A Comprehensive Guide to the UK Work Visa:
Requirements and Application Process
Introduction: The United Kingdom (UK) is an attractive destination for individuals seeking employment opportunities and professional growth. If you are considering working in the UK, it’s essential to understand the UK work visa requirements and the application process. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the intricacies of obtaining a work visa in the UK.
The types of UK work visas, requirements, application procedures and rights and responsibilities of work visa holders and more relevant details.
A UK Work visa allows you to live and work in the UK for a specific period of time (many of these work visas can be renewed indefinitely). To apply for a UK Work visa, you must meet the eligibility requirements and provide the necessary documents.
What Are the Types of Work Visa for the UK?
There are different types of work visas for the UK:
• Skilled Worker Visa
• UK Start-Up Visa
• UK Graduate Work Visa
• UK Domestic Worker Visa
• High Potential Individual Visa
• International Sportsperson Visa
• Minister of Religion Visa
• Youth Mobility Scheme
• Global Business Mobility Worker Visas
• Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
• Expansion Worker Visa
• Secondment Worker Visa
• Service Supplier Visa
• Graduate Trainee Visa
• Temporary Worker Visas
• Creative Worker Visa
• Seasonal Worker Visa
• International Agreement Worker Visa
• Charity Worker Visa
• Government Authorized Exchange Visa
UK Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker visa enables you to work an eligible job for a UK employer. The eligibility requirements are as follows:
• You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for the visa.
• You must work for a UK employer that the Home Office has approved.
• You must have a certificate of sponsorship given by your employer.
• You must have a job listed in the eligible occupations.
• You must receive the minimum salary for the job you will do.
• Your English level must be at least B1.
UK Start-Up Visa
With a Start-Up visa, as an entrepreneur, you can open a new business in the UK. The eligibility requirements are as follows:
• You must be 18 or older.
• Your business must have been endorsed by an approved UK endorsing body.
• Your English level must be B2.
• You must have at least £945 in your bank account for 90 successive days before you apply.
• You must already have the valid UK leave under either Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur, Tier 2, Tier 4 (General), or as a visitor doing allowed activities as a potential entrepreneur.
UK Graduate Work Visa
With a UK Graduate Work visa, you can work flexibly, switch jobs, and develop your career for two years after completing a course in the UK. You can apply for this visa if:
• You are currently in the UK on a student visa.
• You studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other eligible courses for a minimum of 12 months with your student visa.
• Your university or college has told the Home Office that you have successfully completed the course.
• UK Domestic Worker Visa
• The UK Domestic Worker visa allows you to work in the UK for a private household. You can work as a nanny, chauffeur, cleaner, cook, etc. To qualify for the UK Domestic Worker visa,
• you must meet the following requirements:
• You are over the age of 19.
• You live outside the UK.
• You are a domestic worker in a private household.
• You have worked for that employer for at least 12 months.
• You work in the same household as your employer.
• You plan on leaving the UK after six months.
• You don’t need public funds.
High Potential Individual Visa
The High Potential visa allows graduates of top global universities to work in the UK for a period of two years. You don’t need a job offer for this type of this visa. To apply for this visa, you must fulfill the listed conditions:
• You must be awarded a qualification by an eligible university within five years.
• You must be 18 or older.
• You must have at least an English level B1.
• You must have enough money to support yourself in the UK.
• You must have not been granted permission under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme as a graduate or a high-potential individual.
International Sportsperson Visa
The International Sportsperson visa allows sponsored coaches or sportspeople to work in the UK to develop their sport at the highest level. To qualify for the International Sportsperson visa, you must meet the listed requirements:
• You must be a qualified coach or elite sportsperson recognized by the governing body of your sport.
• Your application must be endorsed by the governing body of your sport.
• Your employment will develop your sport in the UK at the highest level.
• You must have a certificate of sponsorship.
• You must provide proof that you have knowledge of the English language.
• You must have enough money to support yourself in the UK.
• You must show your travel history for the last five years.
• You must have a tuberculosis test if you are from a listed country.
• You must have an eligible occupation if you are switching from a student visa.
Minister of Religion Visa
The Minister of Religion visa enables you to go to the UK and work as a minister of religion or a religious missionary. You need to fulfill the following conditions to qualify for the Minister of Religion visa:
• You must be over the age of 18.
• You must obtain a certificate of sponsorship from your UK sponsor.
• You must prove that you know English.
• You must have sufficient financial means to support yourself in the UK.
• You must show your travel history for the last five years.
• You must have a tuberculosis test if you are from a listed country.
