Some researchers and students of sensitive subjects of all non-exempt nationalities studying or researching at certain postgraduate levels must apply for an ATAS certificate prior to commencing study or research. They must apply if they are undertaking a postgraduate course, or research under select occupation codes, in certain sensitive subjects in the UK. 

The certificate is issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and certifies foreign students and researchers to study or conduct research in sensitive fields. The certificate must be produced as part of these individual's visa application process either for their worker visa or under their student visa as appropriate in order to meet the ATAS requirement. The application process is completed online, and a link is available below. 
 
Employers sponsoring workers under certain immigration routes, will also have to indicate whether their worker requires an ATAS Certificate or not on their certificate of sponsorship. 

Employers who sponsor overseas workers and are required to assign certificates of sponsorship under certain routes must now declare on their certificate of sponsorship (by answering 'yes' or 'no' to the relevant question) whether the individual applying for the relevant role does or does not require an ATAS certificate. Your sponsored worker will not need an ATAS Certificate if you are not also a licenced student sponsor.

The relevant immigration routes for which you need to check whether an ATAS Certificate is required is under the following routes: 

• Skilled Worker 
• Global Business Mobility routes
• International Agreement 
• Government Authorised Exchange
• Scale-Up

For further information see the sponsoring a worker guidance on GOV.UKopens in a new window

Your worker will need an ATAS Certificate if the following all apply to you: 

• You have a Student sponsor licence 
• You are sponsoring the worker in a relevant occupation codeopens in a new window
• The worker will be carrying out research at PhD level or above in a ‘relevant subject’opens in a new window
• The worker’s nationality is not exempt from needing an ATAS certificateopens in a new window

See full guidance on checking whether your worker needs an ATAS Certificate on GOV.UKopens in a new window

If the worker needs an ATAS certificate, the Home Office notes that you must:

• Tell the worker that they need to get an ATAS certificate and include it in their visa application
• Make and keep a copy of the ATAS certificate, once it has been issued

For further guidance on sponsoring a worker see UK visa sponsorship for employers on GOV.UK opens in a new window

If the above criteria and the criteria within the relevant guidance apply, you can apply through the  Academic Technology Approval Schemeopens in a new window .

For guidance on how to complete the application form and what details are required by those who need to apply, please check the ATAS certificate application guidance on GOV.UKopens in a new window .