Important Travel Document Information – Please Read
EU/EFTA nations, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States are among the countries whose citizens can enter the United Kingdom and remain for up to six months without a visa.
However, if they wish to work in the United Kingdom, they will need to apply for a work visa. Certain ambassadors, ministers, military personnel, and heads of state are free from UK visa rules.
UK Work Visa Requirements
Before you can apply for a UK Work Visa, you must meet the following requirements:
- Have a verified employment offer from a licensed UK employer who will serve as your sponsor.
- Possess a Sponsorship Certificate provided by your employer.
- Pass the point-based Evaluation.
Types of UK Work Visa
There are typically three sorts of UK work visas, each of which is subdivided into several subcategories.
The principal categories of work visas in the UK are:
- Short-term work visas for the United Kingdom.
- Long-term UK work visas.
- Entrepreneur, business start-up, and talent visas Temporary UK work visas Short-term work visas are often issued for work placements lasting between six months and one year in the United Kingdom.
You might be eligible to extend your visa under specific situations.
Specific forms of employment are eligible for short-term visas, typically exempt from the points-based visa system.
Short Term UK Work Visas
You can apply for a Seasonal Worker visa to come to the UK and work in
Charity Worker temporary visa — for unpaid charitable volunteer labor
Creative Worker temporary visa - for employment in the creative industries, such as a dancer, actor, musician, or film crew member
Government Authorised Exchange temporary visa – for training or work experience placements
International Agreement temporary visa - for employment protected by international law or treaty, such as working for a foreign government or as a servant in a diplomatic
Religious Worker visa — for non-pastoral religious employment
Seasonal Worker visa - for employment such as fruit picking, farm labor, or operating heavy cargo vehicles (HGV)
Youth Mobility Scheme visa – for young individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who have a minimum of £2,530 in liquid assets and meet other eligibility requirements
Graduate visa - for graduates who wish to continue working in the UK after completing a UK study course.
UK Work Visa Requirements
In addition to the precise work criteria associated with the type of short-term visa, you will often need a job offer from a licensed sponsoring organization.
In most instances, you will also require a minimum of at least £1,270 in funds to support yourself during your stay.
You must be 18 years old to qualify for certain short-term visas.
Notably, most short-term UK work visas do not provide access to public funding, such as unemployment benefits.
You can get free healthcare through the NHS, albeit you will typically be required to pay a healthcare surcharge of up to £624 per year.
Your spouse and dependent children can typically accompany you, but they must submit separate visa applications.
UK Work Visa Length
The majority of short-term visas are valid for up to two years.
They are typically issued for one year and can be renewed, while certain visas have a validity of two years but are not renewable.
If you have completed your Ph.D. studies, the graduate visa can be for up to three years.
The principal exception to this rule is the seasonal worker visa, which is typically valid for up to six months.
Long-Term UK Work Visas
These visas are typically renewed and suitable for between two and five years.
Because they grant the bearer a more extended period of presence in the United Kingdom, typically with the possibility of applying for permanent residence or British citizenship, they have stricter eligibility requirements.
- Skilled worker visa – for skilled employees who must typically meet minimal standards in the UK’s points-based scheme
- Health and Care Worker visa – for medical professionals who wish to work for the National Health Service or in adult social care
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa – enables workers of foreign organizations to work at a branch in the United Kingdom.
- Minister of Religion visa – for leadership positions within a faith-based organization in the United Kingdom • Visa for International Athletes – for elite athletes and certified coaches.
- Representative of an Overseas Business visa – for lone representatives of international companies seeking to establish a branch or subsidiary in the United Kingdom Requirements.
Other UK Visa Types
A Visa is required for any foreign national wishing to enter the United Kingdom. You can choose from the following:
| UK Family Visa | UK Refugee Visa | UK Transit Visa |
| UK Standard Visitor Visa | UK Study Visa | UK Business Visa |
| UK Work Permits | UK Spousal Visa | UK Settlement Visa |
| UK Parent Visa | UK Child Visa |
You must also apply for the Standard Visitor Visa if you plan to study in the United Kingdom for a brief amount of time or if you need to transit through the nation.
Qualifying for a long-term work visa
To qualify for most long-term work visas in the United Kingdom, including skilled worker employment, you must earn 70 points under the country’s point-based system.
This comprises of criteria that every applicant must meet, namely:
- Employment offer from a licenced sponsor (20 points)
- Job at relevant skill level (20 points)
- English proficiency at a minimum level, typically at least B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) scale (10 points)
The remaining 20 points can be obtained from the following:
- Salary of £25,600 or the industry standard, whichever is greater (20 points)
- Employment in a scarcity occupation (20)
- Doctorate in a STEM field pertinent to the position (20)
- Compensation between £23,040 and £25,599, or at least 90 percent of the going wage for the occupation, whichever is more (10)
- Ph.D. in a non-STEM field pertinent to the position (10).
