Types of visas and how to apply

Global Talent Visa (GTV)

For individuals internationally recognised as world leaders or potential world-leading talent/future leaders in their field, and/or filling academic/research-related positions that meet criteria for accelerated GTV endorsement routes. 

Applicants do not need to be sponsored by Imperial but must apply for (stage 1) endorsement from an approved endorsing body before applying for a visa (stage 2).

Please note that, given its significant benefits and reduced restrictions, Imperial encourages those eligible to apply for a GTV rather than a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) visa wherever possible:

• Enter the UK without a job offer, work for any employer or be self-employed
• Apply for up to 5 years’ leave
• Apply for settlement after 3 years (or 5 years if in Exceptional Promise peer review route endorsed by either Arts Council England or Tech Nation)
• Pay lower application fees than the skilled work route. Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), but often for a shorter total period due to a shorter settlement qualification period. However, please be mindful that dependent family members will still require a longer settlement qualification period
• There are no English language/maintenance requirements to obtain GTV; the only requirement is that an application to settle inside the UK be made. 

There are four GTV endorsement routes, three with fast-track/accelerated endorsement processes:

• Awardees/holders of certain Individual Fellowships
  Holders of these fellowships can make an independent application without imperial support being required. You can apply with a fellowship award letter and would not need to wait for an employment contract from Imperial or any other supporting documentation from the Staff Compliance Team. 
• Academic and Research Appointments
  Must be either providing Strategic Academic leadership and/or independently leading/directing research without supervision, as a significant function of the role and meet certain recruitment requirements (panel members/references). You will require a signed employment contract and supporting documentation from the Staff Compliance Team to apply.
• UKRI Endorsed Funders scheme
  The post being filled must meet certain requirements and be funded from a list of approved funders. To apply, you would require a signed employment contract and supporting documentation from the Staff Compliance Team.

The three fast-track endorsement routes above are in addition to:

Standard Global Talent Peer Review route for exceptional promise and exceptional talent applicants. Support from eminent UK-based academic(s) is required for this route, and a PhD qualification or equivalent clinical or industrial research experience is required.

Whichever endorsement route is used, the same GTV status is granted, and individuals can choose to apply for 1 to 5 years of this visa type. 

In addition to the UKVI guidance above, please review the guidance on the following pages: 

• Royal Society guidance and FAQs
• Royal Academy of Engineering
• UKRI
• British Academy
• Tech Nation

For further guidance on this route, hiring managers and staff should contact the Staff Compliance team. 

The Imperial assessment forms to be completed by employing departments and submitted to the Staff Compliance Team can be downloaded:

• Academic & Research appointments route form
• UKRI endorsed funder route form

Skilled Worker Route

For skilled workers with a job offer from a licensed sponsor, which meets specific skill and minimum salary requirements, and who can satisfactorily evidence that their English language skills are at the required standard.

Whether the worker can also bring their dependents will depend on the skill-level SOC classification for the role, and when they entered the SWR.

Imperial is only permitted to sponsor workers and issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) when the specific requirements and points have been met and evidenced.

Sponsorship and visa granted will be issued in accordance with the contract of employment dates, i.e. for no longer than the contract end date.

Individuals who wish to check their potential eligibility for the Skilled Worker Route, please review the gov.uk guidance.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Dependent on the type and level of research activity and nationality of the researcher, an additional requirement may be the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). Where ATAS is required for a researcher/academic, it is essential that the individual’s ATAS certificate is checked, and Imperial retains a copy before they can be provided with a certificate of sponsorship to make their Skilled Worker Route visa application.

Please review the following guidance:

• Information on Skilled Work Sponsorship
• Information on sponsor and employee responsibilities
• Information on ATAS

Workers & Temporary Workers sponsor guidance is published by UK Visas & Immigration.  

Student visa

Student visa holders are permitted to work for up to a maximum of 20 hours per week (Monday to Sunday) during term time if they are studying at degree level or above at a higher education institution (HEI) or up to a maximum of 10 hours per week during term time if they are studying below degree level at a HEI. 

Students may work full-time during official vacation times, including the time between the end of their course and the end of their student visa. For PhD students, Imperial classifies them as fully completed once the final PhD thesis is submitted post-Viva and no further minor corrections are required.

Students wishing to switch to work routes must have fully completed their studies, or in case of PhD students, completed at least 2 years of study to make an application under an employment visa route.

NB: Those studying at a publicly funded Further Education (FE) College or on part-time study programmes are not permitted to work. This will be reflected on their visa/Biometric Residence Permit.

For general queries regarding student visas, please contact the International Student Support team. If you are being offered employment at Imperial and have queries regarding visa/right to work, please contact the Staff Immigration Team.

