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Summary of UK immigration information relevant to university staff
Contents
- Introduction
- Common Travel Area
- Skilled Worker听Visa
- Global Talent Visa
- 骋谤补诲耻补迟别听痴颈蝉补
- High Potential Individual (HPI)听Visa
- Health and Care Visa
- Permitted Paid Engagement
- UK Visitor Visa - Academic, Research and Teaching
- Employment of Individuals on a Student Visa
- Government Authorised Exchange Visa听(Temporary Work)
- Creative Visa听(Temporary Work)
- Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Visa
- Frontier Worker Permit听for EEA Nationals
- ATAS
- EU Settlement Scheme
- The Employer Checking Service听 听 听听
Introduction
1. If you are not British or Irish you may require a visa to work and live in the UK. There are different types of visas depending on your circumstances. If you are unsure if you need a visa and if so, which one would be applicable to you, you can use the .听Applicants being sponsored by听果冻影院 must intend and be able to undertake the role applied for and must not undertake any other employment, other than work permitted by their visa conditions.听听
Common Travel Area
2. The听听(CTA) includes the UK, Channel Islands, isle of Man and Ireland. These citizens have the right to work and move freely in and out of the UK without permission. However, the arrangements will still apply.听
Skilled Worker Visa
3. The Skilled Worker Route (SWR) is the most common route for EU and non-EU nationals who wish to take up a job offer in the UK.
4. Please review the before a role is advertised, to identify whether 果冻影院 may be able to sponsor an applicant to perform the role.
5. Please also read the section听on the听Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) if听any research听to be undertaken by the individual requires an ATAS certificate.
6. Points are assigned for specific eligible occupations, a PhD qualification, meeting the salary threshold听and jobs on the 飞颈迟丑听visas being awarded to those who gain sufficient points.
7. A job offer must meet the applicable minimum salary threshold. This is the higher of either:
- the general salary threshold set at 拢38,700
- 拢15.88听per hour, or
- the specific salary requirement for their occupation, known as the
Skilled Workers already on this route听产别蹿辞谤别听4 April 2024,听will be required听to meet the听new transitional听thresholds and 听for their individual occupations if switching employers, extending or settling under this route.听
8. There are different salary rules for some workers in certain health or education (not Higher Education) jobs, for 鈥榥ew entrants鈥� at the start of their careers, those taking up shortage occupations on the 听and those able to obtain 'tradeable points'.听 70 points are听required to qualify for permission to work and听some characteristics are mandatory (i.e. not 鈥榯radeable鈥�), as detailed in the table below:
| Characteristics | Tradeable? | Points |
|---|---|---|
| All of the following criteria must be met to be eligible to apply for a visa (so the individual needs to score all 50 points): | 听 | 听 |
| Offer of job from approved sponsor | No | 20 |
| Skilled job with a relevant occupation code听 | No | 20 |
| Speaks English at required level | No | 10 |
| The following criteria are tradeable and applicants must score at least 20 points: | 听 | 听 |
| Salary of 拢38, 700 (minimum) or (whichever is higher) (Option A) | Yes | 20 (salary alone) |
| Salary of 拢34, 830 (minimum) or 90% of the (whichever is higher) and relevant PhD (Option B) | Yes | 20 (salary + PhD) |
| Salary of 拢30,960 (minimum) or 80% of the (whichever is higher) and relevant PhD in STEM subject (Option C) | Yes | 20 (salary + STEM PhD) |
| Salary of 拢30, 960 (minimum) or (whichever is higher) and job is in a shortage occupation on the 听(Option D) | Yes | 20 (salary + listed occupation) |
Salary of 拢30,960 (minimum)听 or 70% of (whichever is higher) and New Entrant (Option E) | Yes | 20 (salary + new entrant) |
Further detailed information can be found in the 听including transitional options 飞颈迟丑听reduced salary thresholds听(F-J). These are available to applicant's whose:
New Entrants听
9. The salary rate for New Entrants will be 30% lower than the rate for experienced workers in any occupation, however, the minimum of 拢30,960听must always be met. You can use the flowchart听below to help you determine whether the person to whom a post will be offered qualifies as a New Entrant.
