UK GAE Visa Sponsorship for Employers (Tier 5): Fragomen International Internship Scheme
Internship Programme Management
Eligibility assessments including pre-screening
Completion of full end-to-end TW GAE application process
Right to work guidance and support
On-going compliance support and advice
Whether you're an employer looking to host international interns or an individual seeking an internship opportunity, Fragomen ensures a seamless, fully compliant process.
To host international interns, your programme must comply with UK immigration law, and interns must have sponsorship and Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) visas. Fragomen ensures that businesses and interns navigate this process smoothly, providing full compliance and expert guidance.
Fragomen partners with businesses of all sizes—from start-ups and SMEs to global corporations—acting as an overarching sponsor. Through our Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange (TW GAE) Sponsor Licence, we simplify the process of bringing talented students and recent graduates to the UK for valuable work experience.
Acquiring visa sponsorship for an
internship in the UK
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Temporary Work GAE route allows individuals to come to the UK for a temporary period on an approved scheme. The Temporary Work GAE route does not lead to settlement.
As the only UK law firm approved by the Home Office as an overarching sponsor for foreign nationals undertaking internships, Fragomen has been facilitating international internships for over 13 years. Our Internship Scheme connects UK businesses with top global talent, building a pipeline of future skills and investment into the UK.
Fragomen can sponsor eligible overseas candidates to undertake internships with organisations in the UK for up to 12 months, but cannot provide sponsorship for internships at Fragomen.
The Temporary Work GAE Route
Onboarding
01
Assessing eligibility to our Scheme
02
Collating documents for visa application and Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
03
Submission of visa application
04
Decision
05
Entry to the UK and Right to Work check
06
Ongoing compliance reporting
07
End of internship and departure from the UK
08
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Carmita Alonso
Partner
Carmita is a Partner at Fragomen’s New York office and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. She also serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Diversity & Inclusion Committee, which provides guidance and makes recommendations to actively enhance diversity, inclusion and belonging throughout the firm.
Carmita has built a strong practice while serving in a leadership capacity ...
Read More
Bo Cooper
Partner
Bo is a Partner in the firm’s Washington, DC office. He leads the firm’s Government Strategies and Compliance Group and is a member of Fragomen’s Executive Committee. Bo provides strategic immigration advice to corporations, nonprofit organizations, hospitals and research institutions, universities, trade associations, international media outlets and individuals facing complex immigration problems.
Before entering private practice, Bo served as General Counsel of the U.S. ...
Read More
K. Edward Raleigh
Partner
As one of the firm’s go-to lawyers when a client needs a courtroom attorney, Eddie’s practice focuses on cross-border investigations, U.S. immigration disputes and programmatic immigration advice. He has spent more than a decade counseling individuals and companies in highly regulated communities, such as securities, healthcare, tax, federal contracting and technology.
He advises some of the world’s largest and most valuable companies on complex areas of global mobility, including how to navigate some of the most complex questions of immigration program management.
Read More
Audrea Golding
Partner
Currently, Audrea is a partner in our firm’s Silicon Valley office and represents multinational corporations in the information technology, engineering, financial services and professional services industries.
Audrea serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Diversity & Inclusion Committee, which provides guidance and makes recommendations to actively enhance diversity, inclusion and belonging throughout the firm.
Audrea Golding
Carmita Alonso
New hire
Senior Partner
Fragomen's International Internship Scheme – Temporary Worker Government Authorised Exchange
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Problem/Solution
Whether you are a business looking to employ an intern in the UK as part of your internship programme or are an individual looking to secure an internship in the UK, we can help you to achieve your goals.
As an overarching body, Fragomen is able to sponsor foreign nationals who wish to undertake an internship in the UK. For over 11 years we have sponsored internships in a variety of sectors including the consulting, engineering, financial services, healthcare, fashion and technology sectors to name a few.
