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The majority of vacancies featured on reed.co.uk are located within in the UK. This page gives information for those seeking the right to work in the UK.
There are strict rules governing who may enter the UK and who may work here. Some of the most common methods of securing the right to work in the UK are listed below. Follow the links to find out more from our preferred partner for immigration, work permit and visa advice and assistance, UKVisaServices.
UK Visa Services has extensive experience of advising on and preparing UK working visa applications of all kinds. They can provide detailed and realistic advice to aspiring applicants and they prepare visa applications to a high professional standard.
You can also search for jobs worldwide on reed.co.uk using our International jobs page.
Working Visas for the UK
People from outside the EEA countries who wish to work in the UK must obtain appropriate immigration leave in order to do so. There are different types of immigration leave that allow someone to work in the UK. The different types of leave are formed on different bases and have different conditions attached to them. The most important types of working visa are:
These visas are all part of the UK Border Agency "points-based system" of immigration control. To qualify for any of these visas applicants have to score sufficient points in various categories.
Tier 1 General
An applicant can score points for academic qualifications, previous earnings, age, and previous UK experience.
As the rules stand at the moment, to be able to qualify for this visa an applicant must hold a degree that is at least at the level of a UK Bachelor's degree. This could be a UK degree or a foreign degree that is deemed to be at least at the level of a UK Bachelor's degree. If an applicant does not hold such a degree they will not be able to make a successful application.
Generally speaking, points can be claimed for previous earnings (in any country) in the previous 15-month period. Applicants aged under 40 can score points for age, and additional points for previous UK experience can be scored by an applicant who is claiming points for previous UK study or previous UK earnings. A successful applicant must score sufficient total points in these four categories.
Applicants must also show that they hold sufficient funds in the bank to support themselves and any dependants and they must also show that their English language skills are sufficiently good. Very importantly, someone who holds Tier 1 General leave may work for any UK employer, or change employers, without having to obtain any additional permission from the UK Border Agency.
Tier 1 General leave is initially granted for a period of three years, at the end of which period an extension of a further two years may be applied for. Tier 1 General leave holders may eventually be illegible to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
Tier 2
Tier 2 leave is for people who have been offered a skilled job by a UK employer. The Tier 2 scheme is divided into "Tier 2 General" and "Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer". Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer is for people who work in a foreign branch of an organisation which also has a branch in the UK, and where the organisation wishes to transfer the person to work in the UK branch. Tier 2 General is for people who are intending to work for a UK employer but are not applying to make such a transfer.
Applicants acquire points for academic qualifications, prospective earnings, English language skills, and for holding sufficient funds in the bank. If the position is deemed by the UK Border Agency to be a "shortage occupation" then this will also score points. In many cases the position will need to be appropriately advertised before the applicant can make their application, but this does not apply to positions that are deemed to be shortage occupations.
If a potential employee from outside the EEA does not already hold appropriate immigration leave then an employer may need to employ them under the Tier 2 scheme. In order to do so an employer must be on the UK Border Agency Tier 2 Sponsor Register. This is a register administered by the UK Border Agency and, to be included in the register, an employer must make a formal application.
Under the Tier 2 scheme employees may not change employers without obtaining specific permission from the UK Border Agency. Tier 2 migrants are no longer eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Tier 1 Post-Study Work
This visa is for people who have recently successfully passed a UK degree. Unlike other types of visa it is only granted for a two-year period, and it cannot be extended or repeated. However, a Tier 1 Post-Study Work holder may work for any UK employer or change employers without obtaining any form of additional permission from the UK Border Agency.
Someone whose Tier 1 Post-Study leave is coming to an end and who wants to continue working in the UK has to apply to "switch" visas to a different type of visa, for example, Tier 1 General or Tier 2. It is possible to switch visas in this way without having to leave the UK.
Tier 1 Post-Study Work visa details »
Other Types of Visa
There are also various other kinds of visa that certain classes of applicant are eligible to apply for. For example, the Ancestry visa allows Commonwealth nationals who have a grandparent born in the UK to apply to come to live and work in the UK. There is also, for example, the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme, which allows nationals of certain countries aged under 31 to apply and come to work in the UK for a two-year period.
