United Kingdom Visas & Permits.

Hiring top talent in the United Kingdom (U.K.) may come with strict visa requirements. Most non-nationals need to apply for a U.K. work visa before their start date. Understanding the U.K. work visa system helps you hire confidently, stay compliant, and avoid costly delays.

G-P Gia™ gives you instant global mobility guidance, including relocation checklists and comprehensive visa and immigration breakdowns, so you can hire with confidence.

Who needs a work visa in the U.K.?

Since the U.K. exited the EU, most non-U.K. nationals, including those from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, need a visa to work in the country. This does not apply if they have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or a valid pending application that lets them prove their right to work. 

U.K. immigration uses a points-based system (PBS), which generally applies to non-U.K. nationals who need permission to work, study, or come to the U.K. Irish citizens are usually exempt under Common Travel Area arrangements. This system allocates points based on criteria like job type, salary level, and English proficiency. Applicants also need a job offer from a home office-licensed employer. Successful applicants can live and work in the U.K. for the period covered by their work visa.

Work visa options in the U.K.

U.K. work visas for professionals include:

• The skilled worker visa: The most common work visa for skilled professionals comes with several requirements: 
  • Applicants must have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from an employer with a valid Home Office sponsor license. A CoS is an electronic sponsorship record, not a paper certificate.
  • The job must match an eligible Skilled Worker occupation code. It does not need to appear by exact job title. 
  • The applicant must be paid at least the minimum salary threshold for their role or the general threshold, whichever is higher. 
  • Applicants must also prove they can read, write, speak, and understand English to a specific level.
• Global business mobility (GBM) visas: These visas let businesses transfer employees to the U.K. The senior or specialist worker visa is the main Global Business Mobility subcategory for intra-company transfers. It lets companies move senior managers or specialist employees to a U.K. branch, but does not provide a direct path to settlement. 
• Scale-up visa: For individuals with a job offer from a qualifying, high-growth U.K. business.
• High potential individual (HPI) visa: For recent graduates from top-ranked global universities.

The application process for a work visa in the U.K. 

The U.K. work visa application process is almost entirely digital. Physical biometric residence permits (BRPs) have been phased out and replaced by eVisas. Individuals access and manage their immigration status through a UKVI account and can generate a share code for right-to-work checks. Processing times are usually three weeks for work visa applications made outside the U.K. and eight weeks for those made inside the U.K. Health and Care Worker visas are usually processed in three weeks from either location. Priority services are available if a U.K. work visa needs to be fast-tracked. 

1. Employer issues CoS: The employer issues a CoS after a job offer is accepted. Getting and maintaining a sponsor license involves significant compliance duties for employers, including record-keeping and reporting responsibilities. Without this license, a company can’t issue the CoS needed for a skilled worker visa application. 
2. Employee applies online: The employee completes the U.K. work visa application online. They submit their CoS, evidence of English language skills, job offer details (including occupation code), and may also need to provide proof of salary, bank statements, and legal clearances. The employee usually pays the application fee and the immigration health surcharge (IHS) upfront, unless exempt. The IHS gives visa holders access to the National Health Service (NHS) during the period covered by their visa, though some charges may still apply. 
3. Employee submits biometrics: Most applicants need to provide fingerprints and a photograph. This is usually done at a visa application centre, but some may be able to use the U.K. Immigration: ID Check app instead, depending on their nationality and application type.
4. Decision and eVisa: Once approved, the employee receives a decision and can access their digital immigration status online.

Other important considerations for U.K. work visas

Skilled Worker visa holders can usually bring dependents to the U.K. Eligible dependents include a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and children under 18. Children over 18 may qualify if they already have UK permission as a dependent. Restrictions can apply for care workers, senior care workers, and some medium-skilled roles. Each dependent must submit a separate application and pay the required fees, including the IHS. Their visa expires at the same time as the main applicant’s U.K. work visa. 

Manage your U.K. teams with G-P

With G-P EOR, you can move key talent to important markets and boost performance around the world. Let us handle the contracts, visas, and compliance to make every relocation a success. Reduce the hassle of navigating immigration laws and leave the complexities to us. 

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At this moment, G-P does not offer support processing work visas or permits in this particular location.

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