Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange)

The following information is given in order to provide you with a generalised overview of the criteria required under the Tier 5 ( government authorised exchange) sub category. However if you wish for us to assess whether you qualify under the Tier 5 (government authorised exchange) sub category, or you wish to engage our services and/or require further information regarding this particular sub category, please complete the 'Contact Box' on this page to enable a member of our team to contact you and advise you further.

The Tier 5 (government authorised exchange) category allows foreign nationals to enter the UK through approved schemes that have been specifically set up to share knowledge, expertise and best practice through work placements. It should be noted it is not possible under this category to fill jobs or bring unskilled labour into the UK.

To prevent the above from occurring individual employers and organisations are not permitted to sponsor foreign nationals even if they are licensed as sponsors under other categories of Tier 5. The only exceptions to this rule are:

• Sponsored Researchers – a scheme has been approved by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
• Where the employer is a Government Department or an Executive Agency of a Government Department or an Executive Agency of a Government Department.

In all other cases the sponsor will be an overarching body. The overarching body will assign certificates of sponsorship to foreign nationals who meet the requirements under the Tier 5 (government authorised exchange) scheme.

Any employment the foreign national carries out under this category must be skilled. Skilled work is defined as being equivalent to N/SVQ level 3 or above. The only exception to this is if the foreign national is entering the UK as part of the EU lifelong Learning Programme, in this case the foreign national may undertake vocational educational and training at a lower skill level.

Anyone Applying Under The Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) Category Must Obtain:

• 30 points for certificate of sponsorship; and,
• 10 points for the maintenance requirement.

Certificate Of Sponsorship
30 points will be awarded once the overarching body has issued a certificate of sponsorship.

Maintenance

In order to meet the maintenance requirement the foreign national must show £800 (or equivalent) of personal savings which must have been held for at least a consecutive 90 day period ending no earlier than one calendar month before the date of application. It should be noted in some cases however the sponsor may be able to certify the foreign nationals maintenance, but they will not be able to sponsor the foreign nationals’ dependants’ maintenance requirement.

Length Of Time An Individual Is Able to Remain In The UK Under Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) Sub Category

A maximum period of 24 months, or the time given in the certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, whichever is shorter.