The United Kingdom is a very popular work destination due to its diverse market, diverse job opportunities, and personal growth opportunities. The country welcomes skilled employees from around the world. A lot of students who opt to study abroad in the UK are attracted to working in the UK itself due to the opportunity and competition the market provides. Anybody going to the UK for work must get a work visa for a permit to stay and work in the country. Read this blog to get complete information about UK work visas for Indians.
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Types Of Work Visas To The UK
There are different types of work visas for the UK. The following are the types of work visas availed with job offers.
- Skilled worker visa
- Global business mobility visa
- Scale up visa
- Temporary worker visa
Following are work visas that can be opted for without a job offer.
- UK ancestry visa
- High-potential individual visa
- Global talent visa
- Graduate visa
The visas mentioned above are also segregated based on Tire. The visas with the job offer are the Tire 2 visa, the ones based on skills the Tire visa, and the visa for temporary work is the Tire 5 visa.
Also Read: Study In UK
Skilled Worker Visa
The skilled worker visa is the visa that allows all foreign skilled workers to move to the UK and work. Previously there was Tier 2 (general visa ) which is now replaced by a Skilled worker visa. This visa allows the stay for up to 5 years but gaining permanent settlement in the UK is possible post those 5 years. The applicant must meet the following scoring list requirements:
- You should have a job offer from a licensed sponsor
- You should have CoS the CErtifivate of Sponsorship
- You should have a job which is one from the eligible occupation
- You should meet the English language requirements
- You should meet the minimum salary requirements which is 25,600 Pound or square of the ongoing rate for your occupation.
Scale up visa
A scale-up visa is a new visa that was started in August 2022. This visa is for foreign high-skilled and high-qualification nationals with UK company-sponsored jobs as a growth phase job.
The visa permits a 5-year stay which can be converted to permanent settlement after 5 years. The following are the requirements for this visa:
- You must have a high level of skills or must be an academic elite
- You require sponsorship if you are a first-time applicant, there is no need for sponsorship if applied before.
- You must have a Highly skilled job offer with a company with an annual turnover of 20% over the last three years, it must be a scale-up company.
- You must have good English language proficiency
- Your salary must be 33,000 Pounds.
Global Business Mobility Visa
The Global Business Mobility visa was launched in 2022. It includes 5 different and new types of visas to make travelling for people with overseas business easier. These visas allow a stay of 6 months to 5 years depending on the requirement. Converting this visa to a permanent residential permit is not possible.
The requirements for a Global Business Mobility visa are:
- You must have a certificate of sponsorship
- Your business must be approved by country standards.
The visas under the Global Business Mobility visa scheme are:
- Senior or specialist worker visa
- Graduate trainee visa
- Secondment worker visa
- Service supplier visa
- UK expansion worker visa
Temporary Worker Visa
There are several types of temporary work visas. These visas allow foreign nationals to work in the UK for a short duration of 3 months to 2 years, for permitted purposes. The temporary visas can be extended but can not get you a permanent stay permit. You can switch to another visa if you require an ILR.
The requirements to be met for these visas are:
- You must be a minimum of 18 years of age
- You must meet English language requirements
- You must have a job offer
- You must have a certificate of sponsorship
- You must have sufficient funds to support yourself, that is 1,279 Pounds at least.
Following are the types of Temporary work visas for the UK:
- Charity worker visa
- Government-authorised exchange visa
- Creative worker visa
- International agreement visa
- Seasonal worker visa
- Religious worker visa
Read an informative blog on the Top 5 tips to work in UK
High-Potential Individual Visa
The high-potential individual visa was started in May 2022. It is granted to the nationals that have degree level qualification from a top university in Home Office’s Global University LIst. the visa allows the stay for 2 years for degree level and 3 years for PhD level. The option to extend the visa or to get a permanent residency permit is not available on this visa.
The following are the requirements that need to be met to get this visa:
- You must be 18 years of age
- You must meet the English language requirement
- You must have received the degree from a university in Home Office’s Global University List in the last 5 years
- You must have at least 1,270 Pounds to survive in the country
- You can go and search for a job, need not have a job as a requirement.
UK Ancestry Visa
The UK ancestry visa is made for British overseas citizens and Commonwealth citizens. The applicant who has grandparents who were born in the UK can apply for this visa. This visa allows a stay of up to 5 years and can also be converted to a permanent residency permit ILR.
The following are the requirements that need to be fulfilled to get this visa:
- You must be 17 years of age or older
- You must be a commonwealth citizen, a British overseas citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British national (overseas), or a citizen of Zimbabwe.
