Obtaining a visa to work legally in a country is likely to be your first consideration if you have been offered an internship or work experience abroad.
The Careers Service and Internship Office is not able to provide any detailed advice on visas, and you are encouraged to research the visa that you require. If you are doing an internship or working abroad, check with your employer which visa you should apply for.
After Brexit, according to the EU common visa policy, EU students can still travel visa free to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days, and when travelling from the UK to an European non-Schengen country they must check the specific entry requirements for that country and show a valid ID or passport.
Non-EU international students, depending on their nationality, may need to apply for a visa before travelling, therefore, we strongly advise them contacting the embassy or consulate for their country of destination in the UK to find out if they need a visa.
British students are covered by a Schengen visa waiver which means they can visit EU countries visa free for up to 90 days. Whether they can undertake an internship as a visitor or not depends on the immigration regime of the specific EU country they are travelling to. Each country sets its own rules about what business and work-related activities are covered by the Schengen visa waiver (visa exempt), therefore, please do check if you may require a Schengen visa. Find out more here: British citizens visiting the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
All students travelling abroad are advised to check the FCDO Travel Advice website for the latest information on entry requirements, coronavirus, and safety and security advice for the specific country you are travelling to.
For more information about travelling during your studies, you can also visit the dedicated University of Oxford webpage on Visa & Immigration for non-UE students.
You must do your own research into what visa you require.
This is particularly important during the pandemic as international movement can be very problematic.
Top tips
- Many internships have to be taken whilst enrolled in full time study or within 12 months of graduating.
- The term “internship” is widely used in the US and UK but may not be used in relation to working in other countries, or may be used in different ways.
- Investigate where the consular/visa services operate and check processing times well in advance. Some countries now have official partner organisations which handle visa applications (agents) and this information is available through the Embassy’s website.
- Check carefully whether any “visa waiver” would cover you for doing an internship or work experience, or whether this only applies to visitors.
- Visa processing times vary but you should allow plenty of time to obtain the necessary visa and apply as early as possible. Some countries may prohibit applications more than a certain amount of time in advance of travel.
- You may have to make a personal visit at some stage during the visa issuing process. Most establishments are based in London but some have satellite offices in other major cities (eg Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh).
- It is likely that you will need a letter from the receiving institution/employer, or formal sponsorship.
- Some countries will allow volunteering on a tourist visa. Check to see what visa is required.
- If you require a letter from Oxford University, the Internship Office at the Careers Service may be able to provide this. Please email internships@careers.ox.ac.uk.
- You may also need evidence of your finances, address where you will be staying, travel insurance, confirmation of return travel.
- Even if you do not require a visa for the country concerned, you may still need to have all the relevant documentation about the internship available to present at border control.
Definitions
Although we refer to a placement through the Summer Internship Programme as an ‘internship’, some countries have different definitions of internships and this will be a determining factor regarding the visa you need. If you have secured a placement with a not-for-profit organisation, for less than 90 days and will not be paid, this could be classed as a ‘volunteering experience’ and some countries would allow volunteering to be undertaken on a tourist visa. Even if you are awarded a bursary via the University towards your travel/living costs, this is not classed as a wage.
Additional documentation
- As part of the visa process, some students will require a Letter of Support detailing their participation in the Internship Programme. Please email internships@careers.ox.ac.uk with your requirements and the Internship Office can send you a signed copy.
- Occasionally students are asked to provide Proof of Enrollment. All of these letters can be obtained through Student Self-Service and not through the Internship Office.
- Students who need documents for their Year Abroad will need this signed by the Year Abroad Office, who can be contacted at year-abroad@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk.
Internship documents for selected countries
France
The Internship Office understands that internships can still go ahead in EU countries now the UK has left the European Union. However, please note that visa requirements may now be different, so we strongly advise you to check your individual requirements.
Students undertaking internships in France or with a French organisation outside France will require a Convention de Stage. The Internship Office can sign this document in French for any internship for current students at the University of Oxford. However, the Internship Office will only sign an Oxford University-approved Convention de Stage. Current students and recent graduates can download the approved Convention de Stage template.
Please note that an internship must start within 4 months of completing your studies at Oxford (by the end of 0th week of Michaelmas Term at the latest) and your internship can only be of maximum duration of 6 months. Please fill in the details and email internships@careers.ox.ac.uk for a signature.
Current students on their Modern Languages Year Abroad should use the post-Brexit template available on Canvas and refer to the Year Abroad Officer, Chris Taylor at year-abroad@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk for a signature.
When undertaking an internship in France you are entirely responsible for your own insurance (both medical, accident and third-party liability).
Italy
The Internship Office understands that internships can still go ahead in EU countries now the UK has left the European Union. However, please note that visa requirements may now be different, so we strongly advise you to check your individual requirements.
If you are planning an internship in Italy and the company asks for an agreement form, the Internship Office is able to sign this for current students (including placements obtained outside of the Summer Internship Programme).
Current students and recent graduates can download and fill in the approved template, and then email it to the Internship Office at internships@careers.ox.ac.uk for a signature.
Please note that an internship must start within 4 months of completing your studies at Oxford (by the end of 0th week of Michaelmas Term at the latest) and your internship can only be of maximum duration of 6 months.
Normally it would take around 5 working days to process a request. During COVID the turn-around time can be up to two weeks.
Spain
The Internship Office understands that internships can still go ahead in EU countries now the UK has left the European Union. However, please note that visa requirements may now be different, so we strongly advise you to check your individual requirements.
The Internship Office understands that internships can still go ahead in EU countries now the UK has left the European Union. However, please note that visa requirements may now be different, so we strongly advise you to check your individual requirements.
Acuerdo de Practica: Internships taking place in Spain, or with a Spanish organisation, will also require documentation, called an Acuerdo de Practica. Like the Convention de Stage, the Internship Office can now supply this signed document in Spanish for any internship (including placements obtained outside of the Summer Internship Programme).
Current students and recent graduates can download the approved template, and then email it to the Internship Office at internships@careers.ox.ac.uk for a signature.
Please note that an internship must start within 4 months of completing your studies at Oxford (by the end of 0th week of Michaelmas Term at the latest) and your internship can only be of maximum duration of 6 months.
Normally it would take around 5 working days to process a request. During COVID the turn-around time can be up to two weeks.
External Visa Information Sources
CIBT Visas has good visa information by country. (This is a commercial site, not officially endorsed by the Careers Service).
For more information on embassies in the UK, see the government list of official embassy websites.