UK Work Visa: Types And Requirements

A UK work visa allows you to live and work in the UK for a set length of time (many of which can be renewed indefinitely). To apply for a UK Work visa, you must meet the eligibility conditions and supply all required documentation.

What Are the Types of Work Visa for the UK?

There are different types of work visas for the UK:

• Skilled Worker Visa
• UK Start-Up Visa
• UK Graduate Work Visa
• UK Domestic Worker Visa
• High Potential Individual Visa
• International Sportsperson Visa
• Minister of Religion Visa
• Youth Mobility Scheme
• Global Business Mobility Worker Visas
• Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
• Expansion Worker Visa
• Secondment Worker Visa
• Service Supplier Visa
• Graduate Trainee Visa
• Temporary Worker Visas
• Creative Worker Visa
• Seasonal Worker Visa
• International Agreement Worker Visa
• Charity Worker Visa
• Government Authorized Exchange Visa

UK Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa enables you to work an eligible job for a UK employer. The eligibility requirements are as follows:

• You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for the visa.
• You must work for a UK employer that the Home Office has approved.
• You must have a certificate of sponsorship given by your employer.
• You must have a job listed in the eligible occupations.
• You must receive the minimum salary for the job you will do.
• Your English level must be at least B1.

UK Start-Up Visa

With a Start-Up visa, as an entrepreneur, you can open a new business in the UK. The eligibility requirements are as follows:

• You must be 18 or older.
• Your business must have been endorsed by an approved UK endorsing body.
• Your English level must be B2.
• You must have at least £945 in your bank account for 90 successive days before you apply.
• You must already have the valid UK leave under either Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur, Tier 2, Tier 4 (General), or as a visitor doing allowed activities as a potential entrepreneur.

UK Graduate Work Visa

A United Kingdom Graduate Work visa allows you to work flexibly, swap professions, and further your career for two years after completing a course in the UK. You may apply for this visa if:

• You are currently in the UK on a student visa.
• You studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other eligible courses for a minimum of 12 months with your student visa.
• Your university or college has told the Home Office that you have successfully completed the course.
  UK Domestic Worker Visa
• The UK Domestic Worker visa allows you to work in the UK for a private household. You can work as a nanny, chauffeur, cleaner, cook, etc. To qualify for the UK Domestic Worker visa,
  you must meet the following requirements:
• You are over the age of 19.
• You live outside the UK.
• You are a domestic worker in a private household.
• You have worked for that employer for at least 12 months.
• You work in the same household as your employer.
• You plan on leaving the UK after six months.
• You don’t need public funds.

High Potential Individual Visa

The High Potential UK work visa allows graduates from top global universities to work in the UK for two years. You do not need a job offer for this form of visa. To apply for this visa, you must meet the following conditions:

• You must be awarded a qualification by an eligible university within five years.
• You must be 18 or older.
• You must have at least an English level B1.
• You must have enough money to support yourself in the UK.
• You must have not been granted permission under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme as a graduate or a high-potential individual.

International Sportsperson Visa

The International Sportsperson UK visa enables sponsored coaches or athletes to work in the UK and advance their sport to the highest level. To qualify for an International Sportsperson visa, you must complete the following requirements:

• You must be a qualified coach or elite sportsperson recognized by the governing body of your sport.
• Your application must be endorsed by the governing body of your sport.
• Your employment will develop your sport in the UK at the highest level.
• You must have a certificate of sponsorship.
• You must provide proof that you have knowledge of the English language.
• You must have enough money to support yourself in the UK.
• You must show your travel history for the last five years.
• You must have a tuberculosis test if you are from a listed country.
• You must have an eligible occupation if you are switching from a student visa.

Minister of Religion Visa

The Minister of Religion UK working visa allows you to go to the UK and work as a minister of religion or religious missionary. To qualify for the Minister of Religion visa, you must complete the following conditions:

• You must be over the age of 18.
• You must obtain a certificate of sponsorship from your UK sponsor.
• You must prove that you know English.
• You must have sufficient financial means to support yourself in the UK.
• You must show your travel history for the last five years.
• You must have a tuberculosis test if you are from a listed country.

