Tier 5 Arriving in the UK

UKVI strongly recommends not to book travel to the UK until the visa has been issued.

Tier 5 visa holders must arrive on or slightly after the 'valid from' date as detailed in the visa approval email and UKVI Account.

The 'valid from' date is usually issued around 14 days before the start date of the research visit, as listed on the Certificate of Sponsorship, providing time to settle in and take care of practical issues before commencing the research.

Dependants issued a vignette valid for 90 days must travel to the UK within this period, if they do not, they will have to apply, and pay, for a replacement vignette before entering the UK.

Do not travel to the UK as a Visitor

Applicants who have submitted their Tier 5 visa application, or whose Tier 5 visa has already been granted, must not enter the UK as a Visitor (e.g. as a tourist). Entering as a Visitor will invalidate the Tier 5 visa, and they will not be able to start their research. Any travel plans should be discussed with the host department/ faculty/ college and the Staff Immigration Team (SIT).

Digital Immigration Status

A UKVI account needs to be created and the details on the eVisa should be carefully checked. If there is any error the visa holder must report the error  and inform their  department/ faculty/ college and SIT.

The UKVI account allows the visa holder to;

• View and prove their rights in the UK for an employer, landlord, education and other organisations such as government services and the National Health Service
• Check what rights they have in the UK
• Update  personal details including your contact details, travel documents and personal information
• Link  travel document(s) to the eVisa status for return travel to the UK

Before travelling the current travel document(s) must be linked to the eVisa. This ensures the smoothest journey when boarding to return to the UK. This can be done by using the Update your UKVI account details.

Tier 5 visa holders and their family members will normally have their eVisa or vignettes checked and date stamped by a Home Office Immigration Officer on arriving in the UK.

Nationals of An EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the USA who have a biometric passport will instead be able to enter through 'eGates' without having to speak to an Immigration Officer. If travelling with children under 10 years old, however, they cannot use the 'eGates' and will need to see an Immigration Officer.

Those who enter through an 'eGate' will not receive a date stamp in their passport and will need to retain their boarding pass, travel itinerary, or other evidence of when they entered the UK.

Even those who have travelled to the UK before may find the government's Guide to faster travel through the UK border useful.

Evidence Right to Work before visit starts

Tier 5 visa holders will need to provide a share code to their employing department/ faculty/ college to evidence their right to work in the UK before they can commence the visit, and an online check will need to be carried out.

If a share code is unable to be obtained, the department, faculty or college will need to use the Employer Checking service.

Detailed guidance is provided in our Online Right to Work check process.

Submit arrival documents to the Staff Immigration Team

The department, faculty or college needs to complete an arrival form and provide the required supporting documents to the Staff Immigration Team.

The Home Office requires evidence of the date the visa holder enters the UK to be kept as part of their record-keeping requirements. Evidence, such as the boarding card or travel itinerary will need to be presented to the host department/ faculty/ college when the right to work check is being completed.