Terms & Conditions for
Intern in Britain


Your Intern in Britain program conditions 

The Intern in Britain program is offered by BUNAC Travel Services Ltd (the “Company”). The Company acts as an official Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa sponsor. The program is designed to support participants to complete the steps required to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (“CoS”) which permits them to apply for a Temporary Work- Government Authorised Exchange Visa (“GAE visa”) which is issued separately by the UK Home Office and fulfil an internship at a UK Employer.  

Participants can apply for: 

  • An internship up to 6 months 
  • An internship between 7 – 12 months 

By joining the program you are bound by the company’s general terms and conditions which are listed HERE. 

 

1. Program inclusions

If you are booked on to our program where your internship is up to 6 months that you have secured yourself, you will receive: 

  • Eligibility screening by a member of our team 
  • Jobs database with employers actively hiring interns 
  • Job vetting by the Company once an internship has been offered
  • A Certificate of Sponsorship that allows you to apply for the GAE visa 
  • Document with guidance on how to apply for the visa
  • 24/7 emergency support whilst in the UK
  • Monthly check-ins and a visit halfway through your internship to check your placement is compliant with UK Visa regulations 

If you are booked on to our program where your internship is between 7 – 12 months that you have secured yourself, you will receive: 

  • Eligibility screening by a member of our team 
  • Job vetting by the Company of your secured internship 
  • A Certificate of Sponsorship that allows you to apply for the Temporary Work GAE visa  
  • Document with guidance on how to apply for the visa
  • 24/7 emergency support whilst in the UK
  • Monthly check-ins 
  • 2 compliance checks during the duration of your Intern in Britain sponsorship to check your placement is compliant with UK Visa regulations 

 If you are booked on to our program where your internship is up to 6 months that you have sourced on our job hub, you will receive:

  • Eligibility screening by a member of our team
  • Internship database with employers actively hiring interns
  • Job vetting by the Company once an internship has been offered
  • A Certificate of Sponsorship that allows you to apply for the GAE visa
  • Document with guidance on how to apply for the visa
  • 24/7 emergency support whilst in the UK
  • Monthly check-ins and a visit halfway through your internship to check your placement is compliant with UK Visa regulations

If you are booked on to our program where your internship is between 6+  – 12 months that you have sourced on our job hub, you will receive:

  • Eligibility screening by a member of our team
  • Internship database with employers actively hiring interns
  • Job vetting by the Company of your secured internship
  • A Certificate of Sponsorship that allows you to apply for the Temporary Work GAE visa
  • Document with guidance on how to apply for the visa
  • 24/7 emergency support whilst in the UK
  • Monthly check-ins
  • 2 compliance checks during the duration of your Intern in Britain sponsorship to check your placement is compliant with UK Visa regulations

2. Program costs and payments schedule

The cost of the program is outlined on our website at the time of your booking. The relevant payments will be shown on the payments page of your online account.

 What are you paying the Company for? 

0 – 6 month internship  

Stage 1 - Assessment Fee

Upload your supporting documents 

 

Company review them and approve/reject.  

Stage 2 – Final Payment 

Your employer completes an Employer Application & Agreement (EAA) 

 

The company reviews the internship offer to assess it’s suitability on the program 

 

The company issue you a CoS and send visa guidance on how to apply for the GAE Visa 

 

Stage 1 - At the time of booking your Intern UK program, you must pay a non-refundable deposit. You acknowledge that your application cannot progress further until you have uploaded your supporting documents. If you don’t complete this, or if your documents aren’t approved or are incorrect, your application will stay as it is and your deposit will remain non-refundable. 

 

Stage 2 – The final payment will be due once your supporting documents have been approved.  Your employer will receive the EAA request after you make the 2nd payment. Once the employer has completed the EAA, the Company will review the suitability of the internship for the program and only issue a CoS if it is approved. Once a CoS is issued, it will be sent to you, along with guidance on how to apply for the GAE visa. When your visa is secured, you will be able to travel to the UK on the dates specified in your passport and your support from the Company will continue.  

7 – 12 month internship  

Stage 1 - Assessment Fee

Upload your supporting documents 

 

Company review them and approve/reject.  

