The UK is a developed country, is the world's sixth largest economy by nominal GDP and the seventh largest by purchasing power parity. With that in mind, the UK is an extremely attractive place to have a better quality of life.
This page explains what tier and category of the points-based system you should apply under to come to work in the United Kingdom. It tells you all the categories that have closed and which category of the points-based system you may be able to apply to instead. Some categories are still under review or will not be replaced by the points-based system. You can find information in the other categories section.
Highly skilled workers, investors and entrepreneurs
This section contains details of the routes available to highly skilled workers, investors and entrepreneurs wanting to work in the United Kingdom. You should read the eligibility requirements for your category in full before making an application.
Our service standards set out how quickly we aim to decide applications. The standard for applications made under an employment route, which includes each of the categories below, is that we will decide 75% of applications within four weeks.
On 29 June 2008, several former immigration categories closed. If you currently have permission to stay in the United Kingdom under one of those categories and want to extend your stay you will need to apply under one of the categories below.
* Highly skilled workers
This section explains the requirements for applying under the Tier 1 (General) of the points-based system. You do not need to have a specific job offer but will need to demonstrate you are highly skilled, have money to support yourself and are able to speak English.
* Entrepreneurs
This section explains the requirements for applying under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) of the points-based system. If you want to come to the United Kingdom as an entrepreneur, there are specific arrangements for you.
* Investors
This section explains the requirements for applying under Tier 1 (Investor) of the points-based system. If you want to invest in the United Kingdom you will need to demonstrate that you have the money to do so.
* Post-study workers
This section explains how you can come to the United Kingdom or remain here as a post-study worker (Tier 1 Post-study work) under our points-based system to work in the United Kingdom. If you graduated from a university in the United Kingdom, you can apply to stay in the United Kingdom to work once you have completed your studies.
Schemes that closed on 29 June 2008
The schemes listed below closed on 29 June 2008. It is no longer possible to make an application under these categories. If you currently have permission to stay in the United Kingdom under one of these categories and want to extend your stay you will need to apply under one of the new categories shown above.
If you have been in the United Kingdom for five years or more under one of these categories you may be able to apply for permanent residence (settlement) in the United Kingdom. You should read the pages relating to your current immigration category for more information.
* Highly Skilled Migrant Programme
* Business persons
* Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland
* Innovators
* International Graduates Scheme
* Investors
* Writers, composers and artists
Sponsored skilled workers
This section contains information about the routes available to skilled workers who have a job offer.
If you are a Bulgarian or Romanian national, you may need a work permit.
If you are a national of a country outside the European Economic Area or Switzerland (except Turkey - see below), you must:
* have a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a valid certificate of sponsorship; and
* pass the points-based assessment.
You should read the eligibility requirements for your category in full before applying.
If you are a Turkish citizen and you are already in the United Kingdom with a visa that gives you the right to work, you may have certain rights under the European Community Association Agreement with Turkey. For more information, see the Citizens of Turkey section.
Categories of skilled worker
There are five different categories of skilled worker. These categories were introduced on 27 November 2008, and are listed below.
* Work permits - Bulgarian and Romanian nationals only
* Tier 2 (General)
* Tier 2 (Minister of Religion)
* Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
* Tier 2 (Intra Company Transfer)
Schemes that closed on 26 November 2008
The categories listed below closed on 26 November 2008.
If you are currently in the United Kingdom in the overseas qualified nurses and midwives category, you can apply to extend your stay under the old category.
If you are currently in the United Kingdom in one of the other categories listed below and you want to extend your stay, you can apply under the transitional arrangements.
* Work permit holders - except Bulgarian and Romanian nationals
* Ministers of religion, missionaries and members of religious orders
* Overseas qualified nurses and midwives
* Members of airport-based operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline
Temporary workers
This section contains information about the routes available to temporary workers who want to come to the United Kingdom to do temporary work for a licensed sponsor.
You must have a job offer from a licensed sponsor, a valid certificate of sponsorship and pass the points-based assessment to be eligible to apply. You should read the eligibility requirements for your category in full before applying.
Applying on or after 27 November 2008
If you are applying on or after 27 November 2008 you will need to apply under either the temporary workers category or the youth mobility scheme within the points-based system.
Our service standards set out how quickly we aim to decide applications for living in the UK as a temporary worker. The standard for applications made under an employment route, including each of the categories below, is that we will decide 75% of applications within four weeks.
* Temporary workers - creative and sporting
* Temporary workers - charity workers
* Temporary workers - religious workers
* Temporary workers - government authorised exchange
* Temporary workers - international agreement
* Youth mobility scheme
Schemes that closed on 26 November 2008
The schemes listed below closed on 26 November 2008.
* Au pairs
* Gap year
* Japan: Youth Exchange Scheme
* Visiting religious workers and religious workers in non-pastoral roles
* Overseas government employees
* Voluntary workers
* Working holidaymakers
European Economic Area and Swiss nationals
This section contains for European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss national wanting to work in the United Kingdom.
All EEA and Swiss nationals are free to enter and live in the United Kingdom without the need to apply for our permission. If you are a national of a country that joined the European Union (EU) in 2004 you may need to register with us when you start work. If you are a national of Bulgaria or Romania, you may need to apply for our permission before you start to work.
Applying under European law
All other EEA and Swiss nationals are free to take work in the United Kingdom without needing to apply for our permission. You should see the section for European citizens for more information.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
* Bulgarian and Romanian nationals
If you are a Bulgarian or Romanian national you may need our permission before you take work in the United Kingdom. This section explains who needs to apply for permission and provides details on how to apply.
* Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme
This section explains the requirements for the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme. The scheme allows Bulgarian or Romanian nationals to undertake short-term agricultural work in the United Kingdom.
* Sectors Based Scheme
This section explains the requirements for the Sectors Based Scheme. The scheme allows Bulgarian or Romanian nationals to undertake low-skilled work within the food manufacturing sector.
* Worker Registration Scheme
This section explains what the Worker Registration Scheme is how to register. If you are a citizen of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia, and want to work for an employer in the United Kingdom for more than one month, you will normally have to register under the Worker Registration Scheme.
Other categories
This section contains information about other work-based categories available to people wanting to come to the United Kingdom to work.
We are currently reviewing our immigration system. The categories below are still under review - they will remain open at present but may change in the future.
More details of any changes will be published on this website later in the year.
* Domestic workers
This section explains how you can apply to come to the United Kingdom to work as a domestic worker in a private household.
* Sole representatives of overseas firms
This section explains the process for coming to the United Kingdom as a sole representative of an overseas firm without a work permit.
* Representatives of overseas newspapers, news agencies and broadcasting organisations
This section explains how you can apply to come to or stay in the United Kingdom as a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation.
Other categories - now closed
The following work-based categories have recently been closed. If you want to come to the United Kingdom to work in one of these areas, select the type of work below to find out how you should now apply.
* Clinical attachments and dental observer posts
* Film crew on location
* Overseas qualified doctors taking the PLAB test
* Postgraduate doctors and dentists
Grasp the different requirements for the different tiers of workers and make sure you are most familiar with the one you are applying for.
Source: Homeoffice
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