Immigration Rules Appendix ATAS: Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

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April 4

12:21 2024

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The ATAS requirement means the applicant must obtain a valid ATAS certificate, issued by the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre, and to provide it with an application on Student, Skilled Worker, ICT, Global Business Mobility, Scale-up, T5 International Agreement and Government Authorised Exchange routes to study or work as a researcher in any of the specified subjects listed in this Appendix.

The ATAS condition means that someone must obtain a valid ATAS certificate prior to commencing study or research in any of the specified subjects or fields of research.

A person is subject to the ATAS condition if they have been granted permission which allows study or work subject to the ATAS condition.

A person is exempt from the ATAS requirement and ATAS condition if they are a national of one of the countries listed in this Appendix.

ATAS requirement

ATAS 1.1. An applicant (who is not a national of a country listed at ATAS 3.1.) requires a valid ATAS certificate if the course of study for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned is a subject set out at ATAS 4.1. which:
1. (a) leads to a masters degree; or
2. (b) leads to a PhD; or
3. (c) leads to another postgraduate qualification; or
4. (d) is a period of study or research which is part of an overseas postgraduate qualification.

ATAS 1.2. An applicant (who is not a national of a country listed at ATAS 3.1.) requires a valid ATAS certificate if they are applying in a work route which requires a Certificate of Sponsorship, that Certificate of Sponsorship is issued by a work sponsor that is also a licensed student sponsor, and the role set out in the Certificate of Sponsorship:
1. (a) is in one of the following SOC 2020 occupation codes:
  1. 2111 Chemical scientists
  2. 2112 Biological scientists
  3. 2113 Biochemists and biomedical scientists
  4. 2114 Physical scientists
  5. 2115 Social and humanities scientists
  6. 2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified
  7. 2122 Mechanical engineers
  8. 2123 Electrical engineers
  9. 2124 Electronics engineers
  10. 2125 Production and process engineers
  11. 2126 Aerospace engineers
  12. 2127 Engineering project managers and project engineers
  13. 2129 Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified
  14. 2161 Research and development (R&D) managers
  15. 2162 Other researchers, unspecified discipline
  16. 2311 Higher education teaching professionals
  17. 3111 Laboratory technicians
  18. 3112 Electrical and electronics technicians
  19. 3113 Engineering technicians
  20. 3114 Building and civil engineering technicians
  21. 5234 Aircraft maintenance and related trades

ATAS 1.3. The applicant must provide a print-out of the valid ATAS certificate for the course of study or research role to show that the ATAS requirement is met.

ATAS condition

ATAS 2.1. The ATAS condition means the person (who is not a national of a country listed at ATAS 3.1), must have a valid ATAS certificate before commencing study (unless they are a student continuing a course of study and they have made, or intend to make within the required time period, an application required by ATAS 2.2) or research in a subject listed at ATAS 4.1 which:
1. (a) leads to a UK postgraduate degree; or
2. (b) leads to another postgraduate qualification; or
3. (c) is a period of study which is part of an overseas postgraduate qualification; or
4. (d) is research as part of a course of postgraduate study, employment or academic activity at a licensed student sponsor.

ATAS 2.2. A Student who intends to continue study on a course of study which is subject to the ATAS requirement must apply for a new ATAS certificate where:
1. (a) the completion date of the course of study has changed and will be delayed by more than 3 months; or
2. (b) the course contents or research proposal of the course of study change,
and the application for a new certificate must be made within 28 days of the change in (a) or (b) above being known to the Student.

Nationals who are exempt from the ATAS requirement and condition

ATAS 3.1. A person does not need to meet the ATAS requirement, and will not be subject to the ATAS condition, if they are a national of any of the following countries:
1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Belgium
4. Bulgaria
5. Canada
6. Croatia
7. Republic of Cyprus
8. Czech Republic
9. Denmark
10. Estonia
11. Finland
12. France
13. Germany
14. Greece
15. Hungary
16. Iceland
17. Ireland
18. Italy
19. Japan
20. Latvia
21. Liechtenstein
22. Lithuania
23. Luxembourg
24. Malta
25. Netherlands
26. New Zealand
27. Norway
28. Poland
29. Portugal
30. Republic of Korea
31. Romania
32. Singapore
33. Slovakia
34. Slovenia
35. Spain
36. Sweden
37. Switzerland
38. United States of America

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