Visa/permit guidance for UK based students wanting to study, work & volunteer abroad Created via the collaboration of UK university staff as part of the UUKi Visa Working group

Glossary of terms - What do these words/phrases mean?

Brexit transition period - Agreed in the UK–EU Withdrawal Agreement in which the UK is no longer a member of the EU but remains a member of the single market and customs union. Also referred to by the UK government as ‘implementation period’. The transition period came to an end in January 2021 and the UK is no longer a member state of the EU.

Consulate - A consulate is where consular services are performed. For example, visa, permit and/or residency applications. Embassies will normally have a consular section. While there will only be one British embassy in the country you visit, there may be a number of consulates based around the country. These would usually be in cities with the most tourists. Source: UK Post office

Consular services - Provided by diplomatic staff based in a country where citizens of the country they are based in, require services or advice to travel or live overseas. For example, Spanish diplomatic staff based in the Spanish embassy in London, provide visa advice and process applications for UK residents wanting to travel to Spain. They also provide assistance and support to it's own nationals if they get into difficulty whilst living or travelling abroad.

DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) - Previously known as CRB/Criminal record check, allows employers to make safer recruitment decisions about an individual. If you work with children/young/vulnerable people, you may be required to complete and hold a valid DBS certificate. This requirement is for the UK, but other countries may have their own version which needs to be completed.

Embassy - An embassy is the base for a country’s diplomatic mission abroad – meaning all of the political, cultural and social relationships between the states. There will only be one embassy for one nation in another country, as it is where the country’s ambassador works, and sometimes resides. Source: UK Post office

Entry rules – Set by a country that people/certain groups of people must abide by to enter the country to visit/work/study/volunteer there.

FCDO – This is a branch of the UK government known as the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) that provides advice and assistance to British Nationals abroad.

Health Screenings – According to the NHS ‘Screening is a way of finding out if people have a higher chance of having a health problem, so that early treatment can be offered, or information given to help them make informed decisions.’ What this means in a travel sense is for countries to have assurance, as far as possible, that you are not bringing in any diseases and/or have major health requirements while staying in the country.

Immigration – Is the act of immigrating which means to enter a country where you are not a native (born/live there).

Internship – Carrying out work for a defined period. Within the context of universities, we generally refer to an internship as work that is not part of an assessed module, whereas a 'placement' is part of an assessed module. Some organisations/companies will refer to an opportunity as an internship, but it could also be used as a placement.

Letter of invitation – This is a letter/email from someone/an organisation inviting you to visit/stay in the country for a defined duration. This is not normally a requirement for someone visiting the country for tourism, but if you are planning to work/study/volunteer you are likely to need this from your host university/employer in your destination country. Many countries will stipulate a format/provide a template for the letter of invitation. It is important you check the requirements and get them right as it may lead to your visa application being rejected.

Schengen area - The border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 400 million EU citizens, along with non-EU nationals living in the EU or visiting the EU as tourists, exchange students or for business purposes (anyone legally present in the EU). Free movement enables every EU citizen to travel, work and live in an EU country without being subject to border checks. Visit the European Commission website for further information on where and how to apply for a Schengen Visa and list of countries in the Schengen area.

Single/Double/Multiple entry visa – This means the number of times you can enter the country within the Visa’s validity period. Therefore, a multiple entry visa means you can enter the country as many times as you like if the visa is valid. However, you may be restricted to how long you can stay in the country on one trip.

Transit - This is when a passenger is temporarily staying in the country (normally less than 24hrs), on the way to their final destination. For example, you may transit through Amsterdam on the way to India.

Travel Permits – some countries may only require you to have a travel permit for your intended activity. A travel permit normally requires a less onerous process to complete than a visa. However, be sure to check this option is for the duration and type of activity you plan to carry out.

Visa – An official mark usually in your passport that allows you to enter/leave a country or group of countries.

Visa upon arrival – Some countries will authorise a visa at the airport when you arrive in the country. However, this is often for tourism and not for longer periods and/or to work/study.

Contents of this visa/permit guidance for UK based students wanting to study, work & volunteer abroad

1. Introduction: What is a visa/permit & passport types, what support is offered by UK HE institutions
2. How to get started: Applying for a visa/permit to study or work abroad
3. Ready to get started with your Visa Application: Step by step guide
4. Further resources: Useful Links & Glossary of terms

Further information on contributors to this guidance and how to contact them

This guidance was co-written by university staff across the UK. It was the result of work carried by the Visa Working Group under the UUKi Outward Student Mobility Network. The guidance was first published in February 2024. The lead contributors are:

• Rebecca Berryman - UWE Bristol
• Dr Fiona Ashmore - University of Leicester
• Wiebke Leugers - Queen Mary University of London

DISCLAIMER - Please note this guidance does not constitute advice. It does not guarantee that any visa applications will not be rejected/refused. It is intended as best practice guidance on how to ensure that you have everything you need to apply for a visa/permit to study/work/volunteer outside the UK. This guidance was written and published in February 2024, last updated Autumn 2024.