Stage 2 – Final Payment 

Your employer completes an Employer Application & Agreement (EAA) 

 

The company reviews the internship offer to assess it’s suitability on the program 

 

The company issue you a CoS and send visa guidance on how to apply for the GAE Visa 

 

Stage 1 - At the time of booking your Intern UK program, you must pay a non-refundable Assessment fee. You acknowledge that your application cannot progress further until you have uploaded your supporting documents. If you don’t complete this, or if your documents aren’t approved or are incorrect, your application will stay as it is and your deposit will remain non-refundable.

 

Stage 2 – The Final Payment will be due once your supporting documents have been approved.  Your employer will receive the EAA request after you make the 2nd payment. Once the employer has completed the EAA, the Company will review the suitability of the internship for the program and only issue a CoS if it is approved. Once a CoS is issued, it will be sent to you, along with guidance on how to apply for the GAE visa. When your visa is secured, you will be able to travel to the UK on the dates specified in your passport and your support from the Company will continue.

 

0 – 6 month internship (placement assistance)

Stage 1 – Assessment Fee

Upload your supporting documents

 

Company review them and approve/reject.

Stage 2 – Final Payment

Your employer completes an Employer Application & Agreement (EAA)

 

The company reviews the internship offer to assess it’s suitability on the program

 

The company issue you a CoS and send visa guidance on how to apply for the GAE Visa

 

Stage 1 - At the time of booking your Intern UK program, you must pay a non-refundable Assessment fee. You acknowledge that your application cannot progress further until you have uploaded your supporting documents. If you don’t complete this, or if your documents aren’t approved or are incorrect, your application will stay as it is and your deposit will remain non-refundable.

 

Stage 2 – The Final Payment will be due once your supporting documents have been approved.  Your employer will receive the EAA request after you make this payment. Once the employer has completed the EAA, the Company will review the suitability of the internship for the program and only issue a CoS if it is approved. Once a CoS is issued, it will be sent to you, along with guidance on how to apply for the GAE visa. When your visa is secured, you will be able to travel to the UK on the dates specified in your passport and your support from the Company will continue.

6+  – 12 month internship (placement assistance)

Stage 1 - Assessment Fee

Upload your supporting documents

 

Company review them and approve/reject.

Stage 2 – Final Payment

Your employer completes an Employer Application & Agreement (EAA)

 

The company reviews the internship offer to assess it’s suitability on the program

 

The company issue you a CoS and send visa guidance on how to apply for the GAE Visa

 

Stage 1 - At the time of booking your Intern UK program, you must pay a non-refundable Assessment fee. You acknowledge that your application cannot progress further until you have uploaded your supporting documents. If you don’t complete this, or if your documents aren’t approved or are incorrect, your application will stay as it is and your deposit will remain non-refundable.

 

Stage 2 – The Final Payment will be due once your supporting documents have been approved.  Your employer will receive the EAA request after you make the 2nd payment. Once the employer has completed the EAA, the Company will review the suitability of the internship for the program and only issue a CoS if it is approved. Once a CoS is issued, it will be sent to you, along with guidance on how to apply for the GAE visa. When your visa is secured, you will be able to travel to the UK on the dates specified in your passport and your support from the Company will continue.

 

Participants may also be required to pay additional fees for a pre-site visit if their employer does not meet our requirements as listed in section 9. Should a pre-site visit be required, participants will need to pay the Company an additional £115/$150/€140/$230AUD/$245NZD. If any additional site visit is required, this will cost a further £115/$150/€140/$230AUD/$245NZD.

Whilst start dates can never be guaranteed, we work with your employer to ensure your application is processed as quickly as possible. The participant understands that they are responsible for completing their application in a timely manner and that delays in completing any of the tasks above could result in a later start date than originally planned.

For participants that would like to expedite the Company’s CoS processing, the following rates apply: 

  • Priority processing (5 business days of receiving the EAA): £165/$210/€200/$330AUD/$350NZD
  • Priority Plus Processing (2 business days of receiving the EAA): £255/$330/€310/$510AUD/$550NZD 

In the event that a participant’s job or supporting documents are rejected by the Company, the participant will not be cancelled from the programme. Instead, they will have the option to re-submit new documents or find an alternative placement. 

