Visiting Staff

From 1 January 2021, EU/EEA/Swiss visitors can use these routes where they were not resident in the UK by 31 December 2020.

Standard Visitor Visa

A standard visitor visa allows a migrant to visit the UK for up to 6 months or, for academics on sabbatical and coming to the UK for research, up to 12 months along with their spouse or civil partner.

Any non-UK academic or  researcher who wishes to visit the UK can do so via the visitor visa system. For some nationalities, they will require a visa in advance of travel, but some nationalities will be able to seek entry as a visitor at the border without the need to gain a visa in advance of travel (for example, EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand nationals etc.). For a full list of nationalities who do require a visitor visa in advance on travel, please see the Home Office guidance here. 

You must apply before travelling to the UK this can be done online at the UKVI website. Please note that you cannot extend this visa past 6 months (12 months for academics) and at the end of this period you must leave the UK and you are not permitted to switch to any other visa route.

Academic visitors should make sure they are entering the UK on the correct visa. A standard visitor visa should be applied for if the individual is visiting to do one of the following:

  • A formal exchange with a UK counterpart. The individual should continue to be paid by their host institution overseas.
  • Carry out their own personal research (e.g. research for a book) if they are on sabbatical leave from their home institution
  • To share knowledge or experience with UK counterparts - this does not permit research where Aberystwyth is the host institution.

This visa route is also applicable for those visiting for a conference, meeting or training. It is also applicable for academics accompanying students on a study abroad programme.

A Standard Visitor Visa is unlikely to apply to migrants visiting the UK to collaborate on research projects hosted by Aberystwyth University.

An academic visitor on a standard visitor visa must not take employment or do work that amounts to them filling a role or providing cover for a role.

Visitor visa holders cannot be paid by any source in the United Kingdom. The only payments that they may receive is reasonable expenses to cover the cost of their travel and subsistence or prize money.

ATAS Requirements

From May 2021, relevant international researchers applying for a Visitor Visa must obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before they can undertake any research in the UK. The ATAS requirement only applies to certain nationalities, and in certain roles and research fields.

For further guidance on the ATAS scheme and making an application, please see the guidance here.

Eligibility

The table below outlines the types of permissible activities that can be undertaken depending on the type of person being invited to the University.

Note: individuals coming to the UK to undertake an internship or a work-placement cannot use a visitor visa/visitor status conferred at the border to facilitate this. Please see the GAE T5 temporary worker visa route as an alternative.

Type of Visitor

Permissible Activities

Maximum Validity of Visa

Any person invited by the hosting department/institution

 

 
  • Attend meetings, conferences, seminars, interviews;

 

  • Give a one-off or short series of talks and speeches provided these are not organised as commercial events and will not make a profit for the organiser;
  • Negotiate and sign deals and contracts;

 

 

  • Attend trade fairs, for promotional work only, provided the visitor is not directly selling;
  • Carry out site visits and inspections;

 

 

  • Gather information for their employment overseas;
  • Employee of an overseas company or organisation receiving training from a UK based organisation in work practices and techniques which are required for the visitor’s employment overseas and not available in their home country.

 

 

  • Archaeologists taking part in a one-off archaeological excavation;
  • A Professor from an overseas academic institution accompanying students to the UK as part of a study abroad programme, may provide a small amount of teaching to the students at the host organisation. However this must not amount to filling a permanent teaching role for that institution.

 

 

In addition to undertaking the above activities, visitors are also permitted to:

  • Visit friends, family and / or come to the UK for a holiday
  • Perform up to 30 days of incidental study and/or 30 days of incidental volunteering with a registered charity at any time.

 

 

6 months

 

 

Scientists and researchers:

  • Invited by the hosting department/institution; and
  • Who remain paid and employed at their overseas institution
  • Gather information and facts for a specific project which directly relates to their employment overseas, or conduct independent research;

 

  • Share knowledge or advise on an international project that is being led from the UK, provided the visitor is not carrying out research in the UK.
  • Invited by the hosting department/institution; and
  • Who are highly qualified in their own field of expertise; and
  • Who are currently working in that field at an Institution overseas

 

6 months

 

 

Academic visitors:

 

(Note: Undergraduates and post-graduate students currently studying would not qualify as an academic under this definition)
  • Taking part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts (including doctors);

 

  • Carrying out research for their own purposes if they are on sabbatical leave from their home institution;
  • Eminent senior doctors or dentists, taking part in research, teaching or clinical practice provided this does not amount to filling a permanent teaching post.