Flowchart
All postdoctoral and lecturer roles may qualify as a New Entrant provided the 鈥�4 year override鈥� rule does not apply.听听
Going rates听
10. Where the individual is an 鈥榚xperienced worker鈥�, they must meet the 听or 拢38,700, whichever is higher (unless they can trade points). Some jobs will have a higher salary threshold.听The is based on a 37.5 hour working week. 听This听can be pro-rated to reflect 果冻影院鈥檚 36.5 hour working week (salary divided by 37.5 and multiplied by 36.5). 听The salary offered can also be pro-rated but the general salary threshold听cannot. This means that for part-time staff the salary offered will need to meet the higher of the pro-rated or听the general salary threshold.听
果冻影院 occupations
11. Some worked examples based on 果冻影院 salaries for the academic year 2023/24 are available below to guide those wishing to calculate the points scored by typical roles. These examples are for reference purposes only and the score achieved for each post will depend often upon the individual circumstances of the person appointed to any given role.
Eligibility for PhD points
12. 果冻影院 needs to justify the relevance of a PhD to an advertised role. The individual applicant must hold a PhD rather than the role itself being at PhD level. For a full list of occupations potentially eligible for tradeable PhD points see听information on .
Tradeable points combinations
听How to use combinations of tradeable points:
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
- The new rules introduced on 4 April 2024 do听not听apply to those who make a Skilled Worker visa application with a听Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)听that is issued听before听4 April 2024听and has not expired at the date of the application. This means that Skilled Worker applicants who submit their applications听after听4 April 2024 with a CoS that was issued听before听4 April 2024, will therefore only need to meet the (adjusted for inflation) pre-4 April general salary threshold of 拢29,000,听or the lower going rate for the relevant occupation (but only for the current application at hand).
Under the current immigration听听rules, individuals听can carry out supplementary employment of听up to 20 hours a week without updating their Skilled Worker听visa, as long as they are听still doing the job they are听being sponsored for and provided the work is in听an听.听There is no longer a requirement for this to be under the same SOC.
听
Global Talent Visa听
15. Those endorsed by a relevant body who have achieved the required level of points are able to enter the UK without a job offer. There is a GTV fast-track endorsement for individuals who have accepted a job as a Professor, Associate Professor,听or equivalent position such as Senior Group Leader听at 果冻影院, provided certain recruitment requirements are met. Please also听read the section听on the听Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) if听any research to be undertaken听by the individual requires an ATAS certificate.
Please download the 果冻影院 Global Talent Visa guidance pack for more information.
16. Government on the GTV is also听available.听The four routes available under the GTV are summarised below:
16.1听Have you accepted the offer of a senior appointment at an institution approved by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Society?
- If you have been offered the role of Professor, Associate Professor, Reader, or equivalent position such as Senior Group Leader, and you meet the necessary recruitment requirements, you need a statement of guarantee from the Director of the Professional Services Hub听at 果冻影院 to support your application for a fast-track visa.
16.2. Have you been awarded an individual fellowship on the list approved by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Society?
- If your fellowship is listed and you hold it currently or have done so within the last 12 months, you must submit a copy of the award letter as part of your fast-track visa application.
16.3. Are you working on a research grant* issued by an endorsed funder on the list approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)?
听
- If you as an individual or your role is named in a successful grant application from an endorsed funder, you need to submit both the award letter and statement of guarantee from the employing or hosting institution as part of your application for a fast-track visa. The funder and the institution must both be on the approved UKRI list.
