Visa conditions
Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) visa holders must observe the following conditions:
- they will have no access to state benefits;
- they will register with the police within the required timeframe and report any changes to the police, as required (it should be clear on the migrant's visa whether they are required to register with the police, but for further information please see Police Registration);
- they will not start up or run a business.
In addition to the work for which their visa was issued, Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) visa holders may also take up supplementary work so long as the following conditions are observed:
- the supplementary work is in the same profession as the job specified on the Certificate of Sponsorship* e.g. a sponsored researcher may take up supplementary research for another department or organisation;
- the supplementary work is at the same professional level as the work specified on the Certificate of Sponsorship, e.g. the funding/salary is at the same level;
- the supplementary research is for no more than 20 hours per week; and
- the supplementary research is outside the working hours covered by the Certificate of Sponsorship.
*Note that the UK Border Agency does not consider research and teaching as the same profession. Therefore, a researcher would not normally be permitted to give lectures for another department/organisation as 'supplementary employment'.
If, however, a researcher has some lecturing responsibilities as part of the role for which their Tier 5 Certificate of Sponsorship was issued, and the lecturing responsibilities were noted on the Certificate of Sponsorship, then the migrant may give additional lectures as 'supplementary employment', providing this also complies with the above rules for supplementary employment.