IRP Scheme: Securing your Free £1000 Relocation Payment to the UK

The United Kingdom’s International Relocation Payment (IRP) scheme, a ground-breaking initiative created to support non-UK trainees and teachers specialising in languages and physics, recognises the importance of attracting talented educators and trainees from around the world in a globalised world where education knows no borders. To alleviate the financial pressures related to moving abroad, this creative programme provides a single payment of £10,000. The IRP is evidence of the UK government’s dedication to promoting diversity and success in English schools, and it will fundamentally alter the playing field for educators looking for new possibilities in the UK.

The IRP is meticulously structured to alleviate some of the key financial challenges that non-UK trainees and teachers encounter when embarking on their educational journey in the United Kingdom. This £10,000 payment is specifically tailored to cover crucial expenses, including the costs of visas, the immigration health surcharge, and various other relocation expenses. Furthermore, the IRP is designed to provide timely and substantial financial support, as it will be disbursed around the end of the teacher’s or trainee’s first academic term. Importantly, this generous payment is not a loan; it does not need to be repaid, ensuring that educators can focus on what truly matters – their passion for teaching and personal growth.

If you are eligible for the IRP, you can receive it alongside other financial incentives, such as bursaries or scholarships, to maximise your support. We are excited to announce that the IRP is currently in its pilot phase, running during the 2023 to 2024 academic year, and eligible individuals are invited to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity.

Eligibility for IRP Scheme

The requirements and application process for teachers and trainee teachers seeking eligibility for the International Relocation Payment (IRP) are concisely outlined. Whether you are an experienced educator or embarking on your teaching journey, understanding these criteria is essential for a successful application.

To qualify for the IRP as a teacher, you must meet specific criteria regarding your teaching subject and employment. These requirements are as follows:

1. Employment in an English State Secondary School: You must be employed by an English state secondary school with a contract starting in the 2023 to 2024 academic year (from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024). Your contract should last at least one year, and you should be working as:
   • A physics teacher;
   • A general or combined science teacher (teaching the physics component);
   • A language teacher (any language except English).
   • If you teach multiple subjects, physics, general or combined science, or a language (excluding English) should constitute at least 50% of your classroom time. The Department for Education will verify this during the application process. For clarification, consult your school.
2. Type of Visa for Teachers: Teachers must enter England on specific visa types to be eligible for the IRP. These visa categories include:
   • Skilled worker visa
   • Youth Mobility Scheme
   • India Young Professionals Scheme visa
   • Family visa
   • UK Ancestry visa
   • British National (Overseas) visa
   • High Potential Individual visa
   • Afghan citizens resettlement scheme
   • Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy
   • Ukraine Family Scheme visa
   • Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme
3. You must move to England no more than three months before the start of your teaching job. You will not be eligible for the IRP if you fall into any of the following categories:
   • UK citizen (including citizens of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland);
   • Irish citizen;
   • Non-UK citizen who moved to England permanently more than three months before the job’s start date;
   • In England on a dependant partner visa linked to your partner’s skilled worker or student visa;
   • Teaching only English language;
   • Employed on a contract lasting less than one year;
   • Employed by a recruitment agency (your contract must be directly with the school, and the school must pay your salary).

How the IRP Scheme Works

The program operates differently for individuals enrolled in fee-paying training programs, salaried trainees, and teachers.

1. Fee-Paying Trainees: Trainees participating in fee-paying courses do not need to initiate an application for the Incentive Relocation Payment (IRP) Scheme. Instead, training providers will directly disburse the IRP to these trainees, along with any applicable bursaries. Fee-paying trainees can expect to receive the IRP around the conclusion of their initial term. Detailed information on how providers will receive this funding can be found in the ‘Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Bursary: Funding Manual‘.
2. Teachers and Salaried Trainees: Teachers and salaried trainees who have commenced their teaching positions or salaried teacher training courses should submit their IRP applications via the Get into Teaching website. The application period is open from 4 September to 31 October 2023. Eligible applicants should anticipate receiving the funds by 31 January 2024. Teachers and trainees who miss this deadline must submit their applications during the subsequent opportunity following the commencement of their job or course to maintain eligibility for the IRP. Applications will reopen in January 2024. Teachers and trainees are encouraged to express their interest in the IRP by sending an email to IRP.ExpressInterest@education.gov.uk if they fall into either of the following categories:
   • Commence their job or course after 31 October 2023.
   • Miss the October 2023 application deadline.

For inquiries regarding the international relocation payment, please feel free to reach out to teach.inengland@education.gov.uk or get in touch with the RKY support team via email for further information.