Youth Mobility Scheme

The UK Youth Mobility Scheme work visa allows young individuals to work in the UK for up to two years. This program allows you to work, reside, and travel in the UK. You can apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme if you’re between the ages of 18 and 30 and from:

• Australia
• Canada
• Monaco
  New Zealand
• San Marino
• Iceland
• British overseas citizen
• British overseas territories citizen
• British national (overseas)

You must be selected for the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before you can apply for a visa if you are from:

• Hong Kong
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan

You cannot apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme if you have already been in the UK with this visa.

Global Business Mobility Worker Visa

The Global Business Mobility working visa for the UK comprises of five sponsored visa options for international businesses seeking to open a UK branch, transfer employees, or conduct other business activities. There are five Global Business Mobility visa routes:

• Senior or Specialist Worker visa:This visa allows you to come to the UK and work as a senior manager or specialist who is temporarily transferring to a UK branch of their overseas employer.
• Expansion Worker visa:With this visa, you can establish a branch of your overseas business in the UK.
  Secondment Worker visa: With this visa, your employer can transfer you to the UK for temporary business reasons.
• Service Supplier visa: This visa allows you to temporarily come to the UK if the work is under a contract to supply services covered by one of the UK’s international trade agreements.
• Graduate Trainee visa: This visa allows you to work in the UK in a job that is part of a graduate training program for a specialist or managerial role.

Temporary Worker Visa

The Temporary Worker visa for the UK permits you to work in the country for a short time. There are five types of UK Temporary Work Visas:

• Creative Worker visa: This visa allows you to come to the UK to work in the creative sector to make a contribution to the cultural life in the UK.
• Seasonal Worker visa: With this visa, you can work in the horticulture sector of the UK.
  International Agreement Worker visa: This visa is for those who want to enter the UK to do work covered by international law or treaty.
• Charity Worker visa: With this visa, you can do volunteer work in the UK for one year.
• Government Authorized Exchange visa: This visa allows you to come to the UK for an internship, training, a research program, or work experience.

Requirements for the UK Work Visa

You cannot apply for a UK work visa unless you meet the financial requirements and obtain a certificate of sponsorship for the work visas that require one.

The Certificate of Sponsorship

A certificate of sponsorship (CoS) is a document that your company delivers to you. When applying for specific UK work visas, you will need to provide the CoS. The following UK visa routes require a CoS:

• UK Skilled Worker visa
• International Sportsperson visa
• Minister of Religion visa
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa
• Expansion Worker visa
• Service Supplier visa
• Secondment Worker visa
• Creative Worker visa
• Seasonal Worker visa
• International Agreement visa
• Charity Worker visa

Financial Requirement

Most UK work visas require that you have a particular amount of money in your bank account to prove that you can sustain yourself during your initial stay in the UK. Most UK work visas demand a minimum of £1270. However, the Graduate Work visa and the Domestic Worker visa do not have such restrictions, whilst the Youth Mobility scheme demands a minimum of £2,530. You do not need to fulfill this condition if:

You have been in the UK with a valid visa for one year.
Your employer will support you financially for the first month with at least £1,270.

What Are the Fees for the UK Work Visas?

When you apply for a UK visa route, you must pay the following fees:

Can a UK Work Visa Be Extended?

A number of UK work visas may be extended. The duration of the extension is determined by the type of visa. You may extend the following UK work visas:

• UK Skilled Worker visa
• International Sportsperson visa
• Minister of Religion visa
• Secondment Worker visa
• Service Supplier visa
• Creative Worker visa
• International Agreement visa
• Charity Worker visa

Can You Obtain ILR with a UK Work Visa?

You can obtain indefinite leave to remain in the UK with the following UK Work visas:

• Minister of Religion Visa
• International Sportsperson visa
• UK Skilled Worker visa

What Is the Processing Time for a UK Work Visa?

A UK work visa takes three weeks to process if you are outside of the UK and eight weeks if you are within the UK.

Can I Bring My Family Members With a Work Visa to the UK?

You can bring your family to the UK with most of the UK work visas:

• UK Skilled Worker visa
• UK Start-Up visa
• UK Graduate Work visa
• High Potential Individual visa
• International Sportsperson visa
• Minister of Religion visa
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa
• Expansion Worker visa
• Secondment Worker visa
• Service Supplier visa
• Creative Worker visa
• International Agreement visa
• Charity Worker visa