A Government Authorized Exchange visa allows you to come to the UK for training, an internship, work experience, or a research program. To obtain this temporary work visa, you must have a licensed sponsor. You cannot obtain indefinite leave to remain with the Government Authorized Exchange visa, but you can stay for one or two years, depending on your situation.
Eligibility Requirements of the Government Authorized Exchange Visa
You qualify for a Government Authorized Exchange visa if you fulfill the following requirements:
- You have a certificate of sponsorship. The certificate of sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic document that contains information about you and the job you will be doing in the UK. You have three months to use the CoS from the date it is issued. You will be using the CoS reference number during your Government Authorized Exchange visa application and you can use it only once.
- You have at least £1,270 in your bank account. You must have a minimum of £1,270 in your bank account to prove that you can support yourself in the UK. If you have stayed in the UK for a minimum of one year or your employer will cover your cost of the first month in the UK with at least £1,270, you don’t have to meet the financial requirement. If you are bringing any dependents, they have to prove they can support themselves financially as well.
Required Documents of the Government Authorized Exchange Visa
To apply for the Government Authorized Exchange visa, you must prepare the listed documents:
- Your CoS reference number.
- A valid passport with a blank page for your visa.
- Proof of personal funds to support yourself, such as bank statements, unless your sponsor will support you.
- Proof of your relationship with your dependents.
- A valid ATAS certificate if your employer tells you you need it.
- A tuberculosis test if you are from a listed country.
- A letter from a government or international scholarship agency giving you consent to remain in the UK or to re-enter.
You must submit a certified translation of any document that isn’t in English or Welsh.
How to Apply for the Government Authorized Exchange Visa?
To successfully apply for the Government Authorized Exchange visa, you must:
- Start the application online on the UK Government website. You must read the requirements carefully as you complete the form. You need the CoS reference number when you apply.
- Upload the required documents during your online application. You must submit the documents as scanned or photos. File types you can upload are PDF, PNG, JPG, or JPEG.
- Pay the required fees online. You must pay the healthcare surcharge (£624) and the application fee (£259) as you apply online.
- Attend your appointment at a visa application center. As you apply online schedule an appointment to provide your biometrics. You can find a VAC by checking the “Find a visa application center” on GOV.UK.
Getting the Biometric Residence Permit
When you arrive in the UK, you have to get the biometric residence permit If you have provided your fingerprints and photo at a visa application center. A BRP is used to prove your:
- Identity
- Right to study
- Right to benefits and public services.
Fees of the Government Authorized Exchange Visa
You must pay the required fees when applying for the Government Authorized Exchange visa:
| Application fee | £259 |
| Healthcare surcharge | £624 per year |
Processing Time of the Government Authorized Exchange Visa
A Government Authorized Exchange visa will be processed in:
- Three weeks if you are outside the UK.
- Eight weeks if you are outside the UK.
- If you need to attend an appointment, you may be able to pay for a faster decision. It may take longer to get a decision on your visa application, depending on your situation:
- Your documents need to be verified.
- You need to go to an interview.
- You have a criminal conviction.
- Duration of the Government Authorized Exchange Visa
- The duration of a Government Authorized Exchange visa depends on the type of work you will be doing in the UK. You can stay for:
- 12 months if you are doing work experience.
- 24 months if you are doing research, training, or an overseas government language program.
How to Extend the Government Authorized Exchange Visa?
You can apply to extend your Government Authorized Exchange visa for 12 or 24 months depending on the scheme. The dependents you bring can apply for an extension of their visa as well. You can extend your stay for:
12 months if you are doing work experience.
24 months if you are doing research, training, or an overseas government language program.
You must apply for an extension of this visa within the UK before your current one expires. The application is online through the UK government website for visas and immigration.
How to Switch to the Government Authorized Exchange Visa?
You can switch to the Government Authorized Exchange visa if you are in the UK on a different visa. When switching, you have to apply from inside the UK and apply before your current visa expires. You can switch to the Government Authorized Exchange visa if you are:
- A student who is 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
- A sponsored researcher who came to the UK on a work permit and wants to continue in the same job
- You have completed a UK bachelor’s degree or master’s during your last grant of leave
Conditions of the Government Authorized Exchange Visa
The Government Authorized Exchange visa comes with certain conditions:
| You can | You cannot |
| Study | Take a permanent job |
| Work in the job as described in the CoS | Get public funds |
| Do a second job for up to 20 hours | |
| Do a job on the skilled worker shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours | |
| Apply to a switch to a Global Talent Visa if you’re in the government authorized exchange scheme for sponsored researchers | |
| Bring eligible dependents |
Can I Bring my Family with the Government Authorized Exchange Visa?
A Government Authorized Exchange visa allows you to bring your family members with you to the UK. Family members you can bring are:
- Your child under the age of 18.
- Your child over the age of 18 who is already in the UK as your dependent.
- Your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner.
Does the Government Authorized Exchange Visa Lead to Settlement?
A Government Authorized Exchange visa does not lead to permanent settlement in the UK. You have to apply for another visa route that allows you to settle in the UK after a certain number of years.