Having the ability to support yourself financially all through the duration of your stay in the UK without engaging in any paid work or using public funds
• Genuinely seeking to visit the UK for the purpose of academics as permitted by the rules
• Not seeking to live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or consecutive trips
• Not planning to engage in any prohibited activities while in the UK
• Willingness to leave the UK once the allowed stay expires

For academics hoping to spend more than six months in the UK, there are additional qualifying requirements:

• You intend to engage in one or more of the activities that are allowed as an academic visitor for about 12 months
• You are extremely qualified in your field of expertise, typically holding a PhD or higher
• You are presently employed in that field at a university or a higher education institution overseas

How to Apply For Academic Visitor Visa

You must apply online with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), pay the applicable fee, and provide proof of identification in the form of a valid passport or other travel document in order to be considered for this visa type.

In order to register your biometrics you will need to make a scheduled appointment with a visa application centre if you are applying for a visa that will stay longer than six months.

To show that you fulfil the necessary requirements for being an academic visitor, you will have to provide a variety of supporting documents which must all be in English or a certified translated copy.

Before beginning your research, you will need to get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate if you plan to study a given subject at the postgraduate level or above. If you are coming to the UK for a period longer than six months, you might additionally require a negative tuberculosis (TB) test certificate.

Required Documents Needed to Apply For an Academic Visitor Visa

• Valid passport
• A letter confirming that the offer to do research was received from a UK University, this must include the length of the project and the nature of the study
• Evidence that the academic visitor is highly qualified in their field and is employed in that field at a university or other academic institution abroad
• Information about their intended accommodation and travel schedule
• Provide proof of their ability to sustain themselves while travelling, such as pay slips or bank statements for the last six months
• Documents showing intention to return to their home country following the study term. For example, a mortgage statement or verification of family-related links

The visa holder is not allowed to work for pay or without pay, register in classes, or engage in any other activities that need a separate visa.

Academic Visitor Visa Application Fees

The usual cost of a six-month Academic Visitor visa is £127. You will be charged a £1,100 extension fee if you choose to request to remain longer once you are in the UK -up to a total of 12 months.

If you initially apply to stay in the UK for 12 months when outside the country the cost is £220, however you should ensure you meet the qualifying criteria for this longer-stay visa including:

• Possess exceptional qualifications in your field of study, such as a PhD or higher
• Be employed by a foreign academic institution in that field of competence before coming to the UK
• Not being hired for a long-term teaching position

How Much Time Does it Take to Process an Academic Visitor Visa?

It can take up to 3 weeks for a visa application to be processed. However, depending on where you submitted your application, you may be able to pay for a quicker decision.

The fee is £500 for a priority decision made in less than five working days, and £1000 for a super priority decision made before the end of the next working day.

It is recommended to wait for the processing of the visa application before making any travel arrangements. In the event that you have paid for faster processing, this does not ensure a favourable result; you will still need to fulfil the requirements for an Academic Visitor visa.

Three months before planned arrival is the earliest you should submit an application for an Academic Visitor Visa.

How Long Can an Academic Visitor Spend in the UK?

You can apply to stay for a maximum of 12 months if you are currently in the UK with an authorisation to visit for a shorter period of time than 12 months. Each applicant needs to submit an application and pay the £1,100 cost.

Unless you pay for a speedier decision, any extension application will normally be decided within 8 weeks. You are prohibited from leaving the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man during this period unless you get a decision from UKVI. You face the possibility of having your application revoked if you do not follow this condition.

Bringing Dependants as An Academic Visitor Visa Holder

It is possible for the partner or children to accompany the academic visitor to the UK but they must apply for their own separate UK visitor visa and pay all associated applications fees. It is important to note the Academic Visitor Visa and the partner/child Visitor Visa are not directly linked.

In most cases, this Standard Visitor Visa is issued for an initial period of six months and can be extended, for a fee, to 12 months once in the UK. If the Academic Visitor Visa is initially issued for 12 months then it may be possible for partner or child to be issued a Visitor Visa to cover this period when applying from outside of the UK.

Any dependent children of a Academic Visitor, who are in the UK on a Visitor Visa, are permitted to attend public or state-funded school during their time in the country.

How Can IAS Help?

Embarking on an academic visit to the UK entails navigating a complex process, and IAS is dedicated to making this journey smoother for both individual scholars and businesses facilitating academic visits. Our team of immigration experts is well-versed in Academic Visitor Visa applications. We will ensure a seamless experience tailored to meet specific needs.

Navigating the intricacies of the online application process becomes more manageable with IAS by your side. The team offers step-by-step guidance, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of your application. Additionally, support is extended to scheduling and preparing for biometric appointments at visa application centres. For cases requiring a visa interview, thorough preparation is provided to enhance the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Should the need arise to extend your academic visit, IAS is able to assist. Our immigration lawyers will guide you through the extension application process, facilitating a seamless transition for an extended stay in the UK. Contact us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or visit us online.