Successfully sponsor or secure an internship in the UK
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Onboarding
01
Assessing eligibility to our scheme
02
Collating documents,
preparation of online application and Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
03
Assigning Cos, submission of application and payment of government fees
04
Decision
05
Entry to the UK and Right to Work check
06
On-going compliance reporting
07
End of internship and departure from the UK
08
How it works
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PLEASE NOTE: Communications sent to us via email through our website are not secure and will not be regarded by us as confidential. Do not send information that you believe is confidential without first speaking with one of our professionals.
Thank you!
We have received your message and one of our team members will be in touch with you shortly.
Fragomen
Read More
Carmita Alonso
Partner
Carmita is a Partner at Fragomen’s New York office and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. She also serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Diversity & Inclusion Committee, which provides guidance and makes recommendations to actively enhance diversity, inclusion and belonging throughout the firm.
Carmita has built a strong practice while serving in a leadership capacity ...
Read More
Bo Cooper
Partner
Bo is a Partner in the firm’s Washington, DC office. He leads the firm’s Government Strategies and Compliance Group and is a member of Fragomen’s Executive Committee. Bo provides strategic immigration advice to corporations, nonprofit organizations, hospitals and research institutions, universities, trade associations, international media outlets and individuals facing complex immigration problems.
Before entering private practice, Bo served as General Counsel of the U.S. ...
Read More
K. Edward Raleigh
Partner
As one of the firm’s go-to lawyers when a client needs a courtroom attorney, Eddie’s practice focuses on cross-border investigations, U.S. immigration disputes and programmatic immigration advice. He has spent more than a decade counseling individuals and companies in highly regulated communities, such as securities, healthcare, tax, federal contracting and technology.
He advises some of the world’s largest and most valuable companies on complex areas of global mobility, including how to navigate some of the most complex questions of immigration program management.
Read More
Audrea Golding
Partner
Currently, Audrea is a partner in our firm’s Silicon Valley office and represents multinational corporations in the information technology, engineering, financial services and professional services industries.
Audrea serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Diversity & Inclusion Committee, which provides guidance and makes recommendations to actively enhance diversity, inclusion and belonging throughout the firm.
Audrea Golding
Carmita Alonso
New hire
Senior Partner
Temporary Work Government Authorised Exchange visa
UK Internship arrangements with Fragomen
Requirements of the UK internship position
Eligibility criteria for the employer and intern
Frequently Asked Questions
Case studies
Requirements of the UK internship position
Temporary Work Government Authorised Exchange visa
Eligibility criteria for the employer and intern
The selection criteria for Fragomen’s International Internship Scheme has two stages and requires both the employer and intern to meet our eligibility criteria.
Employer eligibility criteria
We will assess an employer’s ability to participate in Fragomen’s International Internship Scheme based on the range of criteria, which includes:
• Be an established UK employer either with a valid A rating Sponsor Licence under the Points Based System, or be in a position to apply for one
• Have a genuine internship programme offer
• Adhere to Fragomen’s compliance requirements
Intern eligibility criteria
Fragomen will then assess the eligibility of the intern. The Temporary Worker GAE route applies to both:
• European Economic Area (EEA) nationals who did not arrive in the UK before 11:00 PM GMT on 31 December 2020 and do not hold Pre-Settled/Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• Non-EEA nationals who apply for entry clearance or permission to stay
The proposed intern must:
• Have at least a Bachelor’s degree or above, completed in the last five years or, alternatively, the individual should currently be enrolled in or about to start a Bachelor’s degree or above
• Be under 35 years old or under 40 years old if changing career
• Speak a sufficient level of English
A dependent partner and/or child can apply as a dependent to join the GAE worker in the UK for the duration of their sponsorship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Case studies
UK Internship arrangements with Fragomen
1. Internship duration to be a maximum of 12 months (no extensions permitted if 12 months is reached)
2. Role should not fill an open position within the UK company
3. Role activities must not be substantive and the business should not derive profits from the intern’s work/deliverables
4. Role must be highly supervised
5. Role must have defined learning goals to enhance an intern’s academic, career and personal development (without the responsibilities of being a permanent employee)
6. Work skill level to be equivalent to National or Scottish vocational qualification (N/SVQ) level 3 or above
UK Internship arrangements with Fragomen
Temporary Work Government Authorised Exchange visa
Frequently Asked Questions
Requirements of the UK internship position
Case studies
Eligibility criteria for the employer and intern
To qualify under Fragomen’s Temporary Worker GAE Scheme, the internship arrangement must fall under one of our approved arrangements.