* Eligibility extends to the principal investigator (PIs), co-investigators (Co-Is) and team roles stated in the grant application at graduate level and above 鈥� for example, postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, technologists and methodologists. Eligible individuals must spend at least 50% of their work time on fulfilling the grant conditions (PIs and Co-Is holding multiple grants must spend at least 50% in aggregate). A minimum award threshold of 拢30,000 applies and the minimum grant duration is 24 months. Individuals must have at least one听year听left of their employment contract to be eligible.
16.4. Check the eligibility and assessment criteria for standard endorsement and submit an application for peer review by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or Royal Society.
17. There are further endorsement routes through the Global Talent Visa:
- Arts and Culture endorsement
- Architecture endorsement
- Fashion Design Industry endorsement
- Film and Television endorsement
- Digital Technology endorsement
More information about these routes are available on the .听
Graduate Visa听
18. This has been launched in the summer of 2021. International students who graduate in the UK can apply to stay here once they have graduated. Undergraduates and Masters students can use this route for a maximum of two years without a firm job offer and PhD graduates for up to three years.听More information about this route can be found on the webpages of the 果冻影院 Student Immigration Advisory Team. Read the section听on the听Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) where any research to be undertaken by the individual requires an ATAS certificate.听
High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa
19. This route, which听is not sponsored opened 30 May 2022.听 It is for recent graduates from top universities to come to the UK for up to two years (three years for PhD graduates), following successful completion of an eligible course of study equivalent to a UK bachelor鈥檚 degree-level or above, subject to eligibility e.g.听. The study must have been with an institution listed on the Global Universities List. 听The list will be compiled annually and comprises eligible non-UK institutions that are included in the list of top 50 universities in at least two of the following ranking systems:
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings
- The Academic Ranking of World Universities
20. Graduates can apply within five years of graduation. Overseas nationals in the UK under this route will be able to work in any role. The is not a route to settlement, but a dependent partner or dependent children can apply on this route.听Please also听read the section听on the听Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) if听any research to be undertaken by the individual requires an ATAS certificate.听 听 听
Health and Care Visa
21. The Health and Care Visa听is one of the fast track entry routes for individuals working in eligible health occupations with a job offer from the NHS, social care sector, or employers and organisations which provide services to the NHS, to move to the UK with their families.
22. As well as reduced fees and dedicated support for the application process, those who are eligible are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.听
23. Roles qualifying for this visa include: Biological Scientists and Biochemists, Physical Scientists and Medical Practitioners. A full list of qualifying roles and their SOC codes is contained on the .听For roles that qualify under the Health and Care visa route, the general salary threshold is usually 拢29,000 and the relevant going rate for the role, unless a reduced threshold and/or discounted going rate can be applied, such as for a relevant PhD, relevant STEM PhD, or a shortage occupation. 听Please听read the section听听on the听Academic Technology 23. Approval Scheme (ATAS) if听any research to be undertaken by the individual requires an ATAS certificate.听
Permitted Paid Engagement
24. Academic visitors to 果冻影院 from outside the UK and Ireland who are asked to deliver one-off lectures can use a Visa to do so.听 听
UK Visitor Visa - Academic, Research and Teaching
25. In accordance with the government , staff from an academic institution overseas may apply for a visitor visa to:
- take part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts
- carry out research during a sabbatical听
26. 果冻影院 must not pay those with a visitor visa to work at 果冻影院. The Academic member of staff they will collaborate with may need to provide a letter confirming the arrangements for the visitor's听research, exchange or clinical practice.听 Please also read the section听on the听Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) if听any research to be undertaken by the individual requires an ATAS certificate.听听
Further information about eligibility and how to apply can be found on听the .听听
Employment of Individuals on a Student Visa
27. It is 果冻影院鈥檚 responsibility to ensure that if we employ anyone living in the UK with a (previously Tier 4) they must not work for more than the maximum number of hours permitted by their visa. Here is an Excel Spreadsheet Timesheet that you may use to assist you in complying with the rules with regards to employing anyone with a Student Visa. 果冻影院鈥檚 Student Immigration Advisory Team provides a range of useful advice for international students about working in the UK. Please also听read the section听on the听Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) if听any research to be undertaken by the individual requires an ATAS certificate.
