academic Visitor
Visa

Under UK immigration rules, foreign nationals can visit the UK for temporary periods to carry out certain permitted activities, including certain academic activities.

Depending on your nationality and your individual circumstances, you will either:

• Have to apply for an Academic Visitor visa before you travel to the UK.
• Be able to visit the UK for an academic trip for up to 6 months without needing a visa.

You can check if you need a visa before you apply.

note:

All academic visits lasting longer than 6 months require a Standard Visitor visa regardless of your nationality.

To apply for an Academic Visitor visa, you will need to meet the general eligibility requirements for a Standard Visitor visa.

You must be able to show that:

• You will leave the UK at the end of your visit.
• You are able to support yourself and your dependants during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you).
• You are able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey).
• You will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.

If you want to visit the UK for more than 6 months, you will need to meet the following additional eligibility requirements for academics:

• You must be highly qualified in your field of expertise – this will usually mean you have a PhD or higher.
• You must be currently working in that field of expertise at an academic institution overseas.
• You must not be filling a permanent teaching post.
• You must provide evidence of the reason for your visit.

note:

To prove that you meet the additional eligibility requirements for academics, you may need to provide a letter from your employer or your UK host organisation confirming the arrangements for the research, exchange or clinical practice you are undertaking during your stay.

If you are a scientist, researcher or academic, you can:

• Take part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts.
• Carry out research, either as part of your job or independently.

If you are 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).

note:

You can also visit if you are invited for certain permitted paid engagements – for example, to give a lecture or be an academic assessor. You will need to show that you are an expert in your profession.

The visa application fee will vary depending on how long you will be staying in the UK.

• It costs £115 to apply for a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months.
• It costs £200 for a 12-month visa for academics.
• It costs £1,000 to extend your stay from within the UK.

You must apply for your visitor visa online before you travel to the UK and attend an appointment at a visa application centre. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

At your appointment, you will need to:

• Prove your identity with your passport or travel document.
• Have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken.
• Provide the required documents that show you’re eligible for this visa.

Once you have applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you will usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

As an academic visitor, you can stay in the UK for up to 12 months in total.

note:

If you want to work in the UK long-term, you may need to apply for a work visa.

The application process and supporting evidence required for an Academic Visitor visa can be complex. To avoid delays and disruptions to your travel plans, it is important to get your application right the first time.

We recommend seeking advice from a qualified immigration advisor if you are unsure about any part of the application process. If you require support with submitting a new application, Smith Stone Walters can help. To speak to an immigration advisor, please contact us today.