Tier 5 Government Exchage

Government Exchange Scheme

Under the Points Based System student internships fall under the Tier 5 "Government Exchange Scheme" Temporary Workers Category. The Government Exchange Scheme will allow individuals to come to the UK temporarily to share knowledge, experience and work through placements in the UK.

Individuals need to apply to a registered body in the UK which has been issued a licence to act as sponsors and manage this scheme. Individual employers are not able to act as sponsor, even if you are licensed as a sponsor.

The sponsoring body’s exchange scheme must comply with the following principles:

•             The scheme must not detrimentally affect the resident labour market;

•             The candidates must not fill genuine vacancies;

•             The candidates must be engaged in a capacity additional to the normal;

•             The staffing requirements of the employer;

•             The work must be skilled (minimum NVQ level 3);

•             All UK legislation must be complied with e.g. minimum wage etc.

To find out which Bodies are registered under this scheme please visit the Home Office register of sponsors.