Youth Mobility Scheme
The Youth Mobility Scheme is for young adults who want to work in the UK for up to two years. With this program, you can work, live, and travel in the UK. You are eligible to apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme if you are between the age of 18 and 30 and from:
•
• Australia
• Canada
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• San Marino
• Iceland
• British overseas citizen
• British overseas territories citizen
• British national (overseas)
You must be selected for the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before you can apply for a visa if you are from:
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan
You cannot apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme if you have already been in the UK with this visa.
Global Business Mobility Worker Visa
The Global Business Mobility consists of five sponsored visa routes for overseas businesses that want to establish a UK branch, transfer staff, or for other business purposes. The five Global Business Mobility visa routes are:
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa – This visa allows you to come to the UK and work as a senior manager or specialist who is temporarily transferring to a UK branch of their overseas employer.
• Expansion Worker visa – With this visa, you can establish a branch of your overseas business in the UK.
• Secondment Worker visa – With this visa, your employer can transfer you to the UK for temporary business reasons.
• Service Supplier visa – This visa allows you to temporarily come to the UK if the work is under a contract to supply services covered by one of the UK’s international trade agreements.
• Graduate Trainee visa – This visa allows you to work in the UK in a job that is part of a graduate training program for a specialist or managerial role.
Temporary Worker Visa
The temporary worker visa allows you to work in the UK for a limited period. There are five types of UK Temporary Work visa:
• Creative Worker visa – This visa allows you to come to the UK to work in the creative sector to make a contribution to the cultural life in the UK.
• Seasonal Worker visa – With this visa, you can work in the horticulture sector of the UK.
• International Agreement Worker visa – This visa is for those who want to enter the UK to do work covered by international law or treaty.
• Charity Worker visa – With this visa, you can do volunteer work in the UK for one year.
• Government Authorized Exchange visa – This visa allows you to come to the UK for an internship, training, a research program, or work experience.
Requirements for the UK Work Visa
You cannot apply for a UK Work visa if you do not meet the financial requirements and do not have the certificate of sponsorship for the work visas that require one.
The Certificate of Sponsorship
A certificate of sponsorship (CoS) is a document that your employer provides you with. You need the CoS when applying for certain UK Work visas. UK visa routes that require a CoS are:
• UK Skilled Worker visa
• International Sportsperson visa
• Minister of Religion visa
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa
• Expansion Worker visa
• Service Supplier visa
• Secondment Worker visa
• Creative Worker visa
• Seasonal Worker visa
• International Agreement visa
• Charity Worker visa
Financial Requirement
For most UK work visas, you must have a certain amount of money in your bank account as proof that you can support yourself during the initial part of your stay in the UK. Most UK Work visas require at least £1270. However, the Graduate Work visa and the Domestic Worker visa do not have such requirements, whereas the Youth Mobility scheme requires at least £2,530. You don’t have to meet this requirement if:
• You have been in the UK with a valid visa for one year.
• Your employer will support you financially for the first month with at least £1,270.
What Are the Fees for the UK Work Visas?
When you apply for a UK visa route, you must pay the following fees:
Type of visa Application fee Healthcare surcharge Personal funds
Skilled Worker Visa £625 to £1,423, depending on your situation £624 per year at least £1270
Start-up visa £378 £624 per year at least £1270
Graduate Work Visa £715 £624 per year –
Domestic Worker Visa £531 – –
Minister of Religion Visa £625 £624 per year at least £1,270
Youth Mobility scheme £259 £470 per year at least £2,530
Global Business Mobility Worker Visa £259 £624 per year at least £1,270
Temporary Worker Visa £259 £624 per year at least £1,270
Can a UK Work Visa Be Extended?
A number of UK work visas can be extended. The time for which they extend depends on the type of visa. You can extend the following UK Work visas:
• UK Skilled Worker visa
• International Sportsperson visa
• Minister of Religion visa
• Secondment Worker visa
• Service Supplier visa
• Creative Worker visa
• International Agreement visa
• Charity Worker visa
Can You Obtain ILR with a UK Work Visa?
You can obtain indefinite leave to remain in the UK with the following UK Work visas:
• Minister of Religion Visa
• International Sportsperson visa
• UK Skilled Worker visa
What Is the Processing Time for a UK Work Visa?
The processing time for a UK work visa is three weeks if you are outside the UK, and eight weeks if you are inside the UK.
Can I Bring My Family Members With a Work Visa to the UK?
You can bring your family to the UK with most of the UK work visas:
• UK Skilled Worker visa
• UK Start-Up visa
• UK Graduate Work visa
• High Potential Individual visa
• International Sportsperson visa
• Minister of Religion visa
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa
• Expansion Worker visa
• Secondment Worker visa
• Service Supplier visa
• Creative Worker visa
• International Agreement visa
• Charity Worker visa
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