UK Tier 5 Visa for Indian

The UK Tier 5 visa program gives Indian nationals the chance to live and work in the United Kingdom for a period of between 2 and 4 years. For this visa your sponsor must have sufficient funds to support you.

The Tier 5 visa for Indian nationals is a temporary visa for those who want to study in the UK. It allows you to study at any level of education, from kindergarten through university. The length of time you can stay in the UK on this visa will depend on the length of your course.

The Tier 5 Visa for Indians is not an employment visa, so you can only work part-time while you’re in school and full-time during holidays. In addition to studying, you can do voluntary work up to 20 hours per week if it’s related to your field of study.

If you have completed your course and are looking for work in the UK after graduation, then you may apply for another type of visa such as an [employer sponsored visa] or a [work permit].

Tier 5 Visa Categories

There are mainly two types of visas under the Tier 5 category. One is for the youth mobility scheme and the others are for temporary workers under different sections.

• Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) Visa
• Tier 5 Temporary Workers Visa
  • Tier 5 (Temporary worker-charity worker) visa
  • Tier 5 (Temporary worker- creative and sporting) visa
  • Tier 5 (Temporary worker- government authorised exchange) visa
  • Tier 5 (Temporary worker- international agreement) visa
  • Tier 5 (Temporary worker- religious worker) visa

Tier 5 Visa Requirements

Requirements for Tier 5 visas depend on the specific category you are applying. Please see specific requirements for the Tier 5 visa category that you are applying for on the individual pages.

There is no English language requirement for Tier 5 visas.

Tier 5 Visa Documents

The documents required for a Tier 5 application will again depend on the specific type of visa application that you will make but in general, these are the documents that you will need to submit under most categories of Tier 5 visa.

• Applicant’s Passport and/or Valid travel identification
• Passport-sized colour photograph
• Applicant’s Previous passports (if held any)
• Proof of maintenance requirements – Personal Bank Statements or Confirmation of maintenance and accommodation, if necessary, from your A-rated sponsor.
• Tuberculosis (TB) test results if your country is on the list where you have to take the test.

Dependants under Tier 5 Categories

A dependant, usually your partner or your child aged under 18, can apply to join you in the UK as a dependant of Tier 5 visa holder. Your dependants will have to apply at the same time of your application and pay for the healthcare surcharge as part of their application.

You should also meet additional maintenance requirements for your dependants in addition to the £945 you must have to support yourself.

A Tier 5 visa is a temporary work visa for people who want to come to the UK for a short time. There are 6 different types, including creative and sporting, charity, religious worker, and youth mobility scheme.

What are the different types?

There are 6 main categories of Tier 5 visa, including:

1. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Charity Worker) visa;
2. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and sporting) visa;
3. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange) visa;
4. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – International Agreement) visa;
5. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Religious Worker) visa; and
6. Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa.

The main types allow you to do work experience, training, a research fellowship, or an exchange scheme. You must be from outside the EEA and Switzerland to apply and a holder of a Tier 5 visa. can stay in the UK for the period of time which is shorter between i)12 or 24 months (depending on which scheme you apply for) or ii) the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days,. The Tier 5 visa cannot be used in order to take up a permanent job in the UK.

How long will does a Tier 5 application take?

You can apply for a Tier 5 visa 3 months before the position with your sponsor starts, and a decision on the application may take about 3 weeks.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you have a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed sponsor, are not from the European Economic Area or Switzerland. Generally, you will also need £945 savings, unless your sponsor is A-rated and will certify your maintenance.

The sponsor can be an organisation running an approved exchange scheme, a higher education institution (if you want to come to the UK for research, or to be a visiting academic or examiner), or a government department.

There are different eligibility requirements for each type of Tier 5 visa:

1. For the Tier 5 (Charity Worker) visa, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship and £945 savings.
2. For the Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) visa, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship and £945 savings. You will also either need to be a sportsperson at the highest level, or to be a Creative Worker. You need to make a unique contribution to the UK, for example by being internationally renowned. For Creative Workers, there may also be a minimum salary requirement.
3. For the Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) visa, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship, savings of £945, and a position offered by an approved government authorised exchange scheme.
4. For the Tier 5 (International Agreement) visa, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship, savings of £945, and your work must be covered by the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) or similar agreement. Alternatively, your position may be for a foreign government or international organisation, or to work as a private servant in a diplomatic household.
5. For the Tier 5 (Religious Worker) visa, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship and £945 savings.
6. For the Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa, you must be 18-30 years old and from 1 one of a number of certain countries. See below for more details.

How long can I stay?

The Tier 5 visas are for short stays. The length of time you can stay is different for each type of Tier 5 visa:

1. For the Tier 5 (Charity Worker) visa, you can stay for whichever is the shorter of i) your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 28 days or ii) 12 months. You can come to the UK up to 14 days before the position starts.
2. For the Tier 5 (Creative and sporting) visa, you can stay for whichever is the shorter of i) your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 28 days or ii) 12 months. You can come to the UK up to 14 days before the position starts.
3. For the Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) visa, you can stay for whichever is the shorter of i) your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 28 days or ii) 12 months or 24 months depending on which scheme you are applying for. You can come to the UK up to 14 days before the position starts.
4. For the Tier 5 (International Agreement) visa, you can stay for whichever is the shorter of i) your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 28 days or ii) 24 months. However, you can only stay for 6 months in any 12-month period if the contract is under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), EU-Chile Free Trade Agreement, or certain other agreements. You can come to the UK up to 14 days before the position starts.
5. For the Tier 5 (Religious Worker) visa, you can stay for whichever is the shorter of i) your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 28 days or ii) 24 months. You can come to the UK up to 14 days before the position starts.
6. For the Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa, you will be given a visa of up to 2 years. You can come to the UK at any time during which your visa is valid 

Conclusion

Tier 5 Visitor Visa is a type of visa that allows an Indian national to visit the UK for up to 6 months. The Tier 5 visa is for those who wish to come to the UK as a visitor and not for work or study.