How to apply for UK Work Permit: Eligibility and requirements
If you’re looking to further your career by working overseas, the UK is a great option, with many companies sponsoring work permits. But before you start packing your bags, you’ll need to consider whether you’ll need a UK work permit. Immigration rules can be complicated and are subject to change, so it’s important to do your research before making any decisions. This is especially true now that the UK has left the EU. It is important to know as much as possible regarding the types of UK work permits and visas available.
To make sure you are ready, whatever the purpose and duration of your stay, we have put together some key details. An important question that you might have is whether you are eligible to work in the UK. There are various pathways to obtain the authorization to work, and it will depend on your plans and personal conditions. After getting a job overseas, you must make sure that you have the right permits for the job.
Let’s consider some basic question and take a look at work permits in the UK.
- Do you need a work permit to stay and work in the UK?
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months without a visa, and during that time you may travel, visit family and friends, undertake short-term study, and attend job interviews, events, and conferences.
If you plan to live in the UK for an extended period of time, you must submit an application through the UK Government’s points-based immigration system, which can be found on the gov.uk website. To acquire the necessary points, you must demonstrate that you meet the requirements of the visa you are applying for. The system’s goal is to give preference to talent and skills over a person’s nationality. (Irish citizens do not have to ask for a work permit in order to live and work in the UK since the Common Travel Area between the two countries still guarantees free movement, rights, and privileges.)
- Do you need a job offer to be eligible to stay and work in the UK?
A common inquiry is whether it is possible to obtain a work permit without a job offer. Generally, to be qualified to work in the UK, you will have to have a job offer that is confirmed or be in the process of transferring to the UK branch of your current company. The graduate visa is the only exception to this rule. It lets people who have finished certain courses in the UK stay for a while and look for work.
There are many different kinds of work visas, both temporary and long-term. The visa you will need will be determined by:
- Your skills and qualifications
- If you have a job offer or a sponsor,
- The nature of the work you will be performing
- If you plan to bring your family with you to the UK,
To help you decide which visa is suitable for your circumstances, we have provided an overview of some of the main types of work visas.
Long-term work visas in the UK
The UK’s skilled worker visa allows its holder to stay and work in the UK for up to five years with an approved employer, as long as the role is in an eligible occupation and the employee meets the minimum salary requirement for the type of work they’ll be doing. If you have a confirmed job offer, you may be able to apply for this visa.
Intra-company: transfer or graduate trainee—these are the visas for you if you’re being transferred, as you’ll be allowed to live or stay in the UK and work at your employer’s UK branch. There’s also an intra-company visa specifically designed for graduate trainees being transferred as part of a program for managerial or specialist roles. Like with the Skilled Worker visa, you’ll need to work in a qualifying role and be paid at least £41,500 for an intra-company transfer visa or at least £23,000 for an intra-company graduate trainee visa. The amount of time you can stay depends on how much you’re paid and whether you’re being transferred as a graduate trainee or not. Further information can be found on this page.
Health and Care Worker—a long-term visa designed for medical professionals coming to the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in adult social care. It’s cheaper to apply for this type of visa, and you don’t need to pay a healthcare surcharge, so if you work in healthcare, it’s worth checking whether you meet the eligibility criteria. You’ll need a confirmed job offer, and there’s a minimum salary that you need to be paid, but this depends on the type of job you’ll be doing. You can stay for up to 5 years before renewing.
For all these visas, you’ll need to work in an eligible role and obtain a ‘certificate of sponsorship” from your Home Office approved employer. They all allow you to bring family (i.e., your spouse or your children) with you.
Temporary work visas in the UK
Seasonal worker: a temporary visa for people wanting to come to the UK to do farm work for up to 6 months. To be eligible, you’ll need to be 18 or older when you apply and have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship” from a UK sponsor.
Graduate: for those wanting to stay in the UK for up to 2 years after successfully completing a course in the UK. (Or up to 3 years for a PHD or other doctoral qualification.) The course must have been a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other eligible course. And, you must apply before your student visa expires. What about the students themselves? Well, if you want to study in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for one of the student visas.
Creative and Sporting: a visa for creative industry professionals (actors, dancers, musicians, etc.) and elite sportspeople with offers to come and work in the UK on a temporary basis, for up to 12 months. This visa can also potentially be renewed. You’ll need a “Certificate of Sponsorship” from a licensed sponsor.
- Can I get a work permit as a self-employed individual? – Other visa types
If the above visa types don’t apply to what you want to do, there are some visas more tailored to entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals. For example:
Innovator: a specialist visa for those wanting to stay in the UK to set up and run an innovative business. For you to be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, the business must be different from the rest of the market’s offerings, and it must be endorsed by an authorized body. It allows you to stay for up to three years before renewal.
Start-up – another specialist visa designed for people wanting to start an innovative business. This visa carries the same eligibility criteria as the Innovator visa and allows you to stay for up to 2 years without the option for renewal. Following this period, there is the possibility of switching to an innovator visa.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A WORK PERMIT IN THE UK: PROCESS AND WAITING TIMES
When you’ve chosen a work permit or visa, you’ll usually be able to apply and pay for it online via the gov.uk website. The earliest you’ll usually be able to do so is three months before your employment start date. You’ll need to provide proof of identification as well as your supporting documents.
Depending on where you’re from and your passport, you’ll either be instructed to go to an appointment at a visa application center or use the “UK Immigration: ID Check’ smartphone app to prove your identity. For applications from outside the UK, the waiting time for a decision is usually about 3 weeks for work visas.
