Without a visa, you are permitted to stay in the UK for up to six months, during which time you are free to travel, pay visits to family and friends, engage in short-term studies, and attend conferences, events, and job interviews.
You must submit an application using the points-based system for longer stays with the gov.UK website. You must prove that you meet the requirements for your chosen visa in order to earn the required points. This strategy seeks to place more value on talent and skills than the background. Since the Common Travel Area agreements continue to safeguard free movement, rights, and privileges between these nations, Irish individuals do not need to apply for a work permit in order to live and work there.
Process for submitting a work permit application
Three months before they intend to start working for you, your staff should apply for a UK visa. It’s crucial to apply early at an application center or online through the UK Home Office Visas and Immigration Services website because the processing of visa applications might take up to three weeks. Make sure your staff is aware of the standards and evaluations for each tier under the PBS system because some categories may have additional specifications.
The UK has made plans to completely digitize its immigration system by 2025. Once you’ve decided on a work permit or visa, you can typically apply and pay for it online. The earliest you’ll often be permitted to do so is three months prior to the start of your work. You’ll need to present identifying documentation along with your supporting records. Depending on your country of origin and passport, you may be asked to utilize the “UK Immigration: ID Check” smartphone app or schedule an appointment at a visa application center. The average wait period for work visa decisions for applications made outside of the UK is 3 weeks.
Types of work visas available
The Points-based System is the primary method of immigration to the United Kingdom (PBS). Prior to entering the country, immigrants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) submit an application to one of five levels based on their intentions to work, study, invest, or train there. They must successfully complete a points-based evaluation that examines the prerequisites, rights, and entry requirements for each tier. For entry clearance or to stay in the UK, applicants must receive a certain minimum number of points based on their age, education, language proficiency, earnings, and financial resources.
Certain visas are covered by all five tiers:
Tier one visas
High-skilled employees, business owners, investors, and graduate students who reside outside of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) are eligible for Tier One visas. These job seekers can apply without a job offer.
Tier 2
Outside of the EEA, skilled workers, athletes, and clergy members may apply for visas under this category if they have a job offer and can fulfill a need in the local labor market.
Tier 3
Temporary laborers with low skill levels were eligible for Tier 3 visas. The government, however, opted not to hire immigrants from outside the EU for tier-three positions, and these visas have subsequently been abolished.
Tier 4
If foreign students older than 16 who wish to attend a school, college, or university in the nation must apply for a tier four visa.
Six subcategories of temporary workers fall under Tier 5, including those employed in the charitable, religious, and working-holiday industries as well as young individuals.
How much does a work visa cost
Depending on the visa or permission, the expenses of applying for the right to work in the UK vary, but they often consist of an application fee, a healthcare surcharge, and cash for support when you arrive.
Basic paperwork needed for work visas:
- Valid travel ID or a passport.
- Sufficient proof of your ability to support yourself throughout your stay is required.
- Evidence that the healthcare fee was paid.
- Get a TB test.
- Proof of fluency in the English language.
Additional crucial factors
In addition to the conventional work permit and visa processes, there are various ways for persons to work in that state. For instance, provided they meet other requirements, Commonwealth residents with British-born grandparents may apply for an ancestral visa to work there. These people might also have the right to reside over there. An employee of your business who was granted indefinite permission to remain (ILR) may just require a returning resident visa in order to return to the UK and resume employment.