- You must have proof of your grandparents being born in the UK
- You must have an intention to work in the UK
- You must have sufficient funds to support yourself or the dependents if any.
To learn more about UK ancestry visa, watch the video below
Global Talent Visa
The Global talent visa is opted for by foreign nationals who are leaders or potential leaders in academic or research, culture and arts, or digital technology. The global talent visa permits the stay for up to 3 to 5 years which later can be converted to ILR, permanent resident permit. The permit can be fast-tracked if endorsed by the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society, UK Research and Innovation, Arts Council England, or Tech Nation.
The following are the requirements for the global talent visa:
- You must be 18 years of age or above
- You must be a leader or potential leader from an approved endorsing body
- You must meet the English language requirement
Graduate Visa
The graduate visa is the visa opted for by students who have completed their graduation from the UK. This visa allows them a stay of 2 years in the country. The people who have completed their PhD can stay for 3 additional years. The visa can not be extended or given an ILR, but if an additional stay or residential permit is required, you can opt for other visas.
The following are the requirements for the graduate visa:
- You must have completed your graduation, post-graduation, or PhD from the UK.
- You must hold an existing student visa or a Tire 4 visa.
Documents Required For All Kinds of UK Work Visa For Indians
Following are some basic requirements for UK work visa for Indians:
The documents required for a UK Work Visa for Indians can vary depending on the specific type of visa you are applying for, but here are some of the most common documents you will need:
- Valid passport: Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your intended arrival date in the UK, and it must have at least two blank pages for visa stamps.
- Certificate of Sponsorship (COS): This is a document issued by a licensed UK employer that confirms they are offering you a job and will sponsor your visa application.
- Proof of English language proficiency: You will need to provide evidence that you can speak English to a good enough standard to work in the UK. This can be done by taking an approved English language test, such as IELTS or PTE.
- Educational qualifications: You will need to provide copies of your educational certificates and diplomas.
- Job offer letter: This should include details of your job title, salary, and start date.
- Financial documents: You will need to provide evidence that you have enough money to support yourself while you are in the UK. This can be done by showing bank statements, payslips, or other financial documents.
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results: If you are from a country with a high prevalence of TB, you will need to have a TB test and provide the results with your visa application.
- Criminal record certificate (Police Clearance Certificate): You may need to provide a police certificate from your home country and any other country you have lived in for more than a year as an adult.
Application Process For The UK Work Visa For Indians
Following is the process for applying for UK work visa for Indians:
- Determine the category of visa you require
- Check your eligibility and find a sponsor for yourself
- Gather the required documents
- Pay the application fees
- Schedule an appointment for an interview and biometrics
- Complete the biometrics, submit the documents, and interview
- Wait for the decision, once the decision comes, collect your documents.
To learn more about the UK work visa application process watch the video below:
Cost Of UK Work Visa For Indians
The cost of the UK work visa varies for each visa. The average cost bracket is 1,873- 3,095 Pounds which includes the healthcare surcharge of 624 Pounds. The visa cost is always subject to change.
Benefits of Getting a UK Work visa
There are several reasons why you should apply for a UK work visa. These reasons are provided below:
- You can access the UK jo market. Job opportunities are available in the finance, technology, healthcare, engineering, and creative industries. If you have the right skills and qualifications you can get a job.
- Higher income: You can earn more income in the UK compared to India. The companies in the UK provide a competitive salary. Moreover, career growth options are available.
- You can access the best educational opportunities. Some of the best universities in the world are located in the UK.
- Apart from these benefits, you can also access excellent network opportunities for you to grow your career.
FAQs
You get access to a diverse job market, high earning potential, cultural enrichment, education opportunities, career growth, and many other benefits by working in the UK.
If you can not decide the correct category of visa for yourself, talk to a visa specialist lawyer.
It takes around 3 weeks but the time can vary depending on the type of visa.
Obtain all the necessary paperwork for your visa application, which may include a current passport, a certificate of sponsorship (for a Tier 2 Visa), evidence of your English language proficiency, your educational background, a letter of employment offer, bank statements for your finances, and, if necessary, test results for tuberculosis (TB).
The 5 year UK work visa is a skilled worker visa. The visa allows you to work with an approved employer in the UK. After 5 years, you will have to apply for a visa extension. You can also become eligible for UK indefinite leave to remain.
This was a detailed description of UK work visa for Indians. To read more such blogs or to gain knowledge on more such topics, kindly follow Student Visas, to get information on Studying Abroad follow Leverage Edu.
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