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Destination UK : Information on Immigration, Work Permit & Visas |
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The United Kingdom offers various work permit and visa options.However if you are hoping for a UK residency,a UK work permit and UK HSMP Visa are two of the work permit categories that count towards a future UK residency application. |
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HSMP (UK) : If you donot have an UK employer to sponsor your work permit, you could consider the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme ( HSMP UK ) because this allows you to enter the UK before finding a job.This is a points based system . One of the biggest advantages offered by the UK HSMP Visa ( Highly Skilled Migrant Programme ) is that it allows you to work in the UK for any employer. On the other hand, with an employer sponsored UK work permit you can only work for the employer that sponsors your work permit in the UK.
More about HSMP (UK)
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Employer Sponsored UK Work Permit : This catagory of UK work permit is applicable to candidate who have a job offer from a UK Employer An employer sponsored UK work permit will allow you to work for that employer for up to 5 years and counts towards futurevUK residency.
With an Employer sponsored UK Work Permit, which after all allows the longest time in the UK (up to 5 years) once you have successfully found work, your new employer must apply for your work permit (and not you as the individual). Although the employer must do this, the work permit actually belongs to you, not your employer, but the work permit is specific to you working only for that employer. If you want to change jobs, a new work permit must be obtained. This transfer process is much easier than your first application as long as your new employer can qualify and especially if the work permit is for a similar job. The sponsoring process is also much easier if your skills or occupation are on the official skills shortage list .
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Working Holidaymaker Visa : Working Holidaymaker Visa is popular with members of Commonwealth Countries . This can be gained for a period of up to two years and allows you to work in the UK during that period. You are not tied to a single sponsoring employer and can also work for yourself as self employed Although it does not count towards UK residency.
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EEA Association Agreement : The EEA Association Agreement exists for Eastern European nationals to come to the UK to start a business without needing to invest large sums of money.This is if, you are from any of the EEA countries and you can combine technical and business experience in a wish to start a business in the UK. |
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The Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (SEGS)*:The scheme allows non-EEA nationals who have graduated from UK higher or further education establishments in certain physical sciences, mathematics and engineering subjects with a 2.2 or higher pass mark to remain in the UK for 12 months after their studies in order to pursue a career without needing to gain an Employer Sponsored Work Permit.
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*Please note that this has been replaced with the International Graduates Scheme (IGS) as of 1 May 2007.
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You may also be able to apply under the sectors based Scheme whereby workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) enter the United Kingdom to take short-term or casual jobs.
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Permit Free Employment |
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Permit free employment refers to certain categories of employment for which a work permit is not required. The areas covered by this leaflet are as follows:
· Minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order
· Sole representative of an overseas firm in the UK
· Representatives of overseas newspapers, news agencies and broadcasting organisations
· Airport-based operational ground staff of overseas-owned airlines
· Postgraduate doctors and dentists (training) including PLAB Tests
· Teachers and language assistants coming to the UK under approved exchange schemes
· Seasonal workers at agricultural camps
· Writers, composers and artists
· Overseas government employees
· Dependants of the above |
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UK Residency (Permanent Residence in the UK ) |
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Permanent residence depends on the status of your stay in the UK to date and consequently the duration you need to have been here to qualify. After one year of permanent residence you can apply for naturalisation . |
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Status ( Type of Visa currently ) |
Qualifying period |
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Ancestry |
5 years |
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Work permit |
5 years |
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Investors |
5 years |
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Writers, composers and artists |
5 years |
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Sole representatives |
5 years |
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To establish in business |
5 years |
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Unmarried partners |
2 years |
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Marriage |
2 years |
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Illegal stay on any basis |
14 years |
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Legal stay on any basis |
10 years |
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UK Naturalisation |
You can apply for naturalisation in the UK if:
you are over 18 years old and can speak English or other British languages like Gaelic
you intend to live in the UK or abroad working for the UK Government
have lived in the UK for 5 years with limited occasions when you have been away(no more than 450 days away in the 5 years and 90 days away in the last year)
are not in breach of any immigration rules
*Naturalisation applications can take up to one and a half years.
Naturalisation by Marriage
You can apply for naturalisation if ,
you are over 18 years old,
can speak English or other British languages like Gaelic ;
you intend to live in the UK or abroad working for the UK Government ;
have lived in the UK for 3 years with limited occasions when you have been away (no more than 270 days away in the 3 years and 90 days away in the last year);
are not in breach of any immigration rules. |
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Disclaimer : The above information has been gathered through research and is aimed towards providing some guideline to candidates on immigration issues.The information should be further verified from official information centers of the respective country for updates and better clarity. |
