The different professional visas in the United Kingdom

The UK offers a variety of work visas, with two of the most commonly sought-after options being the Skilled Worker visa and the Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility). The latter enables you to work at a UK branch of your current employer, making it a convenient choice for international professionals.

Good to know:

The Skilled Worker visa was previously known as the Tier 2 (General) Visa, and the Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) used to be known as the Intra-Company Transfer visa.

Skilled Worker Visa in the UK

Whether you are an EU citizen or outside the EU, you will need a visa to work in the UK. The Skilled Worker visa is the most common work visa in the UK, even though the requirements to obtain it are high and stringent. To be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa, you must have a confirmed job offer from a Home Office-approved employer, who will provide you with a “certificate of sponsorship” with information about your role. You will also have to prove that your English language skills are at a good level.

Attention:

It's important to note that not every job qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa. To determine if your occupation is eligible, you can use the Occupation Coding Tool available on the Office for National Statistics website. Your employer should be able to provide you with the specific four-digit occupation code beforehand for this purpose.

The Skilled Worker visa lasts for up to five years. You can apply for an extension multiple times, even with a different employer or position, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. However, after the first five years, you can apply for permanent residency in the UK (the indefinite leave to remain), gaining more rights, such as the right to study and applying for benefits. If you want to bring your partner and children to the UK, you can apply for a dependent's visa, which will expire on the same date as yours.

Important:

The minimum salary requirement for a Skilled Worker visa is £26,200 per year, £10.75 per hour, or the “going rate” for the type of work you will be doing.

Applying for a Skilled Worker visa will range between £625 to £1,423, depending on your circumstances. You must also pay £624 per year for your NHS Health Surcharge.

Useful links:

Skilled Worker visa update

Innovator Founder Visa in the UK

Attention:

The Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa no longer exists. Individuals who want to start or run a business in the UK should apply for an Innovator Founder visa.

Read also Entrepreneur visas in the UK

Apply for an Innovator Founder visa if you want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK or have been endorsed by an approved body. You must also show that your business is innovative, has growth potential, and is scalable. The Innovator visa allows you to stay in the UK for three years, but it's possible to apply for extensions or consider the settlement route after the first three years. If you are applying from outside the UK, your application fee will cost £1,036, with an additional £624 for the NHS Healthcare Surcharge. Your knowledge of English will also be assessed when applying for the Innovator Founder visa.

Important:

You will be required to schedule meetings with your endorsing body at the 12-month and 24-month marks to demonstrate the ongoing progress of your business.

Attention:

With an Innovator Founder visa, you cannot apply for most benefits or the State Pension.

Useful links:

Endorsing bodies

Senior or Specialist Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility) in the UK

You will apply for a Senior or Specialist worker visa when your employer offers you a position at their UK branch. However, the employer's organisation must be approved by the Home Office as a sponsor to issue you the “certificate of sponsorship”. Also, your job title must be on the list of eligible occupations. To qualify for this visa, you must earn at least £45,800 per year. For the Senior and Specialist Worker visa, the maximum duration of stay depends on your annual income. If you earn less than £73,900 a year, you can stay for up to 5 years within any 6-year period, and if your annual income is £73,900 or more, you can stay for a maximum of 9 years within any 10-year period.

Good to know:

With an intra-company visa, you can study in the UK and bring your dependents.

Important:

You cannot have a second job or apply to settle permanently under the Senior or Specialist worker visa.

Attention:

There are cases in which you might be asked to show that you have worked for your employer outside the UK for at least twelve months. This usually applies to those earning less than £73,900.

Graduate Trainee Visa (Global Business Mobility) in the UK

With this visa, you must be part of a Graduate program either for a managerial or specialist role. It is very important for you to have been with your employer for at least three months to be eligible for this visa. A minimum salary of £24,220 per year is required under this specific visa. An application fee of £249 will apply with the additional healthcare surcharge.

Good to know:

The Graduate Trainee visa allows you to study while you are in the UK and undertake voluntary work.

Important:

You cannot apply for indefinite leave to remain or do a second job under the Graduate Trainee visa.

Health and Care Worker Visa in the UK

With a Health and Care Worker visa, you can practice your medical profession in the UK, either in the NHS, an NHS supplier, or adult social care. To qualify for this visa, you must be a doctor, nurse, health professional, or adult social care professional and work for a Home Office-approved employer qualified to issue a “‘certificate of sponsorship”. The validity of the Health and Care Worker visa is five years maximum, but it can be extended or updated if you change jobs or employers. The standard application fee depends on whether you'll be in the UK for up to 3 years or more. It costs £247 per person for up to 3 years and £479 per person for longer than 3 years.

Important:

The Health and Care Worker visa can be extended or updated as often as possible. However, after the first five years, you can apply to settle permanently in the UK (i.e., “indefinite leave to remain”).

Good to know:

Under the Health and Care worker visa, you can volunteer, study in the UK, and bring your dependents. You may also be eligible to take on additional work in some circumstances.