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Work Visas UK

To work in the UK you will need to hold a passport and a current UK work visa or permit. You will need to have this documentation prior to entering the UK for work.

There are a variety of UK work visas, work permits and passports that will enable you to legally work in the UK; each has their own set of eligibility requirements and restrictions and they are summarised below.

To find out more information about any of the visas listed below, and to get the necessary application forms contact your nearest British Consulate or High Commission.

How do you apply for a UK visa? Follow WORKgateways’ easy UK Visa steps…

Visit the links section for official UK Visa Sites, links to sites on UK immigration law, and UK visa agencies that can help with your visa application process.

See answers to common UK Visa questions at Visa FAQ's.

UK Visa Types

In 2008, the UK revamped its immigration system to consolidate the many existing visas into five tiers. Each tier represents a points-based category through which you can gain a visa to work in the UK.

  • Tier 1: Highly skilled individuals that can contribute to growth and productivity in the UK (this tier replaced the highly skilled migrant programme)
  • Tier 2: Skilled workers with a job offer to fill gaps in United Kingdom labour force (also known as sponsorship)
  • Tier 3: Limited numbers of low skilled workers needed to fill temporary labour shortages
  • Tier 4: Students
  • Tier 5: Youth Mobility and temporary workers: people allowed to work in the United Kingdom for a limited period of time to satisfy primarily non-economic objectives. (this tier replaced the working holiday visa scheme).

Here we have outlined for you some of the most common routes in order of popularity for Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians and other nationalities to gain a UK work visa for the UK.

It is possible that you may qualify for more than one visa category. Each option has different validity periods, requirements and restrictions, so you should ensure you choose the best option for your situation.

If you have questions not covered here or our FAQs page you may find our active forum can assist you.

Tier 5 — Youth Mobility Visa

Validity: 2 years, with permission to work for the full time of your stay in the UK.

Eligibility: you are eligible to apply for a UK Youth Mobility visa if you are a citizen of Australia, New Zealand, Canada or Japan and are aged between 18 and 30 years inclusively.

Other requirements:

  • You must not have previously held a UK working holidaymaker visa.
  • You must not have dependent children under the age of 18.
  • You must show that you can support yourself for the duration of your stay in the UK. You will need to show proof of at least £1600 in your personal bank account at the time of application.
  • As with all visas for the UK, you will need to get your biometric details recorded at a UK consulate.
  • You must leave the UK at the end of your two-year visa. You cannot switch into another UK immigration category from within the UK.

Click here for more information on the Youth Mobility Visa and our Youth Mobility Visa FAQs

UK Ancestry Visa

Validity: 5 years (renewable) for Ancestry Visa

Eligibility: you are eligible to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa if:

  • you are a Commonwealth citizen
  • you are aged 17 or over
  • you have a grandparent who was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Mann
  • you have a grandparent that was born in what is now the Republic of Ireland prior to 31 March 1922 (see note below)
  • you can show proof that you intend to work in the UK
  • you can support yourself and any dependants, without recourse to public funds

*Note: You will need to show your full, original birth certificate as well as the full, original birth certificate of the parent you are claiming through and the grandparent you are claiming through.

**Note: Note: If you or your parent (who you are claiming ancestry through) are adopted, you can still apply for entry clearance under this category. You must show evidence of the legal adoption with your application form.

Restrictions: no restrictions on type or duration of work for the Ancestry visa

Tier 1 (general) — Highly Skilled Workers

In 2008, the Tier 1 (general) Highly Skilled Visa replaced the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme. It is a common UK visa for applicants who don't qualify for the Youth Mobility Visa, who have already used their working holiday visa or who are looking for a route to UK migration.

Validity: 3 years, with the ability to extend your stay as a highly skilled worker towards the end of this period and eventually qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Eligibility: Tier 1 (General) — Highly Skilled Worker is designed to allow highly skilled people to come to the United Kingdom for work or self-employment opportunities.

For Tier 1 self assessment use our Tier 1 Points Calculator

To be eligible for this visa, you must pass a points-based assessment. You are awarded points based on your qualifications, previous earnings, United Kingdom experience, age, English language, and available funds. You must score:

  • 75 points (based on your age, qualifications, previous earnings, and experience in the United Kingdom)
  • 10 points for your English language skills
  • 10 points for available funds (if applying from outside the UK you must have savings of at least £2,400 and if you are applying from within the UK you must have at least £800).

Your application must be supported by the relevant original documentation and evidence to justify the points you are claiming.

You can complete a self-assessment to see if you have enough points at the UK Border and Immigration website here or by using our Tier 1 points calculator

Cost: You must include a fee of £750 with your application. Your fee will not be returned if your application is not successful.

