Aside from being a top tourism and study destination, UK has succeeded in luring a large share of world’s abroad workers. With a highly developed and market-orientated economy, the UK offers to employees not only vacant jobs and high salaries. The good working conditions where worker’s rights are respected, make it even more of an ideal country to work.
Yet, not everybody can just move to the United Kingdom and get a job. There are a lot of procedures that one needs to complete and conditions to meet in order to be able to work in the UK.
One of the main components of being able to work in the UK is getting the right kind of work visa. There are several work visas for UK, depending on your profession and qualifications.
UK Work Visa Types
The UK Employment Visas are categorized in four main groups, as follows:
- Short-term work visas.
- Long-term work visas.
- Investor, business development and talent visas.
- Other work visas.
Short-term work visas for the UK
The UK short-term work visas are all part of the Tier 5 Visas, part of the UK Point Based System. The main categories of these visas, also known as the UK Temporary Workers Visas, are as follows:
- UK Charity Worker visa (Tier 5). Persons who want to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity in the UK can apply for this visa. A certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer is required.
- UK Creative and Sporting visa (Tier 5). Persons who have been offered work in the UK as a sports person or creative worker can apply for this visa. The main criteria includes the possession of a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer in UK.
- UK Government Authorized Exchange visa (Tier 5). You can apply for this visa if you want to come to the UK for work experience or to do training, an Overseas Government Language Program, research or a fellowship through an approved government authorized exchange scheme.
- UK International Agreement visa (Tier 5). This visa is for persons who are contracted to work for a foreign government or as a private servant in a diplomatic household in the UK.
- UK Religious Worker visa (Tier 5). If you want to move to the UK for a short-term in order to do religious work, such as preaching or working in a religious order, you can apply for this visa.
- UK Seasonal Worker Visa (Tier 5). You can apply for a Seasonal work visa is you want to travel to the UK and do farm work for up to 6 months.
- UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa (Tier 5). A visa for persons who have certain types of British Nationality or are from certain countries, between the age of 18 to 30.
Long-term work visas for the UK
The UK long-term work visas are all part of the Tier 2 Visas, part of the UK Point Based System. The main categories of the UK long-term work visas are as follows:
- Tier 2 General UK work visa. This visa is for persons from outside the EEA and Switzerland who have gotten a job offer in the UK. The applicant must be employed by a licensed sponsor in order to be able to apply.
- Tier 2 UK Intra-company Transfer visa. Persons whose overseas employer has offered a role in a UK branch of the organization can apply for this UK work visa.
- Tier 2 UK Minister of Religion visa. A visa for non-EEA and Switzerland nationals who have been offered a job in the UK within a faith community.
- Tier 2 UK Sportsperson visa. Elite sportsperson or qualified coach, who has been recognized by their sport’s governing body as being at the highest level of their profession internationally, can apply for this visa.
Investor, business development and talent visas
The UK has established several visa types for foreign investors, business developers and talented persons. There are several UK visa types for these categories, as listed below:
- UK Innovator visa. This is a visa for foreigners who want to set up or run a business in the UK.
- UK Start-up visa. This is a visa for persons who want to set up a business in the United Kingdom. Endorsement by an authorized body is a must.
- UK Global Talent Visa. Persons who work in a qualifying field and have been endorsed as a recognized leader or an emerging leader, can apply for this visa.
- UK Graduate Entrepreneur visa (Tier 1). Graduates officially endorsed of having a genuine and credible business idea should apply for this UK work visa.
- UK Investor visa (Tier 1). This is a visa for investors that want to invest £2,000,000 or more in the UK.
Other Types of UK Work Visas
Other United Kingdom work visas are as follows:
- UK Ancestry visa. You can apply for this visa, which permits you to get a job in the UK, if you are a Commonwealth citizen applying from outside the UK. You must prove that at least one of your grandparents was born in the UK.
- Domestic Workers in a Private Household UK visa. Domestic worker in a private household that wish to visit the UK with their employer can apply for this visa.
- Representative of an Overseas Business UK visa. You can apply for this visa if you are the sole representative of an overseas company planning to set up a UK branch or a wholly owned subsidiary for an overseas parent company. Employees of overseas media posted on a long-term assignment to the UK are also eligible.
- Turkish Businessperson UK visa. This visa is for Turkish nationals who want to move to the UK to start a new business or to help run an already established business.
- Turkish Worker UK visa. This visa is for Turkish nationals who have worked in the UK for at least one year as the spouse of a Briton or a settled person.
How to Get a Work Permit
Before you can apply you must satisfy the following work permit requirements:
- Have received a confirmed offer of employment from a licensed UK employer who will act as your sponsor; and
- Be in possession of a Certificate of Sponsorship issued by your sponsoring employer; and
- Pass the points-based assessment, details of which can be found on the category specific work permit pages listed below.
The work permit application process is led by the employer who is responsible for issuing you (the applicant) with a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Employers who want to know more about Tier 2 work permits are advised to read our section on Tier 2 visa information for employers.
UK Work Permits & Permanent Residency
As a UK work permit holder you can qualify for permanent residence if you have lived and worked in the UK for a minimum of five years. Once you have satisfied the five year requirement you may qualify for Indefinite Leave to remain in the UK, which can be then be followed by British Naturalization as a UK citizen.
Intra-Company Transfers & Permanent Residency
As a UK work permit holder under the ICT category, you can qualify for permanent residence if you have lived and worked in the UK for a minimum of five years and was granted a Tier 2 intra company transfer visa under the rules in place before 6th April 2010 or had previous leave as a qualifying work permit holder. Once you have satisfied the five year requirement you may qualify for Indefinite Leave to remain in the UK (ILR), which can be then be followed by British Naturalization as a UK citizen.
Changes of Employment
If you wish to change employers you must get a new Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer. You will also need to undergo a reassessment against the current points test and the position will need to satisfy the advertising requirements of the resident labour market test (if applicable).
How We Can Help You
- Assessment of Your Personal Circumstances
We know that every case is different. Our OISC registered consultants are here to listen, understand and provide you with accurate advice about the best UK visa route according to your personal circumstances. - Documentation
Following our comprehensive assessment of your circumstances we will provide you with full details of all documentation we require to prepare and submit a successful work permit application on your behalf. - Preparation and Submission of Your Application
Once you’ve provided all of the request documents your dedicated case manager will collate all documentation and prepare your application in accordance with the latest immigration rules and requirements.
