Looking to find a job in the UK? You may need a work visa…
Unfortunately, finding a new role in the UK as a foreign national isn’t always a simple process—especially since the UK made the decision to leave the EU. However, it may still be possible to secure a great job, as long as you meet the criteria for a UK work visa.
We’ve already covered the eligibility criteria to work in the UK, so now let’s look at the different visa options that are currently available, how you can apply for a UK work visa, and what’s changed under the latest 2025 visa rules.
What is a UK work visa?
A UK work visa, sometimes referred to as a work permit, is a document that grants a foreign national permission to work legally in the UK. To be eligible for a UK work visa, the applicant must meet criteria that’s set out in the UK’s points-based immigration system.
What types of UK work visas are there?
Like many other countries, the UK has different work visas for different jobs and professional circumstances. The UK’s work visas are split into several categories:
Short term work visas
Short term work visas, also known as UK temporary worker visas, form part of the Temporary Worker routes. Visas that come under this category include:
- Charity Worker visa: For people who want to do unpaid voluntary work for a UK charity
- Creative Worker visa: For those offered work in the UK as a creative professional
- Government Authorised Exchange visa: For work experience, training, research or fellowships under an approved scheme
- International Agreement visa: For people working under international law (e.g. diplomatic households)
- Religious Worker visa: For religious work such as preaching or working in a religious order
- Seasonal Worker visa: For people coming to the UK to do farm work for up to six months. As of 2025, stricter compliance checks now apply to this route, including increased enforcement to prevent worker exploitation.
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa: For young people aged 18–30 from specific countries
- Graduate visa: Allows people to stay in the UK for up to two years (three years for PhD graduates) after completing a course in the UK
Long term work visas
The main categories that fall within long term work visas (formerly known as Tier 2 Visas) are:
- Skilled Worker visa: This allows a person to come or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with a Home Office-approved employer. As of July 2025, significant changes have been made to this visa. The minimum salary threshold has increased from £26,200 to £38,700 in most cases, and jobs must now be at RQF Level 6 (bachelor’s degree level) or higher to qualify.
- Health and Care Worker visa: For medical professionals to come or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier or adult social care. This visa is exempt from the new £38,700 salary threshold but still requires meeting the lower salary thresholds relevant to health and care roles.
- Minister of religion visa (T2): For people offered a role within a faith community, such as a minister or missionary
- International Sportsperson visa: For elite sportspeople or coaches recognised by their governing body as being internationally established
Note: The Intra-company visa has now been replaced by the Global Business Mobility route.
Changes to the Shortage Occupation List
The Shortage Occupation List has now been replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL). This new list only includes roles considered to be in temporary shortage and offers more limited salary concessions than before.
As of 2025, to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa under the ISL, applicants must be paid at least £30,960 (or 80% of the job’s going rate, whichever is higher). Roles included are reviewed more frequently and may change at short notice.
Examples of jobs on the Immigration Salary List include:
- Certain secondary school teachers (maths, physics, computer science)
- Civil engineers and welders
- Specific health roles such as nurses and paramedics
If your job isn’t on the ISL, you must meet the full £38,700 threshold and all skill requirements.
Health and care sector updates
While health and care workers still benefit from a dedicated visa route, there have been additional restrictions introduced in 2025:
- Only employers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) can sponsor new care worker visas
- Overseas recruitment for care roles in unregulated settings is now restricted
- Care workers can no longer automatically bring dependants unless strict criteria are met
These changes aim to reduce misuse of the route while protecting the rights of genuine care workers.
Investor, business and talent visas
The UK offers various routes for investors, entrepreneurs and highly skilled individuals:
- Innovator Founder visa: For people setting up and running an innovative business in the UK. As of 2025, this visa replaces the older Start-up and Innovator routes, with simplified endorsement requirements and greater flexibility for entrepreneurs.
- Global Talent visa: For recognised leaders or potential leaders in fields such as science, digital tech, or arts and culture
- Investor visa (Tier 1): Now closed to new applicants, but some individuals may still hold valid extensions
Other work visas
Other UK work visas that are available include:
- UK Ancestry visa: For Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent
- Frontier Worker permit: For people who live in another country but work in the UK
- Exempt vignette: For individuals exempt from immigration control (e.g. diplomats)
- British National Overseas (BNO) visa: For eligible people from Hong Kong
- Overseas Domestic Worker visa: For domestic workers accompanying their employer to the UK
- Representative of an Overseas Business visa: For employees setting up a UK branch of an overseas company
- Service providers from Switzerland visa: For Swiss employees on contracts in the UK
Note: Turkish Businessperson and Turkish Worker visas are closed to new applicants but can still be extended if you currently hold one.
UK work visa requirements
Each visa has its own eligibility criteria, so it’s vital that you check this before applying. The gov.uk website has an extensive explanation of UK work visa eligibility. However, many of the UK work visas require you to:
- Work for a UK employer that’s on the Home Office approved list
- Have a certificate of sponsorship from your approved UK employer detailing the role you’ve been offered
- Be doing a job that’s on the eligible list of occupations
- Be paid a minimum salary (this depends on the type of job you’ll be doing)
- Demonstrate a certain level of English language ability
- Have enough savings to support yourself in the UK
As of 2025, these requirements have become more stringent in many sectors – especially in relation to salary and skill level. Always check the most current guidance before applying.
Tips for applying for a UK work visa
Applying for a UK work visa can be complicated, so here are some tips to help your application go smoothly:
- Documentation: Ensure you have all the correct and up-to-date information to support your application. This includes a valid passport, certificate of sponsorship, English language test results (if needed), and proof of qualifications.
- Detail: Make sure you complete the UK work visa application fully. Missing information may delay or even invalidate your application.
- Cost: Application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge have increased in 2025. Translation of documents may also add to your costs.
- Time: Most applications take several weeks to process. Factor this in when agreeing a potential start date with your employer.
- Check eligibility: Job eligibility, salary thresholds, and visa availability can change quickly. Use the gov.uk Skilled Worker visa tool to confirm up-to-date requirements.
Your rights to working in the UK
Your rights will depend on the type of visa you have. In general, UK work visa holders may:
- Work full time for their sponsoring employer
- Apply to bring family members (if eligible under current rules)
- Switch to another visa route (if requirements are met)
- Apply for settlement after five years (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
Note: Dependants and family members must now meet higher income requirements in most cases. As of 2025, the rules on family migration have changed significantly for some work visa categories.
Your rights to working in the UK
Please note, the information outlined above is correct as of July 2025, but is subject to change. It is intended for general guidance purposes only.
For more detailed information about your rights to working in the UK, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration.