If a participant wishes to cancel from the programme because their supporting documents or placement were rejected, the below cancellation terms will apply. 

On average, an application can take 13 weeks from the moment a participant signs up to when they receive their GAE Visa.  

What fees will you need to pay to third parties? 

  • UK Visa fee (paid directly to UKVI) 
  • NHS Surcharge if your internship is longer than 6 months or if you have previously been in the UK on another visa within the last 6 months (updated prices can be found here)  
  • English Language Test (if English isn’t your first language or you didn’t study in a country where English is the native language)
    • The company will accept an expired English Language Test Certificate as long as the expiry date is within 24 months of when you upload the document on your online account
  • Travel to and from the embassy  
  • Any additional travel insurance you wish to take  
  • Return flights  
  • Transport from the airport once you arrive in the UK 
  • Proof of funds (you must be able to show proof that you have at least £1270 in support funds) 
  • Accommodation  
  • Spending money 

 

Regardless of the circumstances, the Company are unable to refund any of these fees. 

 

Cost increase notice

In the event of a cost increase for the program, the Company will provide customers with at least 30 days notice before the new cost takes effect. Customers are responsible for paying the increased cost as specified in the notice.

 

By continuing to use the program after the specified notice period, customers acknowledge and agree to the revised cost.

 

The Company reserves the right to adjust the program costs as necessary to reflect changes in operational expenses, market conditions, or other factors that may affect the overall service provision. Any such adjustments will be communicated to customers in a timely manner, allowing them to make informed decisions regarding their continued participation in the program.

 

3. Transferring or changing your booking

The deposit is transferable to any Company program up until the point of your first supporting document being reviewed. After this, your deposit will be considered as used and therefore be non-transferable. 

Your deposit is protected for life, however, is not transferable to another person. Your CoS must be printed with your correct name, date of birth, place and country of birth. It is your responsibility to provide details on all application forms that exactly match your passport and to verify the information on your CoS is correct once received and to inform the company of any errors before travelling. The CoS replacement cost, due to misinformation or loss by the applicant is £100/$115/115. 

 

4. Program cancellation

The £100/$115/115 program deposit is a non-refundable fee. The only exception is if your application is rejected by the company before your supporting documents are reviewed, in which case you are subject to a £25/$30/30 administration fee. The below amounts will be held by the Company when cancelling at specific stages. Any non-refundable fees as stated above are not included in the below amounts:

  • If you choose to cancel before your supporting documents are reviewed – The assessment fee will be held
  • If you cancel after your internship has been reviewed by The Company– 25% will be held
  • If you cancel after an internship has been secured – 50% will be held (for customers using our job hub)
  • If you cancel after your CoS is issued – 100% will be held (no refund due)

 

We reserve the right to refuse sponsorship to any applicant who does not meet the Program eligibility requirements or any applicant that we deem to not be appropriate to accept in the general interests of the Program. In the event that we refuse to accept an applicant on the Program, full cancellation fees will apply. Applicants are responsible for and are obliged to check eligibility on our website before they book. 

If you must cancel from the program you must confirm this in writing. Your cancellation will be effective from the date it is received in the office where the booking was made, and the relevant cancellation fees will apply. Please ask for details of cancellation fees at the time of booking. Refunds normally can take up to 15 working days from the time all appropriate documentation is received into the Program Department.  

 

5. Visa 

Temporary Work: Government Authorised Exchange Visa Eligibility:  

  • Any Nationality with a valid passport (excluding UK)
  • Aged 18 years or older
  • Must be a full-time degree level student or have graduated within the last 24 months at the start of your internship 
  • You must not have completed the same internship before
  • You can only apply for the visa with The Company twice in your lifetime for a maximum duration of 12 months combined
  • You must have international travel insurance 

 