Graduate Route

• Following time on a Student Visa, graduates of UK Universities can apply for this visa once they have fully completed and been awarded the academic qualification.
• Undergraduate and Masters students that successfully apply for this visa will be able to stay in the UK and work - or look for work - at any skill level for 2 years (or 18 months if they apply under the Graduate route on or after 1 January 2027).
• Doctoral (PhD/DPhil) students will be able to stay for 3 years.
• It is possible to switch into other visa work routes before the end of the graduate visa period. 
• It is not a condition to have a ‘sponsor’ who employs you, and you are not restricted to any one job while holding this visa. Gaps between employment periods are also permitted without impacting the visa status.
• The time spent on the Graduate visa route does not count towards any 5-year indefinite leave to remain eligibility route but may be used as part of 10-year residence calculations.

More information can be found on the International Student Support web pages and the UK Government guidance.

Government Authorised Exchange (Sponsored Researcher Scheme for HEIs)

Please see our ‘Other Engagements’ guidance on Government Authorised Exchange, which allows the University to host and sponsor researchers who meet the requirements of the scheme for a maximum of 24 months.

This route cannot be used to fill general job vacancies; it is only to be used for supernumerary research and permitted activities.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Dependent on the type and level of research activity and nationality of the researcher, an additional requirement may be the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). Where ATAS is required for a researcher/academic, it is essential that the individual’s ATAS certificate is checked, and Imperial retains a copy before they can be provided with a certificate of sponsorship to make their Temporary Worker Route visa application.

Please see the ATAS information on the Immigration & Compliance web pages.

Updated Workers & Temporary Workers sponsor guidance is published by UK Visas & Immigration.  

Youth Mobility scheme 

The Youth Mobility scheme does not require the University to be a licensed sponsor since the national government of the participating countries will be the sponsor.

To employ workers in this category, a reciprocal agreement must be in place between the UK and the country of which the migrant is a national. Currently agreements have been reached with the countries listed below.

Some exceptions exist to the usual 18-30 age requirements and 24-month maximum period rules, and some countries apply via a ballot process; these are stated below.

An individual can apply for a visa if they are aged 18 to 30 and from:

• Andorra 
• Australia (aged 18 to 35)
• Canada (aged 18 to 35)
• Iceland
• Hong Kong (via Ballot)
• Japan (via Ballot)
• Monaco
• New Zealand (aged 18 to 35)
• San Marino
• South Korea (via Ballot)
• Taiwan (via Ballot)
• Uruguay 
• British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens and British nationals (overseas) can apply under the scheme and do not need a sponsor.

Successful applicants will be permitted to enter the UK for up to a maximum of 24 months.

New Zealand, Australia, and Canada nationals can extend their visas by 12 months more once they are in the UK, just before their visa expires.

Holders of this visa will be able to undertake most types of work during that time. Subject to eligibility criteria and having a suitable job/offer, it is possible to ‘switch’ to a Work visa in-country (subject to usual eligibility requirements for either Skilled Worker route, or Global Talent route) before the Youth Mobility visa ends.

Youth Mobility Scheme workers are responsible for applying for their own visa and are awarded points based on nationality, age, and available maintenance (funds).

There is a similar scheme for Indian nationals. India Young Professionals Scheme visa.

Please visit the Government's website for further information on the Youth Mobility Scheme visa process.

High Potential Individual Route

• A High Potential Individual (HPI) visa allows you to stay in the UK for at least two years.
• This type of visa does not require an employment contract or job offer to apply for and will allow most work in the UK, including self-employment.
• To apply, an individual must have been awarded a qualification by an eligible (non-UK) university in the last 5 years.
• There is an English Language evidence requirement.
• An HPI visa usually lasts for 2 years. However, if the applicant has a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last 3 years.
• It is not possible to extend an HPI visa. However, holders may be able to switch to a different visa, such as a Skilled Worker or Global Talent visa.

As outlined in Imperial’s Expenses Policy, departments may consider reimbursing UK visa and immigration application fees for current or prospective staff and their dependants at their discretion. Applicants are not able to appeal against a department’s decision to exercise discretion. Please note that, where the research funder permits reimbursement of UK visa and immigration application fees, departments should charge eligible costs to the relevant project code.

• Where a prospective staff member is not yet in the UK, reimbursement of the initial visa application fees and/or Immigration Health Surcharge costs is non-taxable. Claims should be made using an Expense Claim (E1) form and submitted to Accounts Payable for processing.
• Where the applicant is already in the UK and is applying to extend or switch their visa or is applying for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)), reimbursement of the application fees is taxable as it is considered a benefit-in-kind. Claims should be made using an Expense Claim (E1) form and submitted to Payroll for processing as a taxable pay supplement, not via the Expenses system.
• Reimbursement of any dependent application fees, for applications made inside or outside the UK, is taxable. Claims should be made using an Expense Claim (E1) form and submitted to Payroll for processing.

Imperial can provide an interest-free loan facility through Payroll to assist current or prospective staff and their dependants with payment of UK visa and immigration application fees.

For more information, please refer to the process outlined on the Salary Advance Form - UK Immigration Application Fees or contact the Staff Compliance Team should you have any queries.