A work visa allows foreign citizens to live and work in the UK for a certain period of time. However, in order to apply for a British work visa, you must meet the requirements and provide the necessary documents. Find out more about the types and main requirements for obtaining work visas in the UK.
In order to obtain permission to work in the UK, you need to meet a number of requirements for obtaining a work visa:
Get a valid job offer. First of all, to obtain a visa, you need to find a British company willing to employ you and get a valid job offer from
them. Your employer must also have a Sponsorship License to hire foreign personnel.
Obtain a valid Sponsorship Certificate. You need to obtain a valid CoS from your employer. This virtual certificate specifies the position you
plan to take, how long you intend to work, and so on.
Be sufficiently qualified and have enough money. To be considered a skilled worker, you must have skills that at least meet level 3 RQF. You
will also need to prove that you have enough money, at least at the initial stage.
Have a good knowledge of the English language.
Health and Care Worker visa
A Health and Care Worker visa allows medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier
or in adult social care. To qualify for a Health and Care Worker visa, you must:
- be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional
- work in an eligible health or social care job
- work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
- be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work you do
- If you’re a care worker or senior care worker working in England, your employer must also be registered with the Care Quality Commission.
- You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa.
- You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.
How long you can stay
Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.
If you want to stay longer in the UK:
- You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.
- 1. outside the UK and are coming to the UK
- 2. inside the UK and extending your current visa
- 3. inside the UK and switching from a different visa
If you want to change your job or employer, you must apply to update your visa. Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependents’ if they’re eligible.
You can: - work in an eligible job
- take on additional work in certain circumstances
- do voluntary work
- study
- bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
- travel abroad and return to the UK
- apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the
- other eligibility requirements
You cannot: - apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
- change jobs or employer unless you update your visa
Skilled Worker Visas:
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:
work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ (CoS) from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work you do and the date you got your CoS
You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa.
You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.
How long you can stay:
Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.
If you want to stay longer in the UK
You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.
How you apply depends on whether you’re:
1. outside the UK and are coming to the UK
2. inside the UK and extending your current visa
3. inside the UK and switching from a different visa
If you want to change your job or employer, you must apply to update your visa.
Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependents’ if they’re eligible.
With a Skilled Worker visa you can:
- work in an eligible job
- study
- bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
- take on additional work in certain circumstances
- do voluntary work
- travel abroad and return to the UK
- apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the
- other eligibility requirements
Innovator Founder visa:
You must be able to show that your business idea is:
new – you cannot join a business that is already trading
innovative – you must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market
viable, with potential for growth
scalable – you must give evidence of planning that includes creating jobs and growing into national and international markets
You’ll need to get an endorsing body to assess that your business idea meets the requirements.
You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.
How long you can stay
You can stay for 3 years if you either:
come to the UK on an Innovator Founder visa
switch to this visa from another visa while in the UK
You’ll need to meet with your endorsing body after 12 months and 24 months to show you’re making progress with your business. Your visa
may be cut short if your endorsement is withdrawn by the endorsing body. If you want to stay longer, you must re-apply with a new
endorsement before your current visa expires.
If you want to stay longer in the UK:
You can apply to extend your stay for another 3 years when your visa is due to expire. There’s no limit on the number of times you can extend. You may be able to apply for settlement once you’ve been in the UK for 3 years.
How you apply depends on whether you’re:
outside the UK and are coming to the UK
1. inside the UK and extending your current visa
2. inside the UK and switching from a different visa
International Sportsperson visa:
Your sponsor is your employer. They’ll give you a certificate of sponsorship to prove they’re sponsoring you.
How long you can stay:
Your visa can last for up to 3 years. You can extend it as long as you’re still eligible. After 5 years, you may be able to settle permanently in the UK if you’ve had at least one visa that lasted longer than 12 months.
You can:
work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
do a second job in certain circumstances
play for your national team in the UK
work as a sports broadcaster
do voluntary work
study as long as it does not interfere with the job you’re sponsored for
travel abroad and return to the UK
bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependents’, if they’re eligible
You cannot:
get public funds
start or run a business
apply for a second job until you’ve started working for your sponsor
Scale-up Worker Visas:
A Scale-up Worker visa allows you to come to the UK to do an eligible job for a fast-growing UK business (sometimes called a ‘scale-up business’). Your UK employer must meet specific eligibility criteria to sponsor scale-up workers.
- have a confirmed job offer to work for an approved scale-up business for at least 6 months
- have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
- have a job offer to do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
- be paid a minimum salary in your new job
- You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.
How long you can stay:
You can stay in the UK with a Scale-up Worker visa for 2 years. You’ll need to apply to extend your visa when it expires.
If you want to stay longer in the UK
You can extend your visa as many times as you like by 3 years, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.
After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the
right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.
How you apply depends on whether you’re:
1. outside the UK and are coming to the UK
2. inside the UK and extending your current visa
3. inside the UK and switching from a different visa
If you want to change your employer during the first 6 months of working in your sponsored job, you must apply to update your visa. Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependents’ if they’re eligible.
With a Scale-up Worker visa you can:
- work in your sponsored job for at least 6 months
- leave your sponsored job after 6 months
- study
- bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
- take on additional work, including becoming self-employed
- do voluntary work
- travel abroad and return to the UK
- apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements
You cannot: - apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
- work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach
During the first 6 months of your stay:
You cannot change employer unless you apply to update your visa. You do not need to update your visa if you start a different, eligible job with the same employer. After 6 months.
You can:
1. continue working in your job
2. change or stop doing your job without telling the Home Office
3. be self-employed
You do not need to update your visa.