听28. International Students are not able to bring dependents to the UK, unless the dependents are on a postgraduate course听currently designated as a research programme. This will only apply to students starting courses from 1 January 2024.听 听
Government Authorised Exchange Visa (Temporary Work)
29. The Temporary Worker - is for those wanting to come to the UK for a short time to undertake work experience or training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, research or fellowship through an approved government authorised exchange scheme. Those wanting to apply will need a Certificate of Sponsorship from (CoS) 果冻影院 and must meet any other relevant听. Please also read the section听on the听Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) if听any research to be undertaken by the individual requires an ATAS certificate.听
Creative Visa (Temporary Work)
30. A creative worker is someone who works in the creative industry, for example an actor, dancer, musician or film crew member. has replaced the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting) Visa.听To apply for this visa, individuals need to have a Certificate of Sponsorship from (CoS) 果冻影院 and must meet any other relevant . This visa is for temporary workers coming to the UK to work or perform as entertainers or creative artists for up to 12 months.
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Visa
31. This is a bespoke immigration route to enable British National (Overseas) (BN(O) citizens ordinarily resident in Hong Kong, and their immediate family members, to move to the UK to work, live and study.
32. This听route opened in January 2021. Applications can be made to this route from inside or outside the UK. More information about this route can be found on the webpages of the 果冻影院 Student Immigration Advisory Team.听 听
Frontier Worker Permit for EEA Nationals
33. Since December 2020, those not normally resident in the UK intending to visit 果冻影院 in the capacity of guest lecturers or external examiners for example have been eligible 听to apply for a . This permit has been created for EEA nationals living outside the UK but commuting to work here. To be eligible, such individuals must have visited the UK to work before the 31 December 2020 but should live outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12 month period. Permits can be issued for up to 5 years and may be re-issued, provided the permit holder continues to work in the UK in the manner described above.听听
ATAS
34. To research certain subjects at postgraduate level or above, academic visitors may need to get an certificate before coming to 果冻影院 premises.听 The 果冻影院 Principal Investigator听for the research project should draft the description for the collaborator to include in their application for the听ATAS certificate.听
35. Individuals who apply听for entry to the UK under the Skilled Worker or Government Authorised Exchange Route, will need to apply for, and be granted, their ATAS听certificate before applying for a听UK visa or permission to stay. They听do not need to have a final employment contract before applying for an听ATAS听certificate.听Where someone enters听the UK under the听Global Talent Visa, Graduate Visa, Health and Care Visa, High Potential Individual (HPI), Student Visa or the UK Visitor Visa, they will听need to obtain an听ATAS听certificate before beginning any听relevant research activity听in the UK. 果冻影院听must check the听ATAS听certificate before allowing the research to start, and if a certificate听is not provided the individual will not be permitted on-site.听 听
EU Settlement Scheme
36. The deadline for most people to apply to the听EU听Settlement Scheme has now expired.听 For information on late applications and reasonable grounds for a delayed application see the . Applications may continue to be made听if that for not applying by the deadline.听From September 2023 the Home office will be automatically extending听leave for two years for anyone who has pre-settled status in the UK but has not yet obtained settled status. A new check will need to made once the individual is notified their pre-settled status has been extended by the Home Office.
37. The Home Office also intends to automatically switch those on pre-settled status to settled status once they are eligible without individuals having to make a settled status application.听 This will ensure that those with pre-settled status do not lose their immigration status if they do not apply or qualify for settled status before their pre-settled status expires.听
The Employer Checking Service
38. The is used to request verification from the Home Office that an individual has the right to work in the UK when they have an outstanding application or appeal and cannot present valid right to work documents before they start work as a casual or employee.