UK Work Visa
Discover a wealth of opportunities and embark on an exciting journey to a new horizon in the United Kingdom. As a premier destination for enriching work experiences abroad, the UK beckons with a promising and fulfilling life.
Its diverse range of Work Visa categories is tailored to entice professionals and skilled individuals to contribute significantly to the nation’s thriving economy. Moreover, eligible applicants may find a pathway to permanent residency and savor the vibrant European lifestyle.
The primary categories for United Kingdom Work Visas is as follows:
The UK Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa is tailor-made for ambitious individuals seeking to invest in the United Kingdom and take charge of a new business venture or acquire an existing one. By actively engaging in the operation of one or more businesses in the UK, applicants can seize this opportunity to make a significant impact.
This visa category empowers individuals to invest up to £200,000 into a UK-based business, paving the way towards UK Permanent Residency—a gateway to an exceptional quality of life in the country. As a part of the points-based system, Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa caters to non-European migrants, opening doors to a world of possibilities in the United Kingdom.
Eligibility
To achieve a successful Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) application, you must amass a total of 95 points and fulfill all other stipulated Immigration Rules.
To qualify for the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa, you should:
- Have access to £200,000 for investment.
- Accumulate a total of 95 points.
- Take on the role of a director in a UK business.
- Show the ability to financially support yourself.
- Meet the English language proficiency requirements.
If you desire to enter the UK under the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa or switch from another immigration category to Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), please carefully review the following guidelines on scoring points.
Access to Funds:
- Gain 25 points if you have access to a minimum of £200,000.
- Alternatively, earn 25 points if you secure funding from one or more registered venture capital firms regulated by the Financial Services Authority, one or more UK entrepreneurial seed funding competitions listed as endorsed on the UK Trade and Investment website, or one or more UK government departments that have made the funds available for establishing or expanding a UK business.
- Additional 25 points can be obtained if these funds are held in one or more regulated financial institutions.
- Another 25 points can be scored if the funds are disposable (free to spend) in the UK.
English Language Ability:
Achieve 10 points if you can demonstrate English proficiency to the required standard.
Maintenance Ability:
Score 10 points if you can exhibit sufficient funds to support yourself while in the United Kingdom.
It is essential to submit all the necessary documents with your application and be prepared to fulfill health and character requirements specific to this visa category.
Tier 1 Visa privileges
Through the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa, you have the opportunity to:
- Establish your own business in the UK.
- Pursue the possibility of applying for permanent residency within 5 years.
- Enjoy access to the education and healthcare system in the UK.
- Bring your family or dependents to join you in the UK.
- Reside and work freely anywhere within the United Kingdom.
Government Inside the UK (FLR) | Outside the UK (Entry Clearance) | Inside the UK (FLR) |
|---|---|---|
Government Main Applicant fee | £800 | £1000 |
Govt. Partner Application Fee | £ 800 | £500 / 1000 |
Govt. Application Fee (Child) | £800 | £500 / 1000 |
| ||
Medical Examination: | The cost of the medical test and examination may vary depending on the specific requirements. | This fee is payable for the application and must be paid directly to the doctor conducting your examination. |
Character Clearance (Police Check) | The fee for obtaining character clearance through a police check varies. | Fee is payable to the police authorities in the countries where you have lived for 12 months or more |
Certification /Translation of documents Variable Payable to the Translator | Varies | Certification / Translation of documents Variable Payable to the Translator |
Visa Online Express Processing fee | Total |
|---|---|
UK Tier 1 Visa (Entrepreneur) | $4,800 |
- Visa Application: Our team of immigration specialists will handle your visa application process from start to finish, ensuring that all the necessary forms are completed and submitted to the authorities to ensure best possible results.
- International SIM Card: We offer you an International SIM Card, ensuring you stay connected with your loved ones while abroad at a more affordable cost.
- Employment Registration Number: We assist you in obtaining your employment registration number, which allows you to work overseas with ease.
The UK Tier 1 (Investor) visa caters to individuals from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland, enabling them to make significant financial investments in the United Kingdom. This visa is initially valid for up to 3 years and 4 months, with the option to apply for a 2-year extension if desired.
If you aspire to invest £2,000,000 or more in the UK and are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, you can apply for the Tier 1 (Investor) visa. Applicants must be 18 years or older to be eligible for this visa.
Students who have financial sponsorship are also eligible for the Tier 1 (Investor) visa.
Moreover, if you are already in the UK and fall into one of the following categories, you can also apply for the Tier 1 (Investor) visa:
- Tier 4 (General) visa holder
- Student nurse
- Studying, writing up a thesis, or re-sitting an exam
- Postgraduate doctor or dentist
- Overseas qualified nurse or midwife
- Student sabbatical officer
For a successful Tier 1 (Investor) application, you must score a total of 75 points and fulfill all other requirements of the Immigration Rules. You can achieve these points in the following ways:
If you possess £1,000,000 or more of your own money for investment in the UK. This money must meet the following conditions:
- It should be held in a regulated financial institution.
- It must be disposable in the UK.
