Getting A Work Permit In Uk - Lomelono Travel Solutions

If you’re from outside the EU, or the European Economic Area and need to work in the UK, you will need to get a UK Visa before you travel. A visa gives you permission to enter the UK and remain for a set period of time. If you want to apply for a work permit for the United Kingdom you do so through employers who already have their own sponsorships and it’s important to understand that there are different categories of permits based on company size and type of occupation. The main categories of permit include visas based on job offer, Tier 2 (independent workers) and also Tier 5 (general youth mobility scheme).Getting a work permit in the U.K. might seem like a difficult task. However, this process is not that hard, but will be time-consuming, and you’ll need to provide information and documents to prove that you are eligible for a work permit.

Getting A Work Permit In Uk

The Government of UK has made work permit fees non-refundable. This really helped the UK to become a hub for international business and attract foreign investors. Employment permits are considered to be valuable documents by immigrants who want to sign a contract with their employer or complete a self-employed business in this country. However, there is an option of applying for a refund.

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UK Work Visas & Permits

Expanding your company abroad and into the United Kingdom requires a team of skilled employees. Whether you already have a trusted team at your parent company ready to move and work in the UK or you’re opening up positions to people around the world, you need to know about the United Kingdom’s work permits and visas.

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Many companies already handling a global expansion don’t have time to learn about work visas, permits, and how to obtain them.

Types of Work Visas in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom’s main immigration route is through the Points Based System (PBS). First, migrants outside the European Economic Area (EEA) apply to one of five tiers based on their desire to work, study, invest, or train in the country. They must pass a points-based assessment focused on the conditions, entitlements, and entry requirements for each tier. Applicants have to get a sufficient number of points based on age, qualifications, language, earnings, and funds to get entry clearance or remain in the United Kingdom.

All five tiers encompass certain visas:

Tier one: These visas are meant for highly skilled workers, entrepreneurs, investors, and graduate students living outside the European Union (EU) and EEA. These candidates do not need a job offer to apply.
Tier two: Skilled workers, professional sportspeople, and clergy members outside the EEA can apply for a visa within tier two when they have a job offer and can fill gaps within the country’s labor force.
Tier three: Tier three visas were meant for low-skilled workers providing temporary labor. However, the government decided not to accept immigrants from outside the EU for tier three positions and have since removed these visas.
Tier four: Students over age 16 from outside the EEA should apply for a tier four visa if they want to study at a school, college, or university in the country.
Tier five: This category has six sub-tiers of temporary workers related to creative and sporting positions, charity, religious workers, and young people who work in the UK on working holidays.

Requirements to Obtain UK Work Visas

The requirements for a United Kingdom working visa vary based on which tier and visa your employees need. Tier two encompasses most long-term visas except for the special talent mentioned in tier one. The tier two general UK work visa is the most common for companies expanding, as it’s for people outside the EEA and Switzerland who have a job offer in the UK.

All general work visa applicants must have an employer or a licensed sponsor. Although the requirements vary by type of work permit, the most common include:

An application form
Two color photographs taken within the past six months
A valid passport
Proof of financial means to cover UK living costs
Proof of accommodation
Detailed travel itinerary
Tuberculosis test results
Biometric information
A visa invitation letter if the individual is staying with a friend or family member
Paid UK visa fees
Certified translations of any document that’s not in English or Welsh

Application Process

Your employees should apply for a UK visa three months before they want to begin working for you. Visa application processing can take up to three weeks, so it’s important to apply early at an application center or online through the UK Home Office Visas and Immigration Services website. The PBS system means the requirements and evaluations change for each tier, and some categories may have additional requirements, so make sure your employees know what they need to apply.

The UK has announced plans to fully digitize their immigration process and permissions by 2025.

Other Important Considerations

There are other ways for people to work in the UK besides the traditional work permit and visa routes. For example, Commonwealth citizens with a British grandparent can apply for an ancestry visa to work in the country if they meet other eligibility criteria. These citizens may also have a right of abode to live in the UK. If your company has an employee that left the UK for more than two years through indefinite leave to remain (ILR), they may need only a returning resident visa to come back and work.

Learn More About Globalization Partners

Need to onboard international employees right now? We can help with your global hiring needs. Contact us and request a proposal.

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At this moment, Globalization Partners does not offer support processing work visas or permits in this particular location.
For any other inquiries about our global employment platform, contact us today.