A standard visitor visa is required for visitors from most non-EEA countries temporarily coming to the UK to undertake activities, but not paid work by a UK employer.

The normal visa arrangements for visiting the UK apply - ie they must obtain a visitor's visa if they are from a country listed as requiring a visa. Check for UK standard visa requirements here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

Permitted activities allowed in the standard visa

• Attending meetings, conferences, seminars, interviews
• Giving individual or a short series of presentations, provided that these are not organised as commercial events and will not make a profit for the organiser
• Undertaking some forms of academic-related activities (see below)

Academic-related activities

If applying for a standard visa as a visiting academic individuals can stay in the UK for up to 12 months. They must:

• be highly qualified within their field of expertise
• be currently working in that field at an academic institution overseas
• visiting either to take part in a formal exchange with a UK counterpart, to carry out their own research on sabbatical leave from their home institution, or to take part in someone else's research or clinical practice - as long as this does not involve filling a permanent academic post.

An academic from an overseas academic institution accompanying students to the UK as part of a study abroad programme may provide a small amount of teaching to the students at the host organisation.

Individuals must apply for a biometric residence permit if they are staying in the UK as an academic for longer than 6 months.

Letters of Invitation

The individual will need a letter of invitation from the University in relation to their visit.

The letter should be produced by the department, signed of by the Head of Department, and should clearly state in a non-technical manner the purpose and duration of the visit.

Applications

Applications for permitted paid engagement visas are made directly by the individual to to UK Visas and Immigration using the on-line application system. The application does not require University sponsorship.