Click here for more information on the Tier 1 (general) — Highly Skilled Workers Visa (link to new Tier 1 visa page)

If you have questions about the UK points-based visa system, or would like more information about how to extend your time in the UK, Tier 1 – (General) Highly Skilled Worker or highly skilled migrant visas UK you may find our forum can assist you. Or check out our UK Visa FAQS

Tier 2 (general) - Sponsorship by a UK employer

In 2008, Tier 2 replaced the work permit sponsorship system in the UK. The visa is for skilled workers that have a job offer from a UK-based employer.

Validity: Valid for as long as you are employed by your sponsor.

Eligibility: You must have a job offer from a UK employer that is registered as a licensed sponsor. Your sponsor will need to assign a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ before you can apply for UK entry under Tier 2. A certificate of sponsorship is a virtual document that contains information about the job you are being sponsored for and your personal details.

To qualify for a Tier 2 visa, you must score enough points based on your qualifications, prospective earnings, English language skills and maintenance.

Unless your job is on the UK shortage skills occupation list, your employer will have to conduct a ‘resident labour market’ test before issuing your certificate of sponsorship. This means that you can only work in the UK under a Tier 2 visa if your employer has prove that there is no UK or EU worker that can fill the job.

Importantly, if you are in certain job industries and professions, there are recruitment agencies that can help you to find an employer in the UK who will sponsor you. These industries currently include: medical, health and nursing, teaching and education, some types of engineering and social work. If you are within these professions and require sponsorship to work in the UK please indicate this when Registering with Agencies online through WORKgateways.

Click here for more information on the Tier 2 (general) - Sponsorship by a UK employer

British or EU Member Passport

If you have a British Passport, Dual Citizenship or a Passport of any EU member country, you are eligible to work in the UK without obtaining any further visa or paperwork. If you were born in Britain or any EU member country, or your parents were, you MAY be eligible to apply for citizenship of that country and receive a passport. Check with the applicable embassy in your country of residence.

Restrictions: no work restrictions for EU or British passport holders.

Spouse, unmarried partners, civil partners and dependents visa

If your spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner is a British Citizen, or has UK entry clearance in the form of an Ancestry Visa, Tier 1 visa or Tier 2 visa then you may also be eligible for entry to the UK. You will need to apply for entry to the UK and provide supporting documents such as proof of your marriage, or if you are unmarried you will need to show evidence of at least a two-year relationship.

Restrictions: Dependent on the visa status of your partner or spouse.

While we do our best, WORKgateways cannot make any guarantee that the UK visa and immigration information provided on our website is either accurate or complete. We provide the above information to the best of our knowledge and experience but strongly recommend you to use it as a guideline only. We suggest you visit the mentioned links for official UK immigration law work visa information.

Also see: UK Visas FAQs

How to apply for your UK Visa

Step 1. Determine the kind of UK Visa or Permit, if any, for which you are eligible to apply. This is an important step and you can find information to help you with this question on the British Government’s official visa and work permit information sites.

Step 2. Once you know which visa you would like to apply for, you will need to contact your nearest British High Commission, Consulate or Embassy and ask to have the appropriate application forms sent to you, or you can often download these forms quickly and easily from their websites. You can also apply for some visas online. Decide whether you would like to use a visa representative to assist you with your application. See our Visa FAQs for more information about using a visa representative.

Step 3. Read through the forms carefully to ensure you qualify and to see what documents you will need to supply. Fill out the forms completely and return to the British High Commission or Consulate in your country with all of the information and supporting documentation they have requested. If you have questions about filling out the forms, you should contact the British High Commission or Consulate on the number provided on your UK visa application forms. When should I apply?

Step 4. You will have to visit your nearest UK visa application centre to have your biometric information recorded (10-digit finger scans and a digital photograph). Your visa application will not be processed until you have provided the necessary biometric information.

Step 5. Wait for written confirmation of your successful UK Visa application from the British High Commission or Consulate to which you applied. If there are any problems they will contact you.

Step 6. If you are planning to work in the UK and have not already created a UK file online with WORKgateways – you can do so now! Apply for jobs and to agencies to start your UK job search. Be sure to upload your resume and keep your file updated as your travel plans become clear. Have a great time in the UK! If you are just “thinking about going” you can subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Timing: When to apply for your visa

With regards the timing of your application, you should check with the the UK High Commission or Embassy in the country you are applying from, as they all have different processing times. However in general, don’t apply too early (ie a year ahead) for your UK Visa. See information for each visa on WORKgateways as to the recommended timelines for applying. Most UK Visa applications (Ancestry, Youth Mobility, Spouse visa etc) will be processed within six weeks in most Commonwealth countries, but that is not a guarantee. If you are applying for the Tier 1 Highly Skilled Visa, this may take much longer and you should give yourself several months. It is not normally recommended to purchase your airline tickets until you have received your UK visa if this is something that will effect whether you go to the UK or not.

This information should be used as a guideline only. For official information on work visa and permit processing times please contact your nearest British Embassy or Consulate.

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