Additionally, you must have a minimum of £1,270 in savings to support yourself.
Notably, you can often work up to 20 hours per week in a second job if the work is appropriate and you maintain your current position.
You will not have access to public funding, such as unemployment benefits. Your spouse and dependent children may travel with you, but they must obtain their visas.
Naturally, the minimum pay expectations for various jobs in the UK vary.
Employers must still pay at least £10.10 per hour (or £20,480 per year for jobs in healthcare or education).
The minimum salary for Senior or Specialist Worker visas is £42,400 unless you travel as a Graduate Trainee.
What if my UK Work Visa is Refused
Refusing entry into the UK has an impact on your goals and puts your future in danger. Since the Immigration regulations were changed in 2012, there has been a 19% increase in visa rejections for the United Kingdom. The immigration laws have been strengthened and made tighter. The majority of refusals, though, can be overcome by filing a fresh application or appealing the refusal decision. The appeals procedure varies depending on the type of UK visa you filed for:
Visitor Visa: Unless you have submitted an application as a family visiting, you are not eligible to appeal a visitor visa denial.
All other applicants should submit a new application.
Entry clearance as a spouse or fiancé – While decisions on spouse visas are subject to appeal, it is typically quicker to submit a new application in order to obtain the visa.
Depending on when you submitted your application for permission to remain, you could have the opportunity to appeal.
You will have the option to submit an administrative review under a point-based system. If you’ve been turned down and there isn’t an appeals process available, you might be able to file a Judicial Review.
If any of these reasons above have caused you a visa refusal please contact us.
People Also Asked
The following persons do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom, but they must demonstrate their right to work before beginning employment:
• British Nationals or Irish Citizens
• EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who live in the United Kingdom on or before December 31, 2020
• Non-EEA citizens having Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status in the United Kingdom If you or a close relative moved to the United Kingdom before January 1, 2021, you may be eligible to apply for the free EU Settlement Scheme.
Without a visa, you cannot work in the UK. Irish people are exempt from visa and EU settlement scheme applications.
The Skilled Worker Visa (which superseded Tier 2 VISA) is available to EU and non-EU citizens* who have been offered a skilled position in the United Kingdom.
The path may lead to permanent residency, and dependents, partners, and children of qualifying candidates can join them. To qualify for a skilled worker visa, someone must sponsor you for a particular position and meet specific skill and income standards.
You may find more information on the new Points-Based Immigration System and paths to work in the United Kingdom on the government website.
Before you may apply for a work visa, you must meet the following requirements:
1. Have a verified work offer from a licensed UK company that will serve as your sponsor; and
2. Possess a Sponsorship Certificate provided by your sponsoring company
Is it hard to get the UK work visa? Due to route-specific criteria, some visas for employment in the United Kingdom are more challenging to get than others. In many circumstances, the candidate must have a job offer from a licensed sponsor that meets the minimum skill and income standards.
Is it hard to get a UK to work visa? Due to route-specific criteria, some visas for employment in the United Kingdom are more challenging to get than others. In many circumstances, the candidate must have a job offer from a licensed sponsor that meets the minimum skill and income standards.
You must submit your visa application within three months of receiving your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and before the expiration of your existing visa.
As part of the visa application, you’ll be required to provide your planned trip date to the United Kingdom. The visa will then be valid as of this travel date, which may be up to 14 days before the work start date specified on the Certificate of Sponsorship. You cannot enter the United Kingdom before your visa’s commencement date.
No, in the vast majority of situations. However, if you are applying for a visa and being sponsored for a job in a particular SOC code (see your Certificate of Sponsorship for details on the occupation code), then as part of your visa application, you must provide a criminal record certificate from the relevant authority in any country in which you have resided for at least 12 months (continuously or in total) since turning 18.
If your UK work visa application is approved, the visa you get in your passport will typically be suitable for 30 days. This ‘entry vignette’ will simplify your admission into the United Kingdom.
You must enter the United Kingdom before the vignette expires or reapply for your visa.
You will need to obtain your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) at a UK Post Office within ten days of arrival.
The permit must show this to a member of the administration or recruiting staff at your employers to complete your right-to-work check.
You must immediately tell your employer if your visa is denied. There is no distinct appeals procedure, although you may be able to file an administrative review if your application is denied.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a cost in addition to the visa fee that must be paid in advance with the visa application. The extra payment will provide you access to the NHS on par with permanent UK residents. When applying for a visa or an immigration application, the healthcare surcharge is often required for more than six months. If applying outside the United Kingdom.
Foreign nationals may be required to register with the police immediately after their arrival. If this is the case, it should be noted on your entry-visa vignette (an additional page attached to your passport), biometric residency permit (BRP), or letter from the Home Office granting your application for leave.