Working in the UK: long-term visa options

Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa enables UK employers to sponsor non-UK nationals (including European and Swiss nationals who do not qualify for status under the EU Settlement Scheme) to take up skilled employment in the UK, which cannot be filled from within the resident labour workforce. The UK employer must have a Sponsor Licence in place and have issued the applicant with a Certificate of Sponsorship before a skilled worker visa application can be made.

As this visa category is part of the UK’s points-based immigration system, applicants are required to score a certain number of points to fulfil the eligibility criteria. Points will be awarded if you can demonstrate you have been offered a genuine and eligible role by a UK sponsor; if you can meet the salary requirement for that particular role and if you can meet an English language requirement. Applicants must also meet a maintenance requirement and, if relevant, provide a tuberculosis test certificate.

A skilled worker visa will allow you to work for your UK sponsor, undertake additional part-time employment, voluntary work and study, subject to some restrictions.

Skilled Worker visas are granted for up to a maximum of 5 years. After spending 5 years on the skilled worker visa route, you may be eligible to apply to live in the UK permanently / apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Your partner and / or children can apply for a visa to join you in the UK as your dependant. They will need to meet a relationship and financial requirement. Dependants may work and study in the UK, subject to certain restrictions.

If you are already in the UK on a long-term visa, you may be able to apply to switch into the Skilled Worker visa route.

We can advise on the requirements for a Skilled Worker visa and assist in preparing your application and supporting documents.

Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

The Senior or Specialist Worker visa is part of the recently introduced Global Business Mobility (GBM) route. The GBM senior or specialist worker visa has replaced the old Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa.

The GBM senior or specialist worker visa is specifically for managers or specialist employees looking to transfer to a UK business that is linked to their employer overseas. The UK business must have Sponsor Licence in place and have issued you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before you may apply for this visa.

If you will receive an annual gross salary of less than £73,900, you must have been working for your overseas employer for a cumulative period of at least 12 months before you may apply. If, however, you are a ‘high earner’ (will be receiving an annual gross salary of at least £73,900), there is no minimum amount of time you must have spent working for your overseas employer.

As this visa category is part of the UK’s points-based immigration system, you are required to score a certain number of points to meet the eligibility criteria. Points will be awarded if you have been issued a valid Certificate of Sponsorship by your UK sponsor and if you have been offered a genuine role that meets the minimum skill and salary level for senior or specialist workers. You will also be required to meet a financial / maintenance requirement and, if relevant, provide a tuberculosis test certificate.

The GBM Senior of Specialist Worker visa will allow you to work for your sponsor, undertake voluntary work and study, subject to some restrictions. This visa does not however lead to settlement / Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). If you wish to settle in the UK, you will need to make an application to switch into an alternative visa category, such as the skilled worker route.

The maximum period that you can remain in the UK on a Senior or Specialist Worker visa will depend upon your gross annual salary: if you will receive a salary of less than £73,900, you may spend up to 5 years in any 6-year period. If you will receive a salary of £73,900 or more, you may stay for up to 9 years in any 10-year period.

Your partner and / or children may apply to join you in UK as dependants. They will need to meet a relationship and financial requirement. Generally, dependants may work and study in the UK, subject to certain restrictions.

Global Talent Visa

The Global Talent visa provides a route for talented and promising individuals aged 18 or over in the fields of science, technology, engineering, medicine, humanities, the arts and culture, to live and work in the UK.

To be eligible to apply for a Global Talent visa, you must be a recognised leader in your respective field or be able to show you have the potential to become a leader in your field. Before you can apply for a Global Talent visa, you must usually apply for an endorsement from the relevant expert body for your field. Applicants who have been awarded a qualifying prestigious award, as defined by the Immigration Rules, may, however, bypass the endorsement stage and proceed to apply for a Global Talent visa straight away.

With very limited exceptions, a Global Talent visa will allow you to work in almost any type of employment or self-employment in the UK.

If you are already in the UK on a long-term visa, you may be eligible to switch into the Global Talent visa route.

The Global Talent visa can be extended and does lead to settlement / Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 3 or 5 years’ continuous residence in the UK.

We can advise you of the requirements of a Global Talent visa and assist you in preparing your visa application.

Scale-up Visa

The Scale-up visa is for talented individuals who have the skills to enable a fast-growing UK business (a scale-up business) to continue growing.

A Scale-up visa allows you to come to the UK to do an eligible job for a UK scale-up business. The UK business must hold a valid Sponsor Licence and must have issued you with a certificate of sponsorship before you may first apply. You must have a genuine job offer from the UK business which is confirmed to last at least 6 months and you must be paid a salary that meets or exceeds the minimum set for that eligible role. You will also need to meet an English language requirement, a maintenance requirement and, if relevant, provide a Tuberculosis test certificate.

A Scale-up visa is initially granted for two years and may be extended for a further three years. After spending 5 years in the UK on this route or in combination with other eligible routes, you may apply for settlement /

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

The Scale-up visa has an initial sponsored stage and a latter unsponsored stage:

during the first 6 months of the initial two year visa, you will need to be sponsored by and work for the UK scale-up business. After this time, your sponsorship with the UK scale-up business will automatically terminate, but you may continue working for them or find alternative employment if you wish;

after completing two years on this visa, you may then apply to extend your Scale-up visa for a further three years. You will not need to be sponsored by a UK employer (be tied to any specific UK employer), providing your previous UK PAYE earnings were at least £33,000 per annum during at least 50% of the time you spent on your initial Scale-up visa.

Your partner and / or children may apply to join you in UK as dependants.

They will need to meet a relationship and financial requirement. Generally, dependants may work and study in the UK, subject to certain restrictions.

We can advise you of the requirements of a Scale-up visa and assist you in preparing your visa application.