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Read on to find out more about the different routes you can take to employ international workers and the different visas workers can get. 

Visa routes for hiring international workers

If you want to hire an international worker, first check if you need to sponsor them. This means supporting their application and overseeing their employment in the UK, including making sure they are following the immigration rules.   

To be a sponsor, you need official permission from the UK government to hire international workers. This is called a sponsor licence.   

Find out more about sponsoring international workers. 

People with visas who already have the right to work in the UK

There are some non-work visas that let non-UK nationals work in the UK without being sponsored an employer. This means you as the employer do not need to sponsor them or have a sponsorship licence. The following visas do not need the worker to be sponsored by an employer.

Student visas

Student visas are for those who are studying on a course with a licenced student sponsor (gov.uk)

Full time international students can work:

  • With a student visa
  • Up to 20-hours per week during term time
  • Full-time during the holidays

International students can’t normally be self-employed or work as entertainers or professional sportspeople.

Part-time international students don’t have the right to work.

Graduate visas

These are post-study work visas for international graduates(gov.uk) who have finished a course at UK bachelor's degree level or above.

International graduates with a Graduate visa can stay in the UK after their degree, to work or look for work. They don’t need sponsorship.

Graduates with a Graduate visa can work in any role for up to two years.

Graduates with a PhD or doctorate with a Graduate visa can work in the UK for up to three years.

Spouse/partner visas

Spouse/partner visas let the spouse or partner of either British citizens or those with a certain immigration status live in the UK. Find out more about spouse/partner visas (gov.uk)

People with a spouse or partner visa can work with no restrictions for up to two-and-a-half years.

EU Settlement Scheme

The EU Settlement Scheme is a scheme that the Home Office set up in 2019 after Brexit (gov.uk). The scheme is for EU citizens that were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, and their family members, to apply for a UK immigration status. There are two types of statuses you can apply for under the EU Settlement Scheme:

  • Settled status (indefinite leave to remain)
  • Pre-settled status (limited leave to remain)

Settled status is for EU citizens and their family members who have been living in the UK for five or more years.

Pre-settled status is for EU citizens and their family members who have been living in the UK for less than five years.

People with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme can work with no restrictions or sponsorship, for up to five years.

After living in the UK for five years, pre-settled status holders can apply for settled status. If they don’t make an application for settled status, the Home Office will extend their pre-settled status automatically for five years (gov.uk)

Youth Mobility Scheme

The Youth Mobility scheme is a route for people aged 18-35 from certain countries who want to experience living in the UK (gov.uk)

People under the Youth Mobility Scheme can work in the UK for up to two years. They don’t need sponsorship.

They can’t work as sportspeople.

They can work as self-employed if they:

  • Don’t own premises in the UK
  • Don’t use equipment for their business that exceeds £5000
  • Don’t have employees

India Young Professionals Scheme

The India Young Professionals Scheme lets Indian citizens between 18 and 30 years old live and work in the UK for up to two years.

They don’t need sponsorship.

Like the Youth Mobility Scheme, they can’t work as professional sportspeople. 

They can work as self-employed if they:

  • Don’t own premises in the UK
  • Don’t use equipment for their business that exceeds £5000
  • Don’t have employees

This list is not exhaustive. Read the list of visas (gov.uk)

Find out more about the India Young Professionals Scheme (gov.uk)

UK Ancestry visas

Ancestry visas are for people with ancestral links to the UK. Find out more about the UK ancestry visa (gov.uk)

People under the UK Ancestry route can work in the UK with no restrictions for up to five years.

Non-sponsored work visas

There are some work visas that let non-UK nationals come to the UK for work, without having a job offer or sponsorship from an employer. The following work visas do not need the worker to have a job offer or to be sponsored by an employer. 

High Potential Individual visas

The High Potential Individual visa is a route for graduates from the top 50 universities worldwide. This visa allows graduates to work or look for work in the UK.  They don’t need a job offer or sponsor. Find out more about the High Potential Individual visa (gov.uk)

To apply for this visa, they need:  

They need to contact Ecctis before they apply. Ecctis is a company that compares international qualifications to UK standards.   

They will need to check that the person’s international qualification is suitable for this visa. Read about contacting Ecctis (ecctis.com) 

People with a High Potential Individual visa can work in the UK for up to two years. 

People with a PhD or other doctoral qualification can work in the UK for up to three years. 

Global Talent visa

The Global Talent visa is for talented and promising people aged over 18. They might excel in:

  • Humanities
  • Sciences
  • Arts
  • Technology
  • Fashion
  • Film and TV and others

They don’t need a job offer or sponsorship.

They need a specific organisation to approve their application. These organisations are called 'endorsing bodies'.

There’s no need to have an endorsing body if the person has won an eligible prize. These are prizes for achievements in the arts and sciences that qualify people for this visa. Read about eligible prizes (gov.uk)

 Approved endorsing bodies include:

Each endorsing body has its own rules.

People with a Global Talent visa can work in the UK for up to five years.

Find out more about the Global Talent visa (gov.uk)

There are work visas that international workers do need sponsorship for. This means you need to get a sponsor licence to sponsor the following work visas.

Skilled Worker visas

Skilled workers are professionals who have permission to do a skilled job in the UK.

They can work in the UK in a specific job with a specific employer. Their employer is known as the ‘sponsor’.

They can:

  • Work in the UK for up to five years
  • Work up to 20 hours a week in another job. This must be the same type of job as the one they’re being sponsored for.
  • Apply for permission to work more than 20 hours a week in another job

Find out more about the Skilled Worker visa (gov.uk) 

Health and Care Worker visa

Health and social care workers can work in the UK in a specific healthcare job with a specific employer. This employer acts as their sponsor.

They can:

  •  Work in the UK for up to five years
  • Apply for permission to do more paid work for up to 20 hours a week

Find out more about the Health and Care Worker visa (gov.uk)

Minister of Religion (T2) visas

The Minister of Religion (T2) visa is a route for those working within a faith community. They might be a minister of religion, missionary or a member of a religious order.

The worker can carry out religious duties with a specific faith organisation or religious order in the UK.

They can work in the UK for up to five years.

Find out more about the Minister of Religion visa (gov.uk)

International Sportsperson visas

The International Sportsperson visa is a route for international sportspeople to develop their sport in the UK at the highest level.

They can work in the UK between 12 months and three years. They can apply to extend their visa for longer, if eligible.

Find out more about the International Sportsperson visa (gov.uk)

Global Business Mobility visas

The Global Business Mobility visa is a sponsored route that allows overseas businesses to send workers to the UK to work on temporary assignments.

Workers can come to the UK on one of five Global Business Mobility visas:

  • Expansion Worker visas
  • Senior or Specialist Worker visas
  • Graduate Trainee visas
  • Secondment Worker visas
  • Service Supplier visas

People with a Global Business Mobility visa can work in the UK between six months and two years, depending on the route.

Read about Global Business Mobility visas.

Temporary Worker visas

There are some Temporary Work visas that allow temporary work in a specific field. For example, visas for:

  • Creative workers
  • Charity workers
  • Seasonal workers

People with a Temporary Worker visa can work in the UK between six months and two years, depending on the route.

Read about Temporary Worker visas (gov.uk)

There are many visa options for every type of industry. By exploring these visa routes, you can unlock new opportunities for growth and success.

If you need advice about the best routes you can take to hire international workers, you can book a free one-to-one with us.

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