 

 

12 months*

 

* It is only possible to obtain a 12 month visa where the individual applies for a visitor visa in advance of travel to the UK. Where seeking entry at the border as an 'academic visitor', entry will only be granted for a maximum of 6 months.

Visitor Visa Restrictions

In all cases, holders of a Visitor (Standard) visa cannot:

  • Undertake any form of employment in the UK (except for the permissible activities listed above);
  • Fill a normal post or a genuine vacancy, even on a temporary basis;
  • Receive funding for their work from any UK source (payments of expenses, including travel and subsistence may be disregarded – see below);
  • Stay in the UK for more than 6 months (or 12 months for visiting academics);
  • Switch to any other immigration category whilst inside the UK;
  • Have recourse to public funds.

Permitted Paid Engagement Visa

Certain visitors can come to the UK for up to one month and be paid by the University. These visitors are undertaking permitted paid engagements (PPE). This route covers visiting examiners assessors & lecturers, overseas designated pilot examiners, qualified lawyers, and professional artists, entertainers & sportspersons.

Migrants under this visa route are permitted to stay in the UK for up to 1 month. No sponsorship is required. The work must be relevant to the migrant's main work overseas.

This visa is for those who are coming to the UK to:

  • Be a student examiner or assessor
  • Take part in selection panels for the education, arts or research organisation you have been invited by as a highly qualified academic
  • Give lectures at Aberystwyth University (as long as it is not a part-time or full-time role)
  • Provide advocacy in a particular area of law
  • Take part in arts, entertainment or sporting activities including broadcasting
  • Do minor activities related to your work or business overseas e.g. meetings

Eligibility

An application for a Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) visa must meet the criteria set out by the UKVI available here.

In order to qualify for entry under the PPE route, the individual must be able to show that they have a formal invitation to carry out the engagement, and that the specific activity relates to their area of expertise and/or qualifications, and full-time occupation overseas.

The individual must be able to show the Home Office entry clearance officer that they are qualified to perform the paid engagements or that the engagements relate to their area of expertise, qualifications or occupation. The Home Office suggests that certificates relating to their educational qualifications and a letter from their employer confirming their current employment and expertise in the relevant field.

The visa cannot be extended or switched and the individual must be able to prove that they have enough money to support themselves and to pay for their return or onward journey.

Whilst an individual holds a PPE visa they cannot:

  • Do specific paid work unrelated to their main job or area of expertise
  • Extend the visa or switch to another visa
  • Have recourse to public funds
  • Study
  • Marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership
  • Get private medical treatment
  • Bring family members on their application - they must apply separately

Applying for a PPE Visa

Applications for entry under this route cannot be made from inside the UK.

For visa nationals (UK immigration law dictates that nationals of certain countries must always have a visa to enter the UK. These are visa nationals), they must always apply for a visa in advance before coming to the UK. This is known as entry clearance.

Non-visa nationals seeking leave to enter as a PPE visitor for up to one month do not need apply for a visa in advance. They can seek ‘leave to enter’ at any UK port from an immigration officer. The individual will require the invitation letter from the University in order to gain entry.

 

Standard Visitor Visa

A standard visitor visa allows a migrant to visit the UK for up to 6 months or, for academics on sabbatical and coming to the UK for research, up to 12 months along with their spouse or civil partner.

You must apply before travelling to the UK this can be done online at the UKVI website. Please note that you cannot extend this visa past 6 months (12 months for academics) and at the end of this period you must leave the UK and you are not permitted to switch to any other visa route.

Academic visitors should make sure they are entering the UK on the correct visa. A standard visitor visa should be applied for if the individual is visiting to do one of the following:

- A formal exchange with a UK counterpart. The individual should continue to be paid by their host institution overseas.

- Carry out their own personal research (e.g. research for a book) if they are on sabbatical leave from their home institution

- To share knowledge or experience with UK counterparts - this does not permit research where Aberystwyth is the host institution. This visa route is also applicable for those visiting for a conference, meeting or training. It is also applicable for academics accompanying students on a study abroad programme.

A Standard Visitor Visa is unlikely to apply to migrants visiting the UK to collaborate on research projects hosted by Aberystwyth University.

An academic visitor on a standard visitor visa must not take employment or do work that amounts to them filling a role or providing cover for a role.

Visitor visa holders cannot be paid by any source in the United Kingdom. The only payments that they may receive is reasonable expenses to cover the cost of their travel and subsistence or prize money.

Please visit the UK government visitor rules Appendix V for more information.