Sponsorship Conditions 

  • The Company may rescind sponsorship and inform the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) at any time if you do not remain in full compliance with these program conditions and applicable UK Immigration regulations. Once notified by the Company, you understand that you must immediately depart from the United Kingdom. 
  • The terms of these program conditions cannot be altered without written permission from the Company. Any additional agreement between the intern and host employer may not contradict or override any conditions of this agreement 
  • If there are problems with your internship placement which are raised by you or your host employer, the Company may step in to review the situation and can terminate your sponsorship if no solution is presented 
  • If your host employer is found to be in breach of any of the program conditions, the Company may rescind your sponsorship immediately. If an issue occurs, you understand that the Company may investigate and if so must be provided with all requested information 
  • If you have provided a financial guarantor for proof of support funds then you understand that it is their responsibility to look after you financially and the Company will not be held responsible if you require financial assistance 
  • You are not permitted to enter the UK before, nor remain in the UK beyond, the dates specified on your UK visa. 
  • You will inform the Company immediately if, for any reason including early departure and termination, you are unable to complete my internship. 
  • You will inform the Company immediately of any changes in circumstances which may significantly affect the internship. 

 

Visa Conditions 

  • If your visa application is refused, the Company does not have the ability to question the UKVI’s decision.  
  • You are responsible for submitting your own visa application within three months of receiving your Certificate of Sponsorship from the Company.  
  • You understand that you should not book any flights until you have received your GAE visa and the Company cannot be held responsible for any financial costs incurred in amending or cancelling flights. 
  • You are solely responsible for checking with the consulate in your country what the visa process and guidelines are. If a mistake is made on your visa application, the Company will assist you in order to correct this however not be held accountable for any mistakes made.
  • Visas are issued at the discretion of UK Visas & Immigration. The Company do not accept responsibility for any costs incurred through a delay in visa processing or where a visa is refused. If your visa is refused the above program cancellation conditions apply. The visa cost is set by UKVI and is subject to change without notice. The Company will notify participants of any change to the advertised cost listed here. Where there is an increase in the visa cost, the participant will be responsible for meeting such costs.
  • You must complete online monthly check-ins with the Company  
  • You must not undertake any other work on your GAE visa 

 

6. Additional program documentation and fees

To participate in the Intern UK program you will incur additional third-party fees which are outlined in section 2.  

 

7. Flights

Flights are not included as part of the program and you will be responsible for booking them. You should not arrange travel until you have a confirmed internship placement and have been issued a GAE visa. You must provide your booked travel information to the Company at least 72 hours before you intend to fly. 

The applicant agrees that the company will not be held responsible for any costs incurred if a flight change needs to be made. Examples of this include, but not limited to, visa delays, placement cancellations or extra processing by UKVI. 

 

8. Insurance

 

Travel insurance is mandatory for all participants. All insurance policies for the Intern UK programme must meet the following conditions: 

  • Cover medical expenses for a minimum of $100,000 
  • Cover for repatriation of mortal remains. 

 

9. Your Intern UK placement

Your placement obligations 

It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure they are submitting an internship offer that would be approved by the Company. In order for the Company to sponsor a participants visa application, the participant’s internship must meet the following requirements: 

  • Be a maximum of up 12 months in duration and at least 25 hours per week 
  • Must be a supernumerary position, meaning that the role is designed for an intern and not a permanent employee
  • The internship must not be in the hospitality sector (providing meals, light refreshments, drink or accommodation) or the healthcare sector (specializing in services related to health and medical care, such as nursing or care homes)
  • Your internship must include complex activities rather than routine tasks, and have a good level of rotation and clear objectives backed up by a detailed training plan
  • It must include enough supervision from your employer. In most cases, we look for a full-time permanent staff to intern ratio of at least 5:1
  • If it’s a paid internship, it must meet the national minimum wage legislation; and for unpaid internships, the UK volunteer rights (all internships longer than 6 months must be paid)
  • The company you intern with should be registered with Companies House for at least the last 12 months 

 

10. Declaration 

You know of no reason why you may be refused a visa (e.g. have been arrested or convicted of a crime; have applied to migrate to the UK; previously experienced UK visa/immigration problems; or have overstayed on a previous visit). If you suspect that you may have problems, you will disclose these reasons in writing to the Intern UK team. If a visa is refused for reasons previously undisclosed, no refund will be given. 

 

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The BUNAC® logo and many of the programme names on this website are registered trademarks in the USA, the United Kingdom and in other jurisdictions. Company registration number: 1391030. Trading as BUNAC Travel Services Limited, 5 Richbell Place, London, WC1N 3LA, United Kingdom.