What is an ATAS certificate?

An ATAS certificate is a clearance issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the Academic Technology Approval Scheme. Some overseas students and researchers need one to study or research certain sensitive technology subjects in the UK at postgraduate level. It is free to apply, and some visa applications must include it.

How an ATAS certificate works

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) applies to certain overseas students and researchers who want to study or do research in specific sensitive technology-related fields in the UK. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) runs the scheme and issues the certificates.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)}

The subject is identified by a Common Aggregate Hierarchy (CAH3) code. The university or research institution usually gives the code in the offer letter, or can confirm it separately. For a contracted researcher, the institution also confirms whether the job’s occupation code needs a certificate.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)}

The scheme covers people on taught courses or research at Masters or PhD level. A person applying for an undergraduate course with an integrated Masters year may also need clearance. A postgraduate diploma or a PGCE does not need a certificate.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)}

Who needs one

Students and contracted researchers need a certificate if their course, research or job requires it and they are not exempt. You do not need one if you hold indefinite leave to remain, are exempt from UK immigration control, or your visa conditions do not require it.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)} You are also exempt if you are a national or citizen of a country on the FCDO list. The list includes Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States, along with the EU member states. A dual national with an exempt nationality is exempt, but must hold a valid passport from that country and a valid UK visa linked to it.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)}

For a worker, the sponsor must check whether a certificate is needed before assigning the certificate of sponsorship. The worker needs one if all of these apply:^{[2]Home Office, UK visa sponsorship for employers: Check whether your worker needs an ATAS certificate}

• the sponsor has a Student sponsor licence
• the worker is sponsored in a relevant occupation code
• the worker will carry out research at PhD level or above in a relevant subject area
• the worker’s nationality is not exempt

The sponsor has to answer a question on the certificate of sponsorship saying whether the ATAS requirement applies.^{[3]Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker} If the worker needs one, the sponsor must tell them to get one and include it in the visa application, and must keep a copy.^{[2]Home Office, UK visa sponsorship for employers: Check whether your worker needs an ATAS certificate}

When it is needed

For some visas, such as the Student visa and the Skilled Worker visa, the certificate must be in hand before the visa application, so it can be checked as part of the application. The FCDO lists these routes.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)}

For several of the visas in the second row, the exemption from needing it at application covers study only. The FCDO page says for each visa whether that covers study, research or both.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)}

The Skilled Worker rules say that if the ATAS requirement applies, the applicant must provide a valid ATAS certificate. The certificate of sponsorship must also state whether the requirement applies.^{[3]Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker} If a worker does not include the certificate, their visa application will be refused and the sponsor may lose its licences.^{[2]Home Office, UK visa sponsorship for employers: Check whether your worker needs an ATAS certificate}

How long it lasts

The certificate is valid for 6 months from its date of issue for use in a visa application. It is valid for the length of the course or research as long as the person has a valid UK visa. If the visa expires during the course or research, the person must reapply for a new certificate and a new visa.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)} A person who changes course or research project while in the UK still needs a certificate if the new course requires it.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)}

The FCDO states that applications take at least 30 working days (6 weeks) and that there is no fast track. The employer guidance on GOV.UK gives a shorter minimum for workers of at least 2 weeks, or 3 weeks between April and September. The two pages give different figures.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)[2]Home Office, UK visa sponsorship for employers: Check whether your worker needs an ATAS certificate}

Example

Chen has an offer for a Master’s course. His nationality is not on the exempt list. The university’s offer letter gives the CAH3 code for the course. Chen creates an online account on the ATAS website and submits his application. He gives details of his previous studies, his passport and his financial sponsor, and names two referees. The FCDO emails the certificate to him and tells the university. He uploads it with his Student visa application. It is valid for 6 months for that use.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)}

What people get wrong

Many applicants treat the ATAS certificate as if it were part of the visa. It is a separate clearance from the FCDO. For the routes in the first row of the table, it must be in hand before the visa application is made.

A visitor shows the other side. A Standard Visitor visa can be applied for before an ATAS certificate is held, but a visiting researcher must get one before starting research in the UK.^{[1]Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)}

The bottom line

An ATAS certificate is a free FCDO clearance for postgraduate study and some research jobs in sensitive technology subjects. Whether a person needs one depends on the subject code, the job, the visa route and nationality. The institution or sponsor tells the person if it applies, and the person must apply early because the FCDO sets no fast track.