UK visa reform needed for research and development vision

The UK government’s vision to transform Britain into a research and development (R&D) ‘superpower’ requires significant UK visa reforms in order to become a reality, a recent Universities UK report has warned. UK visa fees for researchers and their families to come to the UK can exceed £15,000, representing a huge barrier for researchers seeking UK entry.

However, the Universities UK (UUK) report says that visa reforms and tackling immigration bureaucracy could help Britain to realise its R&D superpower ambition. Among the recommendations made in the UUK’s report to the Home Office is to review the cost of UK visa applications, to at least ensure that they are in line with international competitors.

Under current UK immigration rules, an overseas individual applying for a five-year Skilled Worker Visa, who is bringing a partner and two children, is facing costs of £15,880. The UUK says that this is an issue that is ‘especially prohibitive’ for mid-career researchers who may choose to take their families and skills elsewhere to countries like the USA or Canada.

Immigration Health Surcharge

In addition to UK visa fees of more than £15,000, applicants are also subject to the £624 UK Immigration Health Surcharge. The UUK has argued that applicants should be able to pay this fee over the lifetime of their visa, rather than a one-off upfront payment as per the current requirements. 

The UUK has also urged the Home Office to review the cost of dependency visas.

Meanwhile, the UUK has further recommended that the Home Office should also allow family members of researchers on dependent visas to apply for indefinite leave to remain after three years and enable visa application costs to be transferred when updating an applicant’s visa to a new institution.

The UUK’s report argues that this is essential if Britain is to maintain a high level of world-leading research – as outlined in the recent Research Excellence Framework.

Under current immigration legislation, some researchers can apply for indefinite leave to remain. However, their dependants cannot. UK visa reapplication requirements when switching between institutions mean that researchers are currently subjected to further fees and Home Office bureaucracy.

Most expensive visa costs in the world

Feedback from UK universities and international staff seemingly highlights that the UK has some of the highest visa fees in the world. The high costs risk scuppering the government’s target of increasing UK R&D to 2.4% of GDP by 2027.

According to research, the UK needs to attract 150,000 researchers and technicians to meet its 2.4% of GDP goal.

UUK did highlight recent UK immigration reforms, including the Global Talent Visa, reforms to the international graduate route and a refreshed GREAT campaign as good steps to make the UK more attractive to international research talent, but insisted that more needs to be done.

Director of Universities UK International, Vivienne Stern said: “We think they [the UK government] can go even further, and that doing so will contribute to making the UK one of the most exciting places in the world to pursue a research career.”

“Simple steps to ease the financial and bureaucratic burden for applicants could make a massive difference to individual decision making, and help make the UK a magnet for talent,” Ms Stern added. 

Workpermit.com can help with Sponsor Licences

If you need help with employing Skilled Workers and help to apply for a Sponsor Licence, including complying with your Sponsor Licence obligations, workpermit.com can help.

For more information and advice on Sponsor licences, please contact us on 0344 991 9222 or at london@workpermit.com(link sends e-mail)