Before you start
Are you eligible for the GAE visa?
Obtaining the GAE visa — Government Authorised Exchange — depends on precise criteria covering three parties: the candidate, the host company and the internship itself. The candidate must meet certain conditions relating to their academic or professional background; the host company must satisfy the programme’s requirements in order to host an intern under this scheme; and the internship itself must meet specific criteria, in particular on duration and content.
This triple check may look demanding, but it is what makes every application submitted solid and legitimate. Rest assured: our expertise lets us assess in advance whether your profile, your host company and your internship qualify, so we can guide you precisely and spare you any unpleasant surprise.
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Eligibility criteria for the candidate
To be eligible, the candidate must meet the following criteria.
- Be 18 years old or over.
- Hold a valid passport.
- Be a student in higher education, at bachelor’s level or equivalent as a minimum.
- Or have graduated less than 24 months before the internship starts.
- Show sufficient funds to support themselves once in the country.
- Not have already completed an internship within the host company concerned.
We can sponsor you twice, provided these are two different British companies and the combined length of the two internships does not exceed 12 months.
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Eligibility criteria for the company
The host company must also meet certain criteria in order to offer an internship under the GAE programme.
- Be registered with Companies House, the UK register of companies, for at least 12 months.
- Employ a minimum of three full-time staff on site.
- Keep a ratio of 5 full-time employees per intern if the company wishes to host several interns.
- Have offices and a suitable professional environment.
- Provide adequate supervision by a member of the team, with a clearly identified mentor responsible for the candidate’s professional development throughout the placement.
The mentor must be identified from the outset. Their involvement is required to build the application file: raise this point with the host company at your very first exchange.
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Eligibility criteria for the internship
The internship itself must meet a number of criteria — to comply with UK government requirements, to protect you as an intern, and to guarantee a worthwhile experience.
- Last no more than 12 months, at a minimum of 25 working hours per week.
- Be a supernumerary position, designed specifically for an intern and not to fill a permanent role.
- Offer varied tasks with real responsibility, rather than purely repetitive work, with a good rotation of activities and clear objectives set out in a detailed training plan.
- Be paid beyond 6 months. Where the internship is paid, it must comply with UK National Minimum Wage legislation.
Your host company
Does your company have questions about the GAE visa?
If you are in touch with a company in the United Kingdom, or in the middle of a recruitment process, and your contact does not yet know the rules of the GAE visa, we would be glad to arrange a meeting — by Teams or by phone — to answer all their questions. Fill in the form below and we will get in touch with your company directly.