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Last Updated: February 13, 2024

UK Work Visa

The United Kingdom has abundant opportunities for people all across the globe - be it skilled workers or graduating students wanting to settle in the UK. Along with being a beautiful country that offers a rich, multi-diverse, and fulfilling abroad experience, the UK has kept its doors open for various paths of life. The projected total immigration in 2022 was 7,45,000. However, the opportunity of living in the UK has attracted an abundance of the population from across the globe, leading the country to introduce the Point-Based Immigration System and making it difficult to obtain work visas - which could eventually lead to a permanent residence in the UK. Although the Point-based system seems difficult, it is a lot more straightforward than the previous system.

Points Based Immigration System

Points Based Immigration System allows candidates to get a visa, if they qualify for the set regulations by the UK government.

The point-based system is most effective for people wanting to work in the UK and looking for a work visa most suitable to them. Getting a work visa has its own set of requirements, that are put in place in accordance with the UK government.

For getting a work visa, an individual must be sponsored by their employer and should be able to get all the points that are required to be eligible. To be able to successfully work in the UK, the applicant needs to have 70 points; only then the individuals are eligible to apply for the desired work visa.

Types of Visas

There might be several reasons as to why someone would apply for a visa to go to the UK. Whatever the reason may be, it may fall into one of the types of visas mentioned below.

Tier 1 Visa

The tier 1 visa category is arguably the most difficult visa to obtain. The point-based system is very very important in getting a tier 1 visa and the requirements are quite a few as well.

Tier 1 visas include business visas, which fall under the Investor Visa (Tier 1). An investor visa is for individuals who want to invest at least £2,000,000 in the UK. To be eligible for the Investor visa one must be:
  1. Have over £2,000,000 investment funds
  2. Be 18 or above
  3. Have an active bank account in a bank that must be regulated by the UK
  4. Can prove that the funds belong to them, their spouse, or their partner.
Note: The entrepreneur visa (tier 1) has been discontinued. It is possible to switch from an entrepreneur visa to any other desirable visa but it is not possible to apply for an entrepreneur visa anymore.
Tier 1 visa had another category under it which was known as an Exceptional Talent visa (Tier 1). The name of this visa has been replaced by Global Talent Visa as of February 20, 2020. This visa allows researchers, scientists, and other achievers to be able to work in the UK and have a faster way to get a permanent residency.

Tier 2 Visa

Tier 2 visas have been renamed to be called Skilled worker visa . This visa will be applicable to candidates if they have been offered to work with a UK employer who recognizes them as skilled workers. To be eligible for a Skilled worker visa candidates need: A Skilled worker visa is valid for 5 years. It can be extended further if the worker so desires to it can be updated if they decide to change their job. Candidates can apply for an extension of the visa for as long as they want, as long as the eligibility criteria are met. Candidates can apply for permanent residency after they have worked for 5 years.

Tier 3 visa

The tier 3 visa was a section kept for unskilled workers looking for employment in the UK. When the points system was introduced, government officials decided that having a visa for unskilled workers was redundant. Hence, this visa does not exist or has ever been active. The unskilled workers who can find employment in the UK have to be nationals of the country.

Tier 4 visa

Tier 4 Visa is reserved for adult students who want to pursue higher education in the UK. The visa has been renamed to Student Visa . The requirements for getting a student visa are as follows: The length of a student's stay solely depends on the type, of course, they are applying for and its duration. Regardless of the duration, the student will have an additional month to the duration of their course and that will be the day their visa will end.
Students can switch from a student visa to a skilled worker visa if they have the opportunity to do so. Otherwise, if they are 18 and above and are studying a degree-level course they are allowed to stay for 5 years in the UK. If it is not at a degree level, then they are allowed to stay for 2 years.
Since the student visa is usually for more than 6 months of duration, they would have to pay the health insurance amount as well. The health insurance amount depends on their home country, course type, visa type, and duration of the course.

Tier 5 visa

Tier 5 visas are visas issued to temporary workers, government-authorized officials, international agreements, sportsmen, and charitable/religious work. The tier 5 visa has been renamed to Temporary Worker - Government Authorized Exchange visa and they would be eligible for the visa if the candidate meets the following requirements: If the applicant belongs to any of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden or Turkey; the application fee is reduced automatically.
Note: The application fee will only be reduced for applicant. If their parents/children/spouse is coming along, they will have to pay the full application fee.

