Department For Education
The points-based immigration system
All overseas nationals arriving to work or study in the UK from 1 January 2021, including those from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, come under the UKs points-based immigration system.
The type of visa trainee teachers from overseas need to apply for may depend on whether their teacher training course is salaried or unsalaried.
Unsalaried includes:
- higher education institution programmes
- school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) programmes
- School Direct fee-funded programme
Salaried includes:
- School Direct salaried programme
- Teach First Leadership Development programme
- postgraduate teaching apprenticeships
Irish citizens can continue to enter, work and study in the UK under the Common Travel Area as they could previously.
Recruit by becoming a visa sponsor
Student visa - for unsalaried teacher training courses
Teacher training candidates can apply for a Student visa to train to teach in England if they are undertaking an unsalaried initial teacher training (ITT) course and:
- they have an unconditional offer from a licensed sponsoring institution
- they can financially support themselves in the UK and pay for their course
- they can speak, read, write and understand English
Trainee teachers undertaking an unsalaried ITT course can apply:
- up to 6 months before their course starts if theyre applying from outside the UK
- up to 3 months before it starts if theyre applying from inside the UK
Sponsoring Student visas
To sponsor a Student visa your institution must be a licensed sponsor.
State-funded schools cannot sponsor Student visas.
You can check if your institution is already a licensed sponsor.
If you are not already a Student visa sponsor, you can apply for a student sponsor licence. This guidance has further information about being a sponsor, including your responsibilities.
Skilled Worker visa - for salaried teacher training courses
Teacher training candidates can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to train to teach in England if they are undertaking a salaried ITT course and:
- they are offered a salaried training place by a school that is a licensed Home Office employer sponsor
- they can speak, read, write and understand English
- their role pays at least 20,960, or the relevant minimum rate for unqualified teachers in England, whichever is higher
- any part-time role pays at least 20,960 when the relevant minimum rate for unqualified teachers in England is pro-rated
Trainee teachers undertaking a salaried ITT course can apply for a Skilled Worker visa up to 3 months before they are due to start work in the UK.
Sponsoring Skilled Worker visas
State-funded schools can sponsor Skilled Worker visas.
Schools can check if theyre already a licensed sponsor. Sometimes it will be the local authority or academy trust that holds the sponsor licence instead of the individual school.
Schools can become a sponsor by following this step-by-step guidance. This guidance covers further information about being a sponsor, including your responsibilities.
Recruit without becoming a sponsor
Some visa routes in the points-based immigration system do not require you to sponsor the trainee.
Graduate visa
The Graduate visa is available to international students who have successfully completed their degree in the UK and been sponsored by a Home Office licensed student sponsor.
Those on a Graduate visa will be able to study, work or look for work in the UK for up to 2 years after completing their studies (3 years for PhD students) without a sponsor. This includes training as a teacher via either a salaried or unsalaried ITT course, as long as their training provider does not sponsor student visas.
If you are a training provider and you sponsor student visas, then any trainees you recruit must apply for a student visa instead.
Teachers or trainee teachers on a Graduate visa will be able to apply to switch to another visa route (such as the Skilled Worker visa) without having to leave the UK if they meet the requirements for the other visa route.
High Potential Individual visa
To be eligible for a High Potential Individual visa, trainees must have:
- a Bachelors degree, Masters degree or PhD from a university listed in the Global Universities list
- been awarded their qualification no more than 5 years before they apply
- English language skills to B1 intermediate level
- personal funds of 1,270
- passed a security and criminality check
Trainees do not need an offer of a place on a teacher training course to apply for this visa. They will be able to stay in the UK for 2 years with a Bachelors or Masters degree, and 3 years with a PhD.
If their visa application is successful, they will be able to train as a teacher on either a salaried or fee-paying ITT course, as long as their training provider does not sponsor student visas.
If you are a training provider and you sponsor student visas, then any trainees you recruit must apply for a student visa instead.
Youth Mobility Scheme visa
A Youth Mobility Scheme visa lasts for up to 2 years and is for young people aged 18 to 30 who have certain types of British nationality or are from certain countries. Young people can study or work while on this visa without a sponsoring educational institution or sponsoring employer. This includes training as a teacher via either a salaried or unsalaried ITT course.
Teachers or trainee teachers on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa may be able to apply to switch to another visa route without leaving the UK. Theyll need to meet the requirements for the other visa route.
Other visas
Trainee teachers from overseas may be able to work or study in the UK on another type of visa.
Guidance is available about Family visas, the UK Ancestry visa and the British National (Overseas) visa.
EU Settlement Scheme
Citizens of the EEA or Switzerland might be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living, working and studying in the UK without applying for a visa.
The deadline for most people to apply to t