Government Authorised Exchange Visa UK (GAE Visa)

What is the Government Authorised Exchange Scheme?

The Government Authorised Exchange Visa (GAE visa) is part of the UK’s Temporary Worker visa category. The visa is aimed at foreign nationals coming to the UK to share knowledge, experience, and best practices.

To be eligible for this visa, you must be coming to the country under a government-approved exchange scheme and have a licensed sponsor. Your sponsor could be:

• An organisation running an approved exchange scheme
• A government department or agency
• A higher education institution if you are a sponsored researcher, examiner, or visiting academic.

A complete list of the approved schemes eligible for this visa can be found here.

This visa allows you to do the work outlined in the exchange scheme you are participating in, study, and take on a second job part-time while in the UK.

Who is eligible for the Government Authorised Exchange Visa?

Along with being accepted into an approved scheme, you will need to meet several other eligibility requirements. You must:

• Be over the age of 18
• Hold a Certificate of Sponsorship from a registered UK sponsor
• Prove that you have enough money to support yourself whilst in the UK. You will need to show that you have at least £1,270 available in your bank account for at least 28 days in a row within 31 days of your visa application

You can be exempt from the financial requirement if you have already been in the UK for at least 12 months on a valid visa or if your employer agrees to cover your costs during your first month in the UK.

What can you do on a Government Authorised Exchange Visa?

The Government Authorised Exchange Visa is a Temporary Worker Visa that allows you to participate in:

• Work experience
• Training
• An Overseas Government Language Programme
• Research
• A fellowship

These activities must be part of an approved scheme.

This visa also allows you to do activities outside the job described on your Certificate of Sponsorship. This includes studying and taking on a second job outside your primary job. However, you cannot take on a permanent job in the UK; you can only take on a second job part-time for up to 20 hours per week.

You cannot access public funds as a Government Authorised Exchange visa holder.

Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to receive assistance with your Government Authorised Exchange Visa application.

Requirements for Government Authorised Exchange visa

Holders of a GAE visa can take on training, work experience, research, or an overseas government language programme, provided they do so through a government-authorised exchange scheme and meet the eligibility requirements. Requirements can differ depending on your circumstances; however, generally, you must:

• Hold a valid passport that has a blank page in it.
• Have a certificate of sponsorship from your employer or training body that confirms information regarding your job or training role in the UK.
• Have a letter from a government body that permits you to enter and stay in the UK.
• Prove you have enough money to support yourself in the UK (financial requirement).

Financial Requirement for GAE visa

You must prove that you can support yourself financially when in the UK. Currently, you will need to show that you have at least £1,270 in your bank account as part of your application. You must have had it for at least 28 consecutive days before you apply, and within 31 days of your application date. You will need to provide bank statements as proof when applying.

There are, however, exceptions to this rule, and some people may be exempt if, for example, their employer has offered to cover their living costs.

It is also worth noting that your job or training programme must pay at least the minimum wage as set by the UK government, or it will be refused.

Genuine Job Requirement for a GAE visa

For your job role or training programme to be eligible for an authorised exchange scheme, it must be classed as ‘genuine’ by the UK Home Office. This means that the role and you, as the applicant, are legitimate, and that you intend to take it, as opposed to using it as a way of entering the UK.

Your role must relate to the organisation you are applying to work for, and not be a vacancy that would normally be filled by someone in the UK. It should not be filled by a UK worker after your departure, and so is classed as a supernumerary role (outside normal staffing requirements).

The job or training role must also require at least level 3 (A-level) skills to complete and be paid the minimum wage. (The wage requirement will differ depending on the job role and hours you intend to work).

Required documents for the Government Authorised Exchange Visa

When applying for your Government Authorised Exchange visa, you must submit documents to prove that you meet the visa requirements. The documents that you will need include:

• A valid passport or another national identity document, you will also need a blank page on your passport for your visa
• Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number
• Evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself. This could include bank statements
• Your tuberculosis test results if you are from a country where you have to take the test
• A valid ATAS certificate if your employer tells you that you need one because your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher
• A letter from a government or international scholarship agency giving you consent to remain in, or re-enter the UK

If you plan to bring any dependent relatives to the UK, such as your partner or children, you must also provide documents proving your relationship with them.

All documents submitted must be in English or Welsh. If your documents are in another language, you must provide a certified translation.

How to apply for the Government Authorised Exchange Visa?