- It should amount to £1,000,000 or more in value, held either overseas or in the UK at the time of your application. The money’s value will be calculated according to GBP, and it should amount to the equivalent value needed in GBP.
If you jointly own the money with your partner, you may rely on it for the application. In this case, you must have the unrestricted right to transfer and dispose of the money and obtain your partner’s permission to have control of this money in the UK.
If you have personal assets worth £2,000,000 and a £1,000,000 loan for investment in the UK, the net value of your personal assets must be at least £2,000,000 after considering any liabilities you have. Assets held by your partner, either jointly or in their name, can be taken into account when calculating your net worth.
If you plan to borrow all of your £1,000,000 investment money, it must be held in a regulated financial institution and disposable in the UK. The loan should be obtained from an ‘authorised financial institution’ regulated by the Financial Services Authority. You cannot combine personal and borrowed money to meet the total £1,000,000 investment required for scoring 75 points.
Unlike most other applicants under the points-based system, you do not need to demonstrate English language ability or show enough money to support yourself.
For a successful application, ensure that you submit all the necessary documents, and be prepared to meet health and character requirements for this visa category.
Tier 1 Visa privileges
The UK Tier 1 (Investor) visa offers you the following benefits:
- Make a substantial investment of £2,000,000 in the United Kingdom.
- Stay in the UK for a duration of 3 years and 4 months.
- Have the flexibility to work or study in the United Kingdom.
- Apply for settlement (permanent residency) after 2 years if you invest £10 million.
- Apply for settlement (permanent residency) after 3 years if you invest £5 million.
Moreover, with this visa, you can bring your family members along when you move to the United Kingdom. Your eligible family members, including your husband, wife, partner, and children under 18, can accompany you provided they have a visa from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
Dependents / Family Members
The Tier 1 (Investor) visa extends the privilege of bringing your family members or dependents along when relocating to the United Kingdom, as long as they hold a visa from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. Eligible family members include:
- Your husband, wife, or partner.
- Your children under the age of 18.
Government Inside the UK (FLR) | Outside the UK (Entry Clearance) | Inside the UK (FLR) |
|---|---|---|
Government Main Applicant fee | £800 | £1000 |
Govt. Partner Application Fee | £ 800 | £ 500-1000 |
Govt. Application Fee (Child) | £800 | £500/1000 |
| ||
Medical Examination: | The cost of the medical test and examination may vary depending on the specific requirements. | This fee is payable for the application and must be paid directly to the doctor conducting your examination. |
Character Clearance (Police Check) | The fee for obtaining character clearance through a police check varies. | Fee is payable to the police authorities in the countries where you have lived for 12 months or more |
Certification /Translation of documents Variable Payable to the Translator | Varies | Certification /Translation of documents Variable Payable to the Translator |
Visa Online Express Processing fee | Total |
|---|---|
Tier1 Visa – Investor | $6,050 |
- Visa Application: Our team of immigration specialists will handle your visa application process from start to finish, ensuring that all the necessary forms are completed and submitted to the authorities to ensure best possible results.
- International SIM Card: We offer you an International SIM Card, ensuring you stay connected with your loved ones while abroad at a more affordable cost.
- Employment Registration Number: We assist you in obtaining your employment registration number, which allows you to work overseas with ease.
The Tier 2 (General) Visa is designed for non-European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland citizens who have received a job offer for a skilled position in the United Kingdom. To be eligible for this visa, applicants must possess a valid certificate of sponsorship from a sponsoring organization.
It is crucial to ensure that the job you’ll be undertaking in the UK is relevant to the sponsoring organization’s activities before applying for the Tier 2 (General) Visa.
Eligibility
To qualify for a Tier 2 (General) category visa, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have a job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed sponsor in the United Kingdom.
- Meet the required salary criteria.
- Satisfy the English language requirement.
- Demonstrate that you possess at least £945 in funds to support yourself (unless your sponsor is ‘A-rated’).
Scoring system for eligibility
Salary:
- If your salary exceeds GBP 20,000, you earn 20 points. Your certificate of sponsorship will verify your salary, and no additional evidence is required.
English Language Ability:
- If you can speak English to the required standard, you score 10 points.
Maintenance Ability:
- To earn 10 points, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while in the UK. The amount required for Tier 2 (General) is GBP 800, which should be at least 90 days old.
Once you are confident that you have accumulated enough points to apply under this category, make sure to submit all necessary documents along with your application, and be prepared to meet other immigration regulations as required.
Tier 2 Visa privileges
Once you obtain permission to enter the UK under the Tier 2 (General) Visa category, you will have the following privileges:
- Stay in the UK for a duration of 3 years and 1 month.
- Be allowed to work for your sponsoring organization.
- Pursue a second job within the same sector and at the same level as your primary job for a maximum of 20 hours per week.
- Engage in work in a field where there is a shortage of workers in the UK, for up to 20 hours per week.
- Participate in voluntary work.
- Pursue studies as long as they do not interfere with the job for which you are sponsored.
- Travel abroad and return to the UK without restrictions.
- Have the option to bring your family members along with you to the UK.
