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Why Work in UK?
- The average annual salary is £35,000 TO £45,000 in the UK.
- Average working hours is 36.6 per week
- Paid leaves per year: 28 days
- Eased policies for Skilled Workers
About The UK
United Kingdom is an island country, located in the North-West coast of Europe. The capital of the UK is London, which is one of the leading financial, commercial, and cultural hubs in the world. There are approximately 831,000 work opportunities available in the UK with an average annual salary starting from 35,000 Euros.
International professionals can work in the UK by having UK work visa. Eligible professionals can avail of the Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK.
Some interesting features about the UK- the country:
- The UK, in fact, is a collection of four countries, namely England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
- England is the largest country in the UK.
- London’s Heathrow is the biggest airport on the European continent.
- London, which is the capital of the UK, is its biggest city.
- The world’s largest inhabited castle is the Windsor Castle which is in the UK.
- Stonehenge, one of the oldest monuments on Planet Earth, is located in the UK.
- The UK has a cosmopolitan culture with a diverse population of people from all over the world congregating.
- The UK houses over 130 universities, with Cambridge and Oxford being the most prestigious ones.
- The currency of the UK, the Pound Sterling, is one of the strongest currencies in the world.
- After Germany and France, the United Kingdom is Europe’s third-largest economy.
- The biggest companies in the UK are AstraZeneca, British Petroleum, HSBC, and Unilever.
Also Read…
The UK Work Visa
The UK work visa, a visa pathway, attracts skilled workers globally, considering the UK is one of the most robust economies even after it exited from the EU and withstood the COVID-19 pandemic.
Know the features, processes, and methods relevant to work in the UK. Understand what it takes to secure a work visa and what possibilities exist for you to gain permanent residency in the UK. Here, we will explore more about the UK work visa, and the pathways that allow you to get the opportunity of working in the UK.
Also Read…
Most In Demand Occupations in the UK
Benefits of Working in the UK
It is a major decision to live in the UK and relocate to it. Before you apply for a work visa in the UK, know the reasons why a UK work visa is valuable.
- Access to NHS (National Health Scheme) - The UK’s high-standard healthcare system provides you with free or highly subsidized medication.
- Free education in schools - All legal residents in the UK can send their children to a public school which offers free education.
- Diversity in The UK – The UK has a multicultural society comprising of immigrants from various ethnicities, countries, faith, and languages. International professionals coming to welcome here find warmth and familiarity.
- Annual Leave - All UK full-time workers are eligible for an annual leave of 28 days per year. The country makes sure that all employees’ interests are protected.
- Easy access - It’s convenient to travel to the rest of Europe from the UK, particularly with budget airlines to take you around.
Also Read…
All you need to know about an immigrant's life in the UK
What Are the Different Types of Work Visas Available for the UK?
The UK offers several long-term visas and short-term visas for eligible international professionals.
Long-Term UK Work Visas
Skilled Worker Visa
A Skilled Worker visa is for people intending to move to the UK and working in a job considered eligible by an approved employer there. This visa is a substitute for the earlier Tier 2 (General) Work Visa.
To Gain Eligibility for this Work Visa, you are required to:
- Work for a UK-based employer who receives approval from the UK Home Office.
- Get from your UK employer a sponsorship certificate with details about the job role that you have been offered
- Be working in a job that’s on the eligible occupations list
- Be earning a minimum salary appropriate to the type of work you are performing
- Be able to speak, read, write, and understand English on the CEFR scale at a B1 level
The visa is valid for 5 years, after which it can be extended. You can even apply to settle permanently in the UK.
Health and Care Worker Visa
With this visa, medical professionals can enter and stay in the UK and work in occupations deemed eligible by the NHS or by being a supplier for it, or in adult social care.
To Gain Eligibility for this Work Visa, you need to:
- Be a trained nurse, health professional, adult social care professional, or doctor
- Work for a UK-based employer that has got approval from the Home Office
- Work in a health or a social care job is counted by the UK government as eligible
- Have a certificate of sponsorship from your UK employer with the job profile you have in the UK
- Be paid a minimum salary appropriate to the kind of work you are doing
You need to get a valid job offer before you apply for the visa. The visa is valid for 5 years, after which you can extend it. You may even apply to settle permanently in the UK.
Intra-Company Visas
This work visa is convenient if you are planning to stay in the UK and are employed in a job your employer deems eligible. This visa could be either of the two given below:
- Intra-company Transfer visa –It is for those individuals who arrive in the UK after being transferred to a role by their employers.
- Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa –It’s for those who enter the UK intending to take part in a graduate training program for a role as a specialist or manager.