You must apply for the Government Authorised Exchange Visa online via the form available on the gov.uk website. You can apply for this visa up to 3 months before you are due to start work in the UK.

In addition to completing the application form, you must prove your identity as part of your Government Authorised Exchange Visa application. How you do this will depend on where you are from and your passport type.

You will need to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your valid identity document. If this is not possible, you will need to make an appointment at a visa application centre to have your biometric information, which is your photograph and fingerprints, taken.

It’s worth noting that you can only apply for this visa from outside of the UK. If you are currently in the UK, you can only apply to extend this visa or switch from your current visa to this one.

Fees and processing times for the Government Authorised Exchange Visa?

The application fee for the Government Authorised Exchange Visa is £319.

In addition to the application fee, you will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is usually £1035 per year. If you bring family members, you must also pay separate application fees and Health Surcharge fees for them.

Processing times for this visa may depend on various factors. Occasionally , the Home Office may need to verify your information or you need to attend an appointment at a visa application centre. However, once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your required documents, you’ll typically receive a decision on your visa within 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK or 8 weeks if you’re applying to switch to this visa from inside the UK.

How long can I stay in the UK on the Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa?

How long you can stay in the UK depends on what you will be doing whilst here. You can stay for up to 12 months if you have work experience or for up to 24 months if you are doing research, training or an Overseas Government Language Programme.

How to extend my Government Authorised Exchange visa?

You can apply to extend your visa if you’re already in the UK on a valid Government Authorised Exchange visa. To be eligible, you must:

• meet all the eligibility criteria for the visa
• have a valid visa that has not expired

After extending your visa, you’ll be able to stay in the UK for either a further:

• 12 months, if you’re doing work experience or
• 24 months, if you’re doing research, training or an Overseas Government Language Programme

You can also stay for the length of time on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.

If you wish to change your sponsor, you must apply for a new visa again.

Switching to Government Authorised Exchange visa in UK

You may be able to switch to a Government Authorised Exchange visa if you’re eligible.

You can apply if you’re any of the following:

• A student, such as you’re studying, resitting an examination or writing a thesis
• A student union sabbatical officer
• A student nurse
• A postgraduate doctor or dentist
• A Student visa holder (including Tier 4)

You must have also completed a UK bachelor’s or master’s degree during your last grant of leave.

You must also ensure that the work, training or research you wish to do in the UK is related to your UK degree, such as the following:

• A postgraduate training or work experience that will give you a professional qualification or registration in the same field
• An internship for up to 12 months that’s related to your degree

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Requirement

To apply for a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa in the UK, make sure you meet these essential requirements:

1. Obtain a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from an approved Home Office sponsor. Your sponsor must hold the appropriate license for the exchange scheme you’re participating in.
2. Your sponsor should fulfil their responsibilities in overseeing your program. They must be A-rated on the Home Office’s list of registered sponsors. This requirement may not apply if you’re continuing with the same sponsor as in your previous permission on the Government Authorised Exchange route.
3. Ensure your CoS is issued within 3 months of your Visa application date. It should contain essential information such as your name, job details, and a start date within 3 months. It should meet the scheme requirements. This includes alignment with skilled occupations tables and that it is not a job replacement. It should have no previous use in a successful, refused, withdrawn, or cancelled application.

Meeting these conditions is crucial for a successful Temporary Government Authorised Exchange Visa application in the UK.

Bringing Dependents to the UK on a Government Authorised Exchange Visa

Sponsored individuals can bring dependents (such as a partner/spouse or children) along to the UK, provided they:

• Meet the eligibility requirements for a visa.
• Can pay the visa application fee.
• Can meet the financial requirements for dependents as set by the UK Home Office.
• Can supply evidence of your relationship and funds.

Partner

For your partner to join you as a dependent, you must be able to provide evidence that you are either in a marriage or civil partnership that is recognised in the UK, or that you have lived together as a couple for at least 2 years before your application is submitted.

Your partner/spouse can also apply to join you if you can provide evidence that you have been in a relationship for at least 2 years, but are not living together because:

• Of circumstances such as work or study arrangements.
• It is not accepted in your culture.

If you and your partner have not been living together for at least 2 years, you must provide evidence to prove that:

• You have regular communication.
• You support each other financially.
• You care for any children you have together.
• You spend time together (holidays, events).

