UK Work Visas and Entry Options

There are a broad range of options available to anyone who wants to come to the UK and work, and provided you meet the requirements of the category that you want to apply for, the application process can be relatively straight forward. iEffect are licensed immigration advisors and are registered with the Officer of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). If you want any assistance with your application, please contact us. This page details the main categories under which people seek to enter the UK to work:

The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme
Work Permits
Sole Representative
International Graduates Schemes
Investors
Innovators
Postgraduate Doctors and Dentists
Overseas Qualified Nurses and Midwives
Working Holidaymakers
Sector Based Scheme

The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

HSMP is a points based programme to attract and facilitate the migration of talented individuals to work in the UK. Applicants require a minimum of 75 points which are awarded across four categories: Age, Qualifications, Earning Power and UK Experience. For more information see our page on the highly skilled migrant programme, or contact us.

• You have the right to look for work or conduct any business in the UK as long as you do not rely on public funds.
• You do not depend on an employer to live or work in the UK
• You are not restricted to one employer and can work any number of hours.
• HSMP provides a 2 year visa that can be extended by another 3 years.
• HSMP can lead to Permanent Residency and eventually to citizenship after 5 years of continuous employment if you do not rely on public funds.

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Work Permits

Work permits are issued by the UK's Border and Immigration Agency to specific people to carry out a specific job. Work permits are usually only issued if an organisation is unable to find a suitable candidate for the role inside the European Economic Area (EEA).  If you represent an organisation that needs advice on how to apply for work permits, or if you are an individual and want to find our more, please contact us.

• Applicants need an employer and/or job offer in the UK in order to get a work permit.
• A Work Permit restricts employment to only one employer for the duration of the permit.
• You are restricted to working a maximum of 40 hours a week.
• Once your work visa expires or you must go back to your home country.

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Sole Representative

A person can come to the UK without a work permit (but prior entry clearance is mandatory) as the sole representative of a company, if that company does not already have representation in the UK, in order to establish a legal entity and branch or subsidiary for that company. If a legal entity already exists but there is no physical representation, then a company's employee may also be classed as a sole representative.

• Full details of the company's activities, including assets and accounts, need to be supplied with the application.
• You must be directly employed at a senior level by the parent company outside of the UK and your job description, contract of employment and salary details will need to be provided.
• You cannot be a majority shareholder of the parent/overseas company.
• You can only work for the company for which you are sole representative whilst you are in the country.
• You must be able to accommodate and maintain yourself and any dependents whilst in the UK, without the assistance of public funds.

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International Graduates Scheme

This UK Government scheme gives non-EEA graduates who have completed their studies in the UK the right to 12 months stay in the UK to find employment. After this period the international graduates scheme is no longer valid and you will have to apply to stay in the UK under a different category such as the HSMP or work permits. If you would like more information on this contact one of iEffect's trained immigration advisors.

• In order to be eligible, you must have successfully completed a Bachelors, Master or PHD course from a recognised institute of higher or further education within the last 12 months.
• You must be intending to work for the duration of the scheme.
• You must be able to support yourself and any dependents without recourse to public funds.
• You must intend to return to your home country after your visit.

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Investors

If you have £1 million to invest in the UK, and you want to make the UK your main home, you can get permission to stay in the country. There are restriction on what you can investment in.

• You must have £1 million of your own money, under your control in the UK or personal assets of more than £2 million, £1 million of which is under your control.
• The intention must be to invest at least £750,000 in UK Government bonds, share capital or loan capital in active trading UK registered companies and make the UK your main home.
• You must be able to accommodate yourself and any dependents without taking other employment or using public funds. You can be a non-executive director, or consultant or own your own business.
• For more information contact us or see http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk

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Innovators

The UK Government's innovator scheme is an attempt to attract outstanding entrepreneurs to the country, who have business ideas that will add considerably to the UK economy. This is open to all sectors but has a focus on science and technology.

• You must show intention of setting up a business that fully employs at least two people that are already settled in the UK.
• The company must be registered in the UK and you must hold at least 5% of the equity capital for the duration of your stay.
• You must be able to accommodate yourself and any dependents without using public funds or taking other employment.
• You should be able to finance your business for the first six month with available, or agreed, monies.
• Your business plan and financial planning is central to any application being accepted.

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Postgraduate Doctors and Dentists

Postgraduate doctors and dentists can come to the UK for a maximum of 26 months to study. If your course is not complete, you can apply to extend. Your maximum stay as a postgraduate doctor or dentist is limited to 36 months.

• You must have completed a recognised UK degree in medicine or dentistry within the last 12 months.
• You must have been given permission to remain in the UK for the final year of the above degree and for at least one other academic year as a student in the UK of the same degree.
• You will need a letter from the Postgraduate Dean confirming your full-time place.
• You must be able to maintain and accommodate yourself without use of public funds.
• On completion of your studies you can apply for the HSMP, you can apply to stay undertaking a clinical attachment or dental observation post or as a work permit holder, innovator or as a person intending to establish themselves in business.

Overseas Qualified Nurses and Midwives

Entry into the UK as an overseas qualified nurse is limited to 18 months, after which you will be expected to return to your home country.

• You must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and to do this your qualifications must be recognised by the council.
• As an overseas trained nurse you will be required to take 20 days protected learning before you can register with the NMC. If the NMC decides that a further supervised practice is not required, your employer can apply for a work permit on your behalf. Otherwise, you will have to apply to enter the UK as an overseas qualified nurse.
• As an overseas trained midwife you will need to take 20 days protected learning and a midwifery adaption programme before registering with the NMC. You will only be able to apply for entry into the UK as a overseas qualified midwife.

Working Holidaymakers

This scheme run by the British Government allows participating Commonwealth countries, British overseas citizens, British overseas territories citizens, or British national (overseas) to come to the UK for a holiday of up to 2 years and work at the same time. The working aspect must be the minor part of the trip and the holidaymaker must be aged between 17 and 30.

• It is only possible to work for 12 months out of the 24 months of the holidaymaker visa, which is valid from the day of entry into the UK.
• Any time spent out of the UK during the 24 month validity of your holidaymaker visa will count as part of your permitted stay in the UK.
• You cannot switch to a Work Permit unless it is on the Skills Shortage Occupation List.
• You can only switch to the HSMP.
• You cannot set yourself up in or run a business. You must leave the UK at the end of your holiday.

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Sector Based Scheme SBS - Closed

The SBS allows UK-based employers to recruit low-skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to vacancies that cannot be filled by resident workers.
Workers employed on the SBS will work within one or more of the following sectors:

• Food manufacturing;
• Hospitality.

Since 1 January 2007 the SBS has been closed to new applications from workers outside the EEA.