Visas that can be Applied Without a Job Offer

British National (Overseas) Visa

Cost- This visa is only available to citizens of Hong Kong, British nationals living abroad, and their children born after 1997. The applicant may remain for a maximum of five years or two years and six months. The candidate is not eligible to become an elite sportsperson or coach. The applicant must provide evidence that they are a citizen of the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or Hong Kong.

Graduate Visa

Cost- £822
With this visa, students can work in the UK for a minimum of two years after completing a course there. It will, however, last for three years if the student has a PhD or another doctorate qualification. This visa cannot be extended; to remain in the UK, the applicant must apply for a different kind of visa.

Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

Cost- £298
Individuals who want to work in the UK can apply for this visa if they have saved at least £2,530 for at least 28 days within 31 days of applying.
Anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 from the following nations may apply for this visa. The following nationals, between the ages of 18 and 35, may apply for this visa.

India Young Professionals Scheme Visa

Cost- £298
Applicants for this visa must be Indian nationals between the ages of 18 and 30 and have savings of £2,530.

Global Talent Visa

Cost- £716
Those who are interested in applying for this visa should be leaders or aspiring leaders in digital technology, the arts and culture, academia, or research. The duration of this visa is up to five years.

UK Ancestry Visa

Cost- £637
Those who are interested in applying for this visa include those who are Commonwealth citizens, British overseas citizens, British nationals (overseas), citizens of Zimbabwe, or whose grandparents were born in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man.

High Potential Individual Visa

Cost- £822
Those who have received a bachelor's, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from an accredited university are eligible for this visa. The duration of this visa is two years. For this visa, the applicant needs to have £1,270 in savings with them.

Visas to Work for an Overseas Employer

Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

Cost- This visa superseded the intra-company transfer visa. This visa enables the applicant to work in the UK at the UK branch of their employer in a position that qualifies. The applicant's time spent with any of the following visas is included in the maximum stay of this visa.

Overseas Domestic Worker Visa

Cost- £637
Domestic workers outside the UK who have worked for the same employer for a year and plan to work as full-time domestic workers in the UK for no more than six months are eligible for this visa.

Graduate Trainee Visa

Cost- £298
Candidates are permitted to work in the UK for their employer in their UK branch with this visa. An eligible occupation and enrollment in a graduate program that prepares candidates for managerial or specialized roles are prerequisites for employment. The candidate needs a "certificate of sponsorship" from their employer and a minimum annual salary of £24,220.

Secondment Worker Visa

Cost- £298
With the help of this visa, foreign workers who are being transferred by their employer and who have a high-value contract with their UK sponsor that has been approved by the Home Office can work in an acceptable capacity for another company.

Service Supplier Visa

Cost- £298
Applicants may apply for this visa if they are employed by an overseas company or have a contract to perform services for a UK company as independent contractors working from abroad.

UK Expansion Worker Visa

Cost- £298
Candidates may enter the UK with this visa to establish a branch of an international company that hasn't yet begun operations there. The candidate must already be employed by a foreign corporation as a senior manager and specialist.

Representative of an Overseas Business Visa

Cost- Representatives of foreign news organizations, newspapers, and broadcast organizations who are assigned to the UK for a long duration of time are eligible for this visa.

Service Provider from Switzerland Visa

Cost- N.A.
Applicants may apply for this visa if they are employed by a Swiss company and their employer wishes for them to work in the UK on a contract. The agreement must be signed by 11:00 p.m. on December 31, 2020. Swiss nationals may also apply for this visa in the capacity of independent contractors.

Temporary Work Visa

Seasonal Worker Visa

Cost- £298
Applicants may apply for this visa if they wish to work in poultry from October 2 through December 31, or horticulture for up to six months during the same year. To be eligible for this visa, candidates must have a sponsor and £1270 in savings to sustain themselves in the UK.

Government Authorized Exchange Visa (Temporary Work)

Cost- £298
Applicants may apply for this visa if they want to travel to the UK for a short period for work experience, training, an overseas government language program, research, or fellowship through an authorized government exchange program. To qualify for this visa, applicants must have £1270 in savings and a sponsor.

