What Is the Right UK Work Visa for Me?

The Beatles, bank holidays, the West End, afternoon tea… There are many reasons why people from other countries may want to come and work in the UK. Perhaps you have family here, or you’re looking for a new challenge in your career. Whatever your reasons, if you’re not a British citizen and you want to live in a place where you can enjoy cream teas with scones and jam, then you will need to obtain a UK work visa.

If you want to spend at least a few years in the UK (and believe us, you will need a couple of years to enjoy its many delights) there are several different types of work visas that you can apply for, each with their own eligibility criteria and requirements.

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In this article, we’ll provide a general overview of the main types of UK work visas so that you can see which one is right for you.

Long-term UK work visas

Skilled Worker Visa

If you have been offered a skilled job by a UK employer, then you may be eligible for a Skilled Worker or Tier 2 General visa. This visa is for ‘medium-skilled’ workers who are being employed in an occupation that is on the Home Office’s Shortage Occupation List.

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For example, roles in healthcare, engineering and computing are usually on the list, as these occupations are currently in high demand but there is a shortage of workers with the necessary skills.

To be eligible for this visa, you must have a valid job offer from a UK employer and a certificate of sponsorship. In addition, you will also need to pass a points-based assessment, which tests your level of English language ability and whether you meet the salary requirements for your occupation.

How long can I stay in the UK with a Skilled worker visa?

You can stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years and 14 days on a Skilled Worker visa. After this, you can apply to extend your visa for another 5 years.

Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer Visa (Global Business Mobility)

If you’re an employee of a multinational company, and you’ve been offered a transfer to a UK branch of your company, then you may be eligible for a Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer visa. This visa is for ‘high-skilled’ workers who are being transferred to a UK branch of their company.

For instance, if you work for a Japanese company that has a UK office, and you’re being transferred to the UK office for a period of time, then you would apply for this type of visa.

As with the Skilled worker visa, you can stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years and 14 days on an Intra-Company Transfer permit, after which you can apply for an extension that will allow you to experience life and work in the UK for 5 more years.

Talent and business development UK work visas

Are you an independent entrepreneur looking to expand your vision to the UK? Then you should like to know that there are a number of UK work visas for people who are coming to the UK to work in an occupation that is considered to be ‘talent’ or ‘business development’.

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These include the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa, the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa, and the Tier 1 Investor visa, which will allow you to realize your vision –whether it is artistic or commercial — in England, Scotland, Wales and/or Northern Ireland.

Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa

The Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa is for highly skilled individuals who have been endorsed as being ‘exceptional’ in their field by a recognised UK body. For example, if you are an internationally renowned scientist, engineer or artist, then you may be eligible for this visa.

To apply for a Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa, you will need to obtain an endorsement from a designated competent body. These bodies include the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Fashion Council and Tech City UK, and the Arts Council of England or the Royal Society.

If you are granted an Exceptional Talent visa, you will be able to stay in the UK for up to 5 years and 4 months. After this, you can apply for an extension, also of 5 years, that will allow you to consolidate their presence in the UK and improve your British accent while you are at it.

Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa

The Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is for people who are coming to the UK to set up their own businesses. To be eligible for this visa, you must have a minimum of £50,000 in investment funds to invest in your UK business. You will also need to pass an immigration points-based assessment.

This is the perfect UK work visa for people who have a great business idea and the financial backing to make it happen. For instance, if you’re an experienced software developer who wants to set up a tech start-up in London, then this is the visa for you.

If you are successful in obtaining a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa, you will be able to stay in the UK for a maximum of 3 years and 4 months. After this, you can apply to extend your visa for another 2 years.

Tier 1 Investor visa

The Tier 1 Investor visa is for people looking to invest a minimum of £2 million in the UK. This could be in the form of investment funds, shares, or government bonds.

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While it may seem like a lot of money to invest, the Tier 1 Investor visa offers a number of benefits that make it an attractive option for high-net-worth individuals. These include the ability to apply for permanent residence after just 2 years, and the option to bring family members including your spouse/partner and children (aged under 18) to the UK.

Other Types of UK Work Visas:

If you don’t fit neatly into one of the above categories, don’t worry – there are still other types of UK work visas that may be applicable to you.

These include:

UK Ancestry Visa: If you have a grandparent who was born in the UK, then you may be eligible for a UK Ancestry visa, which allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years.

Visa for Domestic Workers in a Private Household: If you are coming to the UK to work as a domestic worker in a private household (for example, as a nanny or housekeeper), then you will need to apply for a visa under the Domestic Worker in a Private Household category. This visa allows you to stay in the UK for up to 6 months.

Creative and Sporting Worker Visa: If you are coming to the UK to work in a ‘creative’ occupation (for example, as a musician or artist) or as a professional sportsperson, then you will need to apply for a Creative and Sporting Worker visa. This visa allows you to stay in the UK for up to 12 months.

While many people believe that being able to work legally in the UK must be nearly impossible, the guide above demonstrates that there are actually many types of visas that allow individuals from other countries to fulfil their professional goals in the United Kingdom.

If you’re interested in working in the UK, all you have to do is research which visa category you fall into and apply accordingly! Remember: the type of visa that you will need to apply for will depend on your occupation, your qualifications, and the length of time that you want to stay in the UK.

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Of course, if you’re planning to relocate to the UK, one of the most important things you will need to do is start working on your English language skills. At Language Trainers, we work with native-speaking teachers who can tailor a course just for you, to help you reach your goals and make the most of your time in the UK. Whether you need to roleplay an interview with an immigration official or just want to sharpen your conversational abilities to genuine conversation, we can help!

Take a look at our personalised English courses, or send us a short message by clicking here.