UK Academic Visitor Visa Application Process

The UK academic visitor visa is a type of visa that is a subtype of the UK standard visitor visa and allows academics to travel to the UK for temporary academic activities. Only those working as academics in an educational institution abroad can apply for the UK academic visitor visa, which is usually valid for up to 12 months.

rsscanadaimmigration.com/ is an accredited organization that provides consultancy services throughout the entire application process, from checking the required visa documents to online document uploading and visa tracking for those who wish to make an academic visit to the UK.

What are the UK Academic Visa Requirements?

UK academic visa requirements include; the applicant must be qualified at doctorate level or above in their field, the applicant must be currently working in an academic institution in their field and the person must not have a permanent teaching job in the country.

Academic applicants who are not doctors or dentists must prove that they are travelling to the UK for research or an official exchange. UK academic visa applicants who are doctors or dentists must prove that they are travelling to the UK for research, clinical work, an official exchange or teaching.

Who is Eligible for a UK Academic Visitor Visa?

Persons who are eligible for a UK academic visitor visa are listed below.

Individuals who have taken a sabbatical leave from their educational institution and wish to travel to the UK to pursue their own research.
Researchers who wish to travel to the UK to work on a project within the scope of an official exchange programme between a UK university and a foreign university, and whose salaries will be paid by their own university.
Individuals who wish to travel to the UK for purposes such as sharing knowledge or giving presentations, without being involved in a formal exchange programme.
People who will attend a conference or seminar for non-commercial purposes
Individuals who will be presenting a one-off lecture or seminar in the UK
Doctors or dentists who are among the best in their field and who will travel to the UK for purposes such as conducting research, conducting clinical studies or providing education.

Who is not eligible for a UK Academic Visitor Visa?

People who are not eligible for a UK academic visitor visa include recent graduates, research students, retired academics, people on sabbatical leave from private research companies, researchers receiving grants, people taking up a position, people receiving fees for teaching, and researchers with sponsors.

People who are not eligible for a UK academic visitor visa but wish to visit the UK may be able to obtain a UK standard visitor visa, which has a shorter validity period than the UK academic visitor visa and restricts the activities the person is permitted to do in the UK.

What are the Required Documents for the UK Academic Visa?

The documents required for the UK academic visa are listed below.

Passport: A passport belonging to the UK academic visa applicant, obtained within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months beyond the anticipated end date of the planned UK trip and with at least 2 blank pages must be presented for visa procedures.
UK academic visa application form: The UK academic visa application form must be filled out completely, in English and with accurate information online by the visa applicant.
Biometric photo: For the person applying for a UK academic visa, 2 biometric photos must be submitted, taken within the last 6 months in accordance with biometric standards and measuring 35 mm wide and 45 mm long.
Workplace permission letter: The workplace permission letter, which is taken from the workplace of the person applying for a UK academic visa and written on the workplace’s letterhead, must include the person’s leave dates and job details.
UK academic visa invitation: A UK academic visa invitation, written by the institution the visa applicant is affiliated with in the UK and including details of the person’s travel dates and research process, must be submitted for the visa application.
Documents related to academic specialization: Various documents including information about the UK academic visa applicant’s field of specialization, information about their current employment status and information about their academic achievements must be submitted for visa application procedures.
Documents related to financial capacity: The UK academic visa applicant must submit a bank statement or pay slip for the last 6 months to show how various expenses that will arise during their planned trip to the UK will be covered. If the UK academic visa applicant’s travel expenses will be covered by someone else, a sponsorship letter written by the person who will cover the expenses must be submitted.
Accommodation documents: The rental contract or hotel reservation containing information about the place where the person applying for a UK academic visa will stay during his/her trip to the UK must be submitted in the visa application file.
UK travel plan: A travel plan for the UK academic visa applicant, which includes information about the activities planned to be undertaken during their travel to the UK, the dates of these activities and, if applicable, other places to be visited in the UK, must be submitted within the visa application file.
UK academic visa application fee: The UK academic visa application fee must be paid by credit card during the online application.

How to Apply for a UK Academic Visitor Visa?

UK academic visitor visa applications can be made online from outside the UK. In online UK academic visitor visa applications, applicants must pay the visa fee and make an appointment at the visa centres in the country where the person is located.

Applicants who apply to the selected visa center on the UK academic visitor visa appointment date must complete biometric procedures including fingerprinting and photographing, and submit the necessary documents.

Visa applicants have the right to submit the required visa documents by uploading them to the system during the online application process.

How Much Is the UK Academic Visa Application Fee?

The UK academic visa application fee is set at 100 British pounds for 6-month visas and 200 British pounds for visas with a duration of 6 to 12 months. Payments for the UK academic visa application fee are made using a credit card during the online application.

The total cost for a 1-year UK academic visitor visa application is an average of 295 euros for 2024, including visa fees, reservations, sworn translation, travel health insurance, online document uploading and consultancy.

How Many Days Does It Take to Get a UK Academic Visitor Visa?

The UK academic visitor visa is issued within 3 weeks after the applications are submitted to the relevant institution. UK academic visitor visa application procedures can be accelerated by benefiting from the priority service in cases where the visa application centre where the application procedures are made is among the services provided.

How Long is the UK Academic Visa?

The UK academic visa period can be up to 12 months.

How Long Can an Academic Visitor Visa Be Extended in the UK?

In the UK, an academic visitor visa can be extended if the person’s visa is valid for less than 6 months and the person’s total stay in the UK will not exceed 6 months. Academics on sabbatical and conducting their own research in the UK are granted a visa extension of up to 12 months in total. The fee for an academic visitor visa extension in the UK is set at 1,000 British pounds.

Can Family Members of Academic Visa Holders Travel to the UK with Them?

Yes, family members of those holding a UK academic visa can accompany them. Family members of those holding a UK academic visa are entitled to reside in the UK with their family members for up to 12 months. Family members of those holding a UK academic visa are entitled to stay in the UK with their family members by obtaining a standard visitor visa for the UK prior to their intended visit or by extending their stay after visiting family members in the UK for 6 months.

What Visa is Required to Work as an Academic in the UK?

To work as an academic in the UK, a Tier 5 visa is required instead of a UK academic visitor visa.

The UK Tier 5 visa is a type of temporary work visa granted to academics who have a sponsorship agreement that complies with the conditions applicable to that type of visa.

The UK Tier 5 visa allows the holder to stay in the UK for academic study for a period of 12 to 24 months. People who wish to travel to the UK for purposes such as working as an academic or studying at a UK university, participating in a state-supported language program abroad, or conducting research or assistantships as part of an exchange program must apply for a UK Tier 5 visa .

What Visa is Required to Do PhD Studies in the UK?

To do a doctoral study in the UK, a short-term study visa or a UK Tier 4 visa is required, which entitles the holder to stay in the UK for up to 6 months. A UK academic visitor visa is not granted to those wishing to do doctoral studies in the UK. Those who do their doctoral studies with a short-term study visa, which entitles the holder to stay in the UK for up to 6 months, have the right to conduct short-term research activities while they are studying in the UK.

PhD students travelling to the UK with a UK Tier 4 visa can continue their work in the country for longer than 6 months.