Government Inside the UK (FLR) | Outside the UK (Entry Clearance) | Inside the UK (FLR) |
|---|---|---|
Government Main Applicant fee | £800 | £1000 |
Govt. Partner Application Fee | £ 800 | £ 500- 1000 |
Govt. Application Fee (Child) | £800 | £500/ 1000 |
| ||
Medical Examination: | The cost of the medical test and examination may vary depending on the specific requirements. | This fee is payable for the application and must be paid directly to the doctor conducting your examination. |
Character Clearance (Police Check) | The fee for obtaining character clearance through a police check varies. | Fee is payable to the police authorities in the countries where you have lived for 12 months or more |
Certification/ Translation of documents Variable Payable to the Translator | Varies | Certification /Translation of documents Variable Payable to the Translator |
Visa Online Express Processing fee | Total |
|---|---|
Tier2 Visa – General | $2,769 |
- Visa Application: Our team of immigration specialists will handle your visa application process from start to finish, ensuring that all the necessary forms are completed and submitted to the authorities to ensure best possible results.
- International SIM Card: We offer you an International SIM Card, ensuring you stay connected with your loved ones while abroad at a more affordable cost.
- Employment Registration Number: We assist you in obtaining your employment registration number, which allows you to work overseas with ease.
The Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa enables non-European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland residents to assume a position offered by their international employer at their UK branch, whether for an extended period or frequent short visits. This visa has four sub-categories:
Long-term staff:
This category permits experienced and skilled employees to relocate to the UK branch of their organization for a duration exceeding 12 months, filling a role that cannot be filled by a new hire from the local workforce.
Short-term staff:
Established and skilled employees can use this category to be transferred to the UK branch for a period of 12 months or less, to fulfill a position that cannot be filled by a new recruit from the local workforce.
Graduate trainee:
Recent graduates can avail this visa to be transferred to a UK branch of the same organization, participating in a structured graduate training program that outlines clear progress towards a managerial or specialist role.
Skills transfer:
The Skills Transfer category allows the transfer of new graduate employees to a UK branch of the same organization, where they can learn the skills and knowledge required for their role overseas or share their specialist skills and knowledge with the UK workforce.
Eligibility
To qualify for a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa, the following prerequisites must be met:
- The applicant must have a certificate of sponsorship reference number.
- The position the employer is seeking to fill must meet at least National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 3 or above.
- If the candidate belongs to a specific profession, they may need to be registered with the appropriate governing body. For example, doctors must be registered with the General Medical Council.
The candidate should meet certain education criteria:
- Possess a relevant degree.
- Hold a non-relevant degree and have at least one year of relevant experience.
- Have no degree but possess at least three years of relevant experience.
The employee for whom the ICT visa is being sought must have been employed by the overseas company for at least six months prior to the application, and documentary evidence of this employment relationship must be provided.
Spouses or unmarried partners
Spouses or unmarried partners can join the ICT visa holder on a dependency visa if they intend to cohabit with the visa holder. Unmarried partners must demonstrate that the relationship has been in existence for at least two years before applying for the ICT visa.
It’s important to note that spouse immigration under the Tier 2 ICT visa is granted on a temporary basis and does not lead to settled status, unlike other types of visas such as marriage or De Facto visas.
Tier 2 Visa privileges
The Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa grants you the following privileges:
- The ability to work for your sponsoring company.
- The option to engage in voluntary work.
- The opportunity to pursue studies in the UK.
- The freedom to travel outside the UK and return.
- The right to bring your family members with you.
Government Inside the UK (FLR) | Outside the UK (Entry Clearance) | Inside the UK (FLR) |
|---|---|---|
Government Main Applicant fee | £400 | £780 |
Govt. Partner Application Fee | £ 400 | £ 360- 870 |
Govt. Application Fee (Child) | £800 | £360/ 870 |
| ||
Medical Examination: | The cost of the medical test and examination may vary depending on the specific requirements. | This fee is payable for the application and must be paid directly to the doctor conducting your examination. |
Character Clearance (Police Check) | The fee for obtaining character clearance through a police check varies. | Fee is payable to the police authorities in the countries where you have lived for 12 months or more |
Certification / Translation of documents Variable Payable to the Translator | Varies | Certification/Translation of documents Variable Payable to the Translator |
Visa Online Express Processing fee | Total |
|---|---|
Tier2 Visa – Intra company transfer | $3,050 |
- Visa Application: Our team of immigration specialists will handle your visa application process from start to finish, ensuring that all the necessary forms are completed and submitted to the authorities to ensure best possible results.
- International SIM Card: We offer you an International SIM Card, ensuring you stay connected with your loved ones while abroad at a more affordable cost.
- Employment Registration Number: We assist you in obtaining your employment registration number, which allows you to work overseas with ease.
If you decide to engage Visa Online Express services, a highly qualified Registered Migration Agent will carefully review your profile to determine your eligibility for the UK Work Visas.
By choosing Visa Online Express, you will benefit from the best United Kingdom visa advice and comprehensive support throughout your visa application process, as we have a team of highly experienced United Kingdom visa and immigration experts at your disposal.