Please contact the team to discuss your proposed internship programme.
Case studies
UK Internship arrangements with Fragomen
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility criteria for the employer and intern
Requirements of the UK internship position
Temporary Work Government Authorised Exchange visa
Case Study Situation 1: An established technology company offers a large summer internship programme for a period of 12 weeks in the UK and candidates apply from all over the world. The company had no UK visa knowledge and were unaware of the Temporary Worker GAE category.
Solution: Our dedicated team worked with the client to navigate the end-to-end sponsorship and visa application process. We provided proactive support and worked with the client to strategise a smooth internship onboarding process. Where unexpected hurdles were encountered, including substantial visa processing delays, Fragomen’s team provided on-demand updates and guidance so that interns could travel to the UK and commence their internship on time.
Case Study Situation 2: As an internship facilitator, our client arranges internships for individuals as part of their studies, or to develop their work experience after graduating from university. As a result of Brexit, they were no longer able to place interns in the UK without immigration permission.
Solution: We built a bespoke model tailored to the client’s needs, allowing them to continue their programme and source internships for both EU and non-EU nationals in the UK.
Case studies
UK Internship arrangements with Fragomen
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility criteria for the employer and intern
Requirements of the UK internship position
Temporary Work Government Authorised Exchange visa
Eligibility criteria for the employer and intern
Requirements of the UK internship position
Temporary Work Government Authorised Exchange visa
ase studies
UK Internship arrangements with Fragomen
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Temporary Work (Government Authorised Exchange) visa?
Formerly known as the Tier 5 GAE visa, the Temporary Work (GAE) visa allows promising students and recent graduates to come to the UK and experience working for a UK company, to help give them the skills and experience to launch a successful career in their chosen industry.
What is the Fragomen International Internship Scheme?
Fragomen holds a sponsor licence under the Temporary Work (Government Authorised Exchange) visa route which allows us to act as an overarching body to sponsor foreign nationals who wish to undertake an internship in the UK.
Can my Internship employer sponsor me?
Employers cannot directly apply for a sponsor licence in this visa category and must partner with a licenced overarching sponsor.
What is the maximum duration a Fragomen sponsored internship be?
The maximum duration for which we can sponsor an internship for is 12 months.
Can the TW GAE visa be extended?
There is an option to extend a TW GAE visa from within the UK, but this can only be to the maximum 12 months permitted under our Scheme.
Who can apply?
To be eligible for our scheme there are various criteria to be met by the UK company, the intern and the proposed internship. Please contact us directly to find out more.
Is there an English Language requirement?
The Temporary Work GAE visa does not require a formal English language test but Fragomen will assess an intern’s level of English as part of the process.
Can the Internship be unpaid?
Interns in the UK must be paid at least UK National Minimum Wage unless they are eligible for an exemption listed here.
Can you switch from another UK visa to a Temporary Worker GAE visa?
Only Student visa holders are permitted to switch into the TW GAE visa route provided they have completed their studies and they are related to their future internship.
Can you switch from a TW GAE visa into a Skilled Worker visa?
Switching into the Skilled Worker visa is permitted within the UK, provided the application is submitted before their TW GAE visa expires. This allows businesses to assess performance in a real-world environment before retaining emerging talent who they may like to offer a full time position.
Where can the intern make their TW GAE visa application from?
Interns can only apply from a country where they hold nationality or residency and cannot apply from a country where they do not hold nationality, residency or where they only have permission to be in that country as a tourist/visitor.
When can we apply for the TW GAE visa?
The earliest Fragomen is able to assign sponsorship is 3 months prior to the Internship start date, but we can work to prepare the application to file at the earliest possible opportunity.