Children

Any dependent child that you are the parent or legal guardian of, even those aged over 18, can apply as your dependent, provided they normally live with you (unless they are in full-time education, such as boarding school). If you and the other parent are separated, you must obtain parental consent from them before you apply. The child must not be in a marriage or civil partnership themselves, and you will need to provide evidence of their personal details and their address.

Financial Requirements for Dependents

In addition to the visa fees and their financial requirement, the applicant/sponsored individual must meet the financial requirements for any dependents.

There are exceptions to this rule, and you may be exempt if:

• You and any dependents have already been living in the UK on a visa for at least the last 12 months.
• Your sponsor has agreed to fund your living costs for at least your first month in the UK.

It is worth noting that any supporting documents/bank statements not written in English or Welsh must be provided in the form of a certified translation, with any costs met by the applicant.

Dependent Rights and Restrictions

Dependents of a GAE visa have certain rights and restrictions. For example, they can live, work and study in the UK. However, they are restricted from certain jobs or training roles. For example, they cannot work as a professional sports person or a doctor/dentist in training. Also, they cannot access public funds.

Their visa is linked to yours (as the main applicant) and therefore expires at the same time. If you and your dependents want to stay in the UK for longer, you may be able to apply to extend or switch visas depending on your circumstances.

Can I apply for UK settlement on the Government Authorised Exchange visa?

The GAE visa was designed for temporary workers and, therefore, is not a pathway to permanent settlement in the UK. If you wish to remain in the UK after your GAE visa expires, you may be able to switch to a different visa beforehand, but this will depend on your circumstances.

Government Authorised Exchange Visa Refusal

There are certain things you can do if your GAE visa application is refused, depending on the reason for refusal. For example, if you are confident you have made no errors in your application and you meet the eligibility criteria, you can request an administrative review or a judicial review.

If you have made errors in your first application, you may be able to reapply. However, you will have to pay the application fee again.

If your GAE visa is refused, it is worth seeking legal advice from an experienced immigration lawyer to gain information, professional advice and professional support.

Common Challenges when Applying for Government Authorised Exchange Visa

The application process for a Government Authorised exchange visa can be complex, and applicants can encounter challenges when attempting to gain entry clearance to the UK. However, there are ways to minimise the risk of your application being refused.

Documentation

It is important to check that you have all of the correct and necessary documentation before you apply. You may find that there are delays in receiving documents that you need for your application, and it is wise to collect these well in advance to ensure all are valid and none are missing.

You must enclose the correct documents with your application. You should be sure that all documentation is accurate, up-to-date and free of errors.

Financial Requirements

If you or your dependents do not meet the required financial threshold, your visa will be refused. All bank statements should reflect your current situation, including those of your savings.

Application Form Errors

All application forms should be error-free and completed in full. Failure to do so will result in your visa being refused. Even minor errors can make a difference, cause delays, or visa refusal.

Processing Time Delays

High volumes of applications can lead to delays in processing times. Usually, a GAE visa decision is received within 3 weeks, however, this is not always the case. To avoid delays, you should apply well in advance of your start date. You may be able to pay for a super priority service if the organisation running the exchange programme would like you to start sooner.

Government Authorised Exchange Visa Conditions

You should familiarise yourself with your visa conditions to avoid breaching the rules. A breach of UK immigration rules can lead to serious consequences, including a prison sentence. There are limitations on what you can do whilst in the UK when you choose the government-authorised exchange visa, and you should be aware of these to avoid any misunderstandings.

Benefits of A Government Authorised Exchange Visa

There are various benefits from obtaining a GAE visa, for example, it:

• Allows you to live, work and study in the UK.
• Allows you to gain work experience or training in the UK.
• Offers potential flexibility in job or training roles within the approved scheme.
• Has the potential to lead to more work.
• Allows access to the UK labour market.
• Helps develop international collaboration and networks.
• Allows you to share knowledge and experience.

How can IAS help?

If you want to apply for the Government Authorised Exchange route, our lawyers are here to help. We have helped thousands of clients apply for their Temporary Worker Visas and know precisely what makes an application successful.

Because this visa is only for those participating in certain activities through an approved scheme, it can be difficult to know whether you are eligible. Our lawyers can assess your eligibility. If you are not eligible, they can also advise you about how you can meet the requirements or offer some alternative visas that you may qualify for.

When completing your application, our lawyers offer reliable immigration advice and can support you through every step of the process. This includes assisting you with the application form, helping gather all the required documents, and communicating with the Home Office on your behalf.

For further information about our visa application services, get in touch with our team today on +44 (0)333 414 9244.