Creative Worker Visa

Cost- £298
Candidates must have received an offer of employment as creative writers in the UK to apply for this visa. The candidates must have savings of £1,270 and be paid the minimum wage established by Equity, PACT, and BECTU.

Religious Worker Visa

Cost- £298
Applicants for this visa may be those who wish to work religiously in the UK in a non-pastoral capacity or a religious order. To be eligible for this visa, candidates must possess a certificate of sponsorship and £1270 in savings.

Charity Worker Visa

Cost- £298
Candidates with a sponsorship certificate are eligible to apply for this visa if they wish to perform unpaid voluntary work in the UK for a charity.

International Agreement Visa

Cost- £298
Candidates may apply for this visa if they are employed to perform tasks covered by international law or treaties, such as serving as a private servant for a diplomatic household or working for a foreign government or recognized international organization.

Other Work Visas

Innovator Founder Visa

Cost- Candidates who wish to establish and operate a business in the UK after it has been approved by an endorsing body may apply for this visa.

International Sportsperson Visa

Cost- International sportspeople who fit the requirements and whose sport's governing body has approved their application, attesting to their status as elite athletes or certified coaches who have established themselves globally and whose sport will reach the pinnacle of development in the UK, are eligible to apply for this visa.

Minister of Religion Visa

Cost- Applicants for this visa may be those who receive an offer of employment at minimum wage in a faith community in the UK. To apply for this visa, candidates must have a sponsor, demonstrate their English language skills, have personal savings, and, if they are from a listed country, have the results of their TB test.

Scale-up Worker Visa

Cost- £822
Those who are offered employment in the UK at a rapidly growing business and whose employer satisfies the requirements to hire additional staff members may apply for this type of visa.

Frontier Worker Permit

Cost- N.A.
Citizens of the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, or Liechtenstein who wish to work as frontier workers and start working in the UK by December 31, 2020, are eligible for this visa.

Steps to Applying for the UK Work Visa

Gathering the Required Documents and Beginning the Application Process

Prior to applying for a work visa, candidates must determine which kind of visa best suits their needs based on their qualifications, desired job type, and other factors. They must determine if they qualify for the visa because there are requirements that must be fulfilled for each type of work visa. Following that, applicants must find a sponsoring employer (if needed by the visa's eligibility requirements). Through the UK Immigration website, the application can be submitted online by paying the application fees. Three months before the start of their employment is the earliest that candidates may apply.
Documents Required While Applying for the UK Work Visa
Other Documents That Might be Needed
After obtaining the aforementioned paperwork, candidates can begin the application process.

Proving Identity

In order to proceed to the next stage of the application process, applicants must provide the UK immigration department with proof of identity. To do so, there are two options:

Waiting for the Decision

The application decision-making process typically takes three weeks from the time it is submitted, and the identification process is finished. However, if the immigration department requires more documents or there are any deficiencies in the application, it might take longer.

However, candidates can pay £500 for the 'priority service' when applying online if they require a faster response to their application. If the candidate chooses this service, a decision will be made in 5 working days. Additionally, eligible candidates can use the 'super priority service', which costs £1,000, to receive a decision the very day after submitting their application.

Candidates whose applications are accepted will receive a "vignette" sticker on their passports, proving that they are authorized to enter the United Kingdom. Then, candidates can arrange their travel to the UK.

Upon Arrival in the UK

Upon arrival in the UK, candidates must pick up their Biometrics Residence Card from the location they specified when providing the fingerprints and photographs within 10 days or before the "vignette" expires.

Entry of Dependents

The worker's dependent partner or child (if eligible) may apply to travel or remain in the UK with them. They will require different applications to do this. Typically, the length of stay is the same as the worker's stay. When applying, the dependents will require the worker's application number.

Beginning in 2024, the UK government has implemented a few changes to dependents' entry. They are listed below:

Other Changes in 2024

Apart from the previously mentioned changes, there will be additional changes pertaining to work visas. These are the following:

Immigration Health Surcharge

The candidate may be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, depending on the immigration status for which they are applying. When submitting an application or making an appointment, the surcharge payment must be made.

Some Things to Remember



Work Visa

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