Looking to run a business or work in the UK? Our UK based specialist visa team can help you or your company obtain UK Sponsorship and Work visas.
Skilled Worker Visa
A Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer.
This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa.
Eligibility
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:
- Work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
- Have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
- Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
- Be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work you do
The specific eligibility depends on your job.
You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa.
You will usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.
You can apply for a visa 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependents’, if they’re eligible.
Intra-Company Visas
An Intra-company visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job at your employer’s UK branch.
There are 2 types of Intra-company transfer.
I)Intra-company Transfer visa
Apply for this visa if you’re being transferred by your employer to a role in the UK.
You’ll need to have worked for your employer overseas for more than 12 months, unless they’re going to pay you £73,900 a year or more to work in the UK.
This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa.
II)Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
This visa is for transfers to the UK as part of a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialists role.
You’ll need to have worked for your employer overseas for at least 3 months immediately before the date you apply.
This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Graduate Trainee visa.
Eligibility
To qualify for an Intra-company visa, you must:
- Be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor
- Have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
- Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
- Be paid at least £41,500 for an Intra-company Transfer visa or at least £23,000 for an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa.
The specific eligibility requirements depend on your job.
You can apply for a visa 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
You can do a second job for up to 20 hours a week that’s either in the same profession and at the same level as your main job or on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list.
You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependents’, if they’re eligible.
UK Visa Sponsorship for Employers
All UK companies that wish to employ someone from outside the UK require a valid sponsorship licence. This includes citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland who arrived into the UK after 31 December 2020.
This is a formal application which must be submitted to the Home Office. The licence will be valid for 4 years once granted and you will be given a licence rating if your application is successful. You may lose your licence if you do not meet your responsibilities as a sponsor. You should seek professional advice at an early stage, to ensure that the application is fully prepared and lodged correctly.
Select Visa Services specialise in assisting UK companies with the sponsorship licence process. We will present you with advice on what options are available and discuss any relevant immigration or timing issues. We will assess your case and advise on the most appropriate way forward.
We can manage your application from initial assessment to submission advising on necessary HR areas the Home Office will consider when assessing your application.
We will be able to monitor and track your application process on your behalf.
We can provide you with ongoing support and management of your sponsorship licence and act as your UK based Representative.
Sportsperson Visa (T2)
The Sportsperson visa (T2) is for elite sportspeople and coaches whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level in the UK. You can apply outside the UK (Entry Clearance applications) and in the UK (extension of your current Tier 2 Sportsperson visa/ switching).
You can apply using the fast track service, made available by the Home Office. In order to apply under Tier 2 (Sportsperson), you must meet all the following requirements.
- You’re an elite sportsperson or qualified coach recognised by your sport’s governing body as internationally established at the highest level
- Your sport’s governing body is endorsing your application
- Your employment will develop your sport in the UK at the highest level
- You must have a certificate of sponsorship reference number from your sponsor
- You must prove that you meet the English and maintenance requirements
Tier 2 visas can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain.
You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependents’, if they’re eligible.
Global Talent Visa
If you are a leader or potential leader in one if the following fields below you can apply for a Global Talent Visa:-
- Academia or research
- Arts and culture
- Digital technology
You must also be at least 18 years old and will need to apply for an endorsement if you work in one of the following fields above.
You can apply for an extension under this visa and each extension can last from 1 to 5 years.
You may be able to get indefinite leave to remain after 3 or 5 years, depending on which field you work in and how you apply.
You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependents’, if they’re eligible.
Investor Visa
You can apply for an Investor visa if:
- You want to invest £2,000,000 or more in the UK
- You meet the other eligibility requirements
Eligibility
- be 16 years old to apply for this visa
- be able to prove that the money belongs to either you or your husband, wife, unmarried or same-sex partner
- Your funds must be:
- held in 1 or more regulated financial institutions
- free to spend (‘disposable’) in the UK
- Your money can be in the UK or overseas when you apply.
Entrepreneur Visa
You can no longer apply for an Entrepreneur visa.
If you want to set up or run a business in the UK you might be able to apply for an Innovator visa or a Start-up visa.
If you already have an Entrepreneur visa
You can still apply:
- To settle in the UK ( indefinite leave to remain)
- To extend your visa
- For family members to join you
Innovator Visa
You can apply for an Innovator visa if:
- You want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK – it must be something that’s different from anything else on the market
- Your business or business idea has been endorsed by an approved body also known as an endorsing body
- You meet the other eligibility requirements
Eligibility
You must be able to show that your business idea is:
- New —you cannot join a business that is already trading
- Innovative – you must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market
- Viable, with potential for growth
You will usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.
Your visa may be cut short if your endorsement is withdrawn by the endorsing body.
You can set up a business or several businesses.
You can apply for indefinite leave to remain, if you have lived in the UK for 3 years and meet other eligibility requirements.
Start-up Visa
You can apply for a Start-up visa if:
- You want to set up an innovative business in the UK. – it must be something that’s different from anything else on the market
- You meet the other eligibility requirements
Eligibility
You must be endorsed by an authorised body that is either:
- A UK higher education institution
- A business organisation with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs
You must be able to show that your business idea is:
- A new idea – you cannot join in a business that I already trading
- Innovative – you must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market
- Viable – it has potential for growth
You must also:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Meet the English language requirement
- Be able to prove you have enough personal savings to support yourself while you’re in the UK
You cannot apply to extend this visa.
You may be able to switch to an Innovator visa if you set up a business while on a Start-up Visa and:
- Your endorsing body assessed and agreed it
- It is active, trading and sustainable
- You have day to day involvement in it.
You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependents’, if they’re eligible.
Temporary Worker (Tier 5)
(Charity, Creative & Sporting, Government Authorised Exchange, Religious), Youth Mobility Scheme is for skilled workers you want to employ on a temporary basis.
The Tier 5 visa allows you entry to work in the UK in a number of different circumstances.
Tier 5 category is split into:
- Creative and Sporting – it is for individuals to work as a sportsperson, entertainer or artist.
- Charity Worker – it is for individuals to undertake unpaid work.
- Religious Worker – it is for those doing preaching, pastoral and non-pastoral work.
- Government Authorised Exchange – This category is for people coming to the UK for a short time for work experience or to do training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, research or a fellowship through an approved government authorised exchange scheme.
- International Agreement – where the worker is coming to do a job which is covered by international law or treaty while in the UK, eg employees of overseas governments.
- Youth Mobility Scheme: this category is for young people from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Monaco, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan who want to come and experience life in the UK.
Graduate Visa
A Graduate visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing a course in the UK.
You must be in the UK when you apply.
Eligibility
You can apply for a Graduate visa if the following are true:
- You are in the UK
- Your current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
- You studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period of time with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
- You have successfully completed that course
A Graduate visa lasts for 2 years. If you have a PHD other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.
If your partner and children joined you in the UK as ‘dependents’ on your current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa, they can apply to stay as dependents as on your Graduate visa.
You can work in most jobs.
You can look for work.
You can be self employed.