Will I need to attend a biometric appointment in person at a visa application centre?
If you are a non-EU national, you will be required to attend an appointment at a visa application centre to submit your biometrics and passport. EU and EEA nationals can apply via an app which allows the applicant to complete the entire application process online.
Will I need to give up my passport during the process?
If you are a non-EU national you will need to leave your passport at the centre until a decision is made on your application. EU and EEA nationals applying via the EU ID app will not need to give up their passport during the visa process.
What are Fragomen’s standard processing timelines?
The usual end-to-end process can take between 4 - 7 weeks and this is very much influenced by the UKVI processing method used. There may be options available to expedite this timeline.
Are dependants permitted to join the intern in the UK?
Yes, dependants are permitted to accompany the intern in the UK. The dependants must make a separate visa application, either alongside or after the main applicant’s application.
Can you leave and re-enter the UK on a TW GAE visa?
Yes, the TW GAE visa is multi-entry, meaning you may leave and re-enter the UK during the visa's validity .
What services can Fragomen’s International Internship Scheme offer to interns and employers?
Fragomen offers an end-to-end service providing sponsorship and support with the entire visa application process. Additionally, Fragomen can provide Eligibility to Work assessments to determine whether an intern requires a TW GAE visa.
Can you use the NHS while in the UK?
All applicants under the TW GAE visa will have access to NHS services. You may need your Immigration Health Surcharge number which will be obtained during the visa process.
Our support includes
Unlock Global Opportunities: Internships in the UK
Whether you're an employer looking to host international interns or an individual seeking an internship opportunity, contact us today for more information.
Taking into consideration the client's needs, we built a bespoke model that was streamlined and scalable, allowing our client to continue their programme and source internships for both EU and non-EU nationals in the UK with minimal disruption.
As an internship facilitator, our client arranges internships for individuals as part of their studies, or to develop their work experience after graduating from university. As a result of Brexit, they were no longer able to place interns in the UK without immigration permission.
Solution
Case 2
Our dedicated team worked with the client to navigate the end-to-end sponsorship and visa application process. We provided proactive support and worked with the client to strategise a smooth internship onboarding process including conducting initial eligibility assessments and where required providing sponsorship and visa support to the relevant population. Where unexpected hurdles were encountered, including substantial visa processing delays, Fragomen’s team were proactive in providing updates and guidance to the client and the population to minimise impact to start date, and allowing interns to travel to the UK and commence their internship on time.
An established technology company offers a large summer internship programme for a period of 12 weeks in the UK and candidates apply from all over the world. The company had no UK visa knowledge and were unaware of the Temporary Work GAE category.
Solution
Case 1
How We Help Companies - Case Studies
Explore our case studies to understand how we help business and prospective interns.
Get in Touch
Only UK law firm to hold a TW GAE Sponsor licence
Sponsored over 7,000 interns in the last 14 years
Can support one off or more established internship programmes
Work directly with employers or internship partners
How to successfully obtain sponsorship for an internship in the UK
Whether you're an employer looking to host international interns or an individual seeking an internship opportunity, Fragomen ensures a seamless, fully compliant process.
To host international interns, your programme must comply with UK immigration law, and interns must have sponsorship and Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) visas. Fragomen ensures that businesses and interns navigate this process smoothly, providing full compliance and expert guidance.
Fragomen partners with businesses of all sizes—from start-ups and SMEs to global corporations—acting as an overarching sponsor. Through our Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange (TW GAE) Sponsor Licence, we simplify the process of bringing talented students and recent graduates to the UK for valuable work experience.
How we help
Unlock Global Opportunities: Internships in the UK
LET'S GET STARTED
PLEASE NOTE: Communications sent to us via email through our website are not secure and will not be regarded by us as confidential. Do not send information that you believe is confidential without first speaking with one of our attorneys. Please see our Marketing Privacy Notice. By submitting your information to Fragomen via this page, you are giving consent for Fragomen to process your personal data as described in our Marketing Privacy Notice.