To Gain Eligibility for this visa category, you have to:
- Be a company’s existing employee that’s got approval as a sponsor from the Home Office
- Have from your employer a sponsorship certificate with the job profile offered to you in the UK
- Be working in a job that is on the eligible occupations list
- Get a minimum salary of £41,500 for an Intra-company Transfer visa or a minimum of £23,000 if it is an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
The Shortest Duration of the Intra-Company Transfer Visa is as Follows:
- Five years
- 14 days more than the time specified on your sponsorship certificate
- the period of time that allows you the maximum total stay
The Shortest Duration of an Intra-Company Graduate Trainee Visa is as Follows:
- 12 months
- 14 days more than the time specified on your sponsorship certificate
- the time you are allowed the maximum total stay
- Short-Term UK Work Visas
Short Term UK Work Visas
Temporary Work – Charity Worker Visa
You are eligible for this visa if you intend to do unpaid work of a voluntary nature for a charitable trust in the UK.
Temporary Work – Creative Worker Visa
This visa is given to you if you have a job offer as a creative worker in the UK.
Temporary Work – Government Authorized Exchange Visa
The eligibility requirements of a Temporary Work – Government Authorized Exchange Visa are:
- You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship
- The role you are planning to undertake meets the requirements of an approved Government Authorized Exchange scheme;
- The role does not fill a vacancy in the UK workforce;
- The role appears in Table 1 or Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations
- You have adequate funds to support yourself in the UK;
- Duly filled application form
- You have provided a valid TB certificate
Temporary Work – International Agreement Visa
You are qualified to apply for this work visa if you are available for a contract to work in a job-protected by international law/accord while staying in the UK. For example:
- Employed in a diplomatic household as a private servant
- Employed for an overseas government
- Performing a service in a contract as an independent professional or a service supplier
Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
The eligibility requirements for Youth Mobility Scheme Visa are:
- Aged in the range of 18 to 30
- Intending to stay and work in the UK for up to two years
- A native of specific countries, including Australia, or have a specific type of British nationality fulfill other criteria
This visa allows you to stay and work in the UK for a period not exceeding 24 months.
Graduate Visa
This visa allows you to stay and work in the UK for a minimum of two years after successfully concluding a course in the country. The eligibility requirements for the Graduate visa are:
You need to be in the UK to apply for this work visa. Apart from that, it would help if you met the following conditions:
- You are the current holder of a student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa
- you have obtained a bachelor’s/master’s/other qualified degrees from the UK for a time equivalent to your student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
- The provider of your education (university/college) has confirmed that you have successfully completed your course of study
The visa is eligible for two years. It will be valid for three years if you have a Ph.D. or any other doctoral qualifications. These visas are not extensible. To increase your stay, you need to switch to another visa type.
UK work visa vs. UK work permit
The UK work visa is a legal document that facilitates you to enter the UK for work. On the other hand, a UK work permit is a valid document that allows you to legally work in the country. The major differences between the UK Work visa and the UK Work permit are given in the table below:
|
Difference between UK Work Visa and UK Work Permit |
|
|
UK Work Visa |
UK Work Permit |
|
Permission to enter, leave, or travel inside the UK for different reasons such as tourism, training, or work for short periods. |
Authorization to legally work inside a country for longer periods of time. |
|
A document or stamp on the passport. |
A card or a document. |
|
The application has to be made before entering the country. |
The applications can be made while already in the country. |
|
It can be issued by an embassy or consulate. |
It is issued by the government of the country or the immigration service. |
UK Work Permit Visa Requirements
When you apply for the UK work permit, you are required to provide:
- Your certificate of sponsorship reference number given to you by your employer
- Proof of proficiency in English
- A valid passport as proof of your identity and nationality
- Your job title and annual salary.
- The occupation code of your job
UK Work Visa Cost
The UK Work Visa cost for Indians range from £610 to £1408, depending on the visa type and duration.
UK Work Permit Visa Processing time
The UK work visa processing for Indian applicants is 3 weeks.
How to apply for a UK work visa from India?
The procedure to apply for the UK Work visa is as follows:
- Determine your visa category - It is necessary to determine the suitable visa category depending on your employment circumstances. The most common categories for Indian applicants are Tier 2 (General) Visa, Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa, and Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) Visa.
- Check the eligibility requirements - Review the eligibility criteria for the selected visa category to make sure that you meet all the eligibility requirements.
- Find a sponsor – If applying for the Tier 2 (General) Visa, you are required to have a job offer from the designated UK employer. The employer will be your sponsor throughout the visa application process.
- Arrange the required documents – Arrange the necessary documents, such as valid passport, certificate of sponsorship (for Tier 2 Visa), proof of proficiency in English language, educational qualifications, job offer letter, bank statements for finances, and tuberculosis test results.
- Pay the required visa fees - Pay the required visa fees as specified depending on the visa category and duration of stay.
- Submit biometric information – Submit your biometric information with a designated visa application centre. You will have to submit your fingerprints and photograph.
- Submit the relevant documents - Submit the relevant documents, such as your passport, application form, and supporting evidence.
- Attend the interview - In some cases, an interview may be required, and you will be notified accordingly.
- Wait for the processing of the application – The processing of the UK work visa processing time can vary.
- Collect decision and passport - After the decision on your visa application has been made, you’ll be notified.
- Travel to the UK – With a valid UK work visa, you can migrate to the UK.
Other Type Work Visa
Skilled Shortage Occupation list Visa
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