by People enter the UK for different reasons such as work, study, vacation, tourism, medical care, immigration and visits to friends and family members.
Regardless of your reason for entering the UK, you may need a Visa to be granted entrance. However, depending on your citizenship and intended duration of stay you may not require a Visa to enter the UK. This article will highlight the UK work visa requirements and how to apply.
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UK Visa Types
There are different types of UK visas designed for different purposes, the common types of UK visas are
- UK Work Visas
- UK Student Visas
- UK Family Visas
- UK Tourist and Visitor Visas
- UK Business Visas
- UK Transit Visas
- UK Refugee Visa
- UK Work Visas
If you are entering the UK for work purposes then you need a UK work Visa. The type of UK work visa you need will depend on the type of work and the intended duration of the work in the UK.
The commonest types of UK work visas are the Skilled Worker Visa and the Health and care Worker visa. Other UK work Visas are intra-company, Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson and Temporary (short-term) work visas.
UK Visa Requirements
The UK visa requirements vary according to the type of visa you are applying for, this article will dwell more on UK work visa requirements, however, in general, the following documents are required
- International passport
- Passport photograph
- UK Visa application form
- Proof of accommodation
- proof of funds
- Tax clearance
- Invitation letter
- Host documents
- Proof of accommodation
- Travel itinerary
For more information on UK visa requirements in general click here
UK Work Visa Requirements
A UK Worker visa allows you to enter the United Kingdom to do eligible work with an approved employer. The commonest UK work visas are the skilled worker visa and the health and care worker visa.
UK Skilled Worker Visa Requirements
To get a skilled Worker visa you must meet the following UK skilled worker visa requirements:
Eligible Employment in the UK
UK skilled worker visa requirements include an eligible job offer in the UK which meets the following job criteria:
- Have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office.
- Have a Certificate of sponsorship from your employer stating the role you have been offered in the UK.
- The job must be on the list of eligible occupations and must be paid at least the minimum wage for the type of work you were offered.
Knowledge of English
The UK is an English-speaking nation, thus the employee must communicate effectively in English. Proof of English Knowledge is part of the UK work Visa requirements.
Visa application fee
The visa applicant needs to pay for the visa application fee(s) and also pay for a healthcare surcharge for each year of stay in the UK.
Proof of Funds
UK visa requirements include proof of adequate funds to take care of your expenses and that of other dependants travelling with you if any. Acceptable proof of funds includes a recent bank statement of account.
If your certificate of sponsorship indicates that your employer will support you then this might not be necessary.
Proof of relationship with relatives travelling with you
The UK visa applicant needs to provide evidence of proof of relationships with the spouse, children and parents if any of them will be travelling with him or her.
Note: The applicant must apply for a UK visa for all the relatives travelling with him or her.
International passport
UK Skilled work visa requirements include a valid passport with at least six months of validity and at least one blank page for the visa stamp.
Tuberculosis test results
If you are submitting a UK visa application from a location outside of the UK, then you may require a negative pulmonary tuberculosis test result from a designated diagnostic facility to enter the UK.
To check if you need a pulmonary tuberculosis test result as part of the UK work visa requirements click here
Criminal record certificate
Depending on your age and the duration of your stay in each country, it may be necessary to provide a criminal record certificate from every country you have resided in as part of the UK work visa requirements.
If you are younger than 28, you will require a certificate from any country where you have resided for a cumulative period of 12 months or more since you reached the age of 18.
Similarly, if you are 28 years old or older, it is required that you obtain a criminal record certificate from any country in which you have resided within the last 10 years.
Passport photograph
The passport photograph should be recent and not taken more than six months ago.
Biometric data
UK work visa requirements include capturing your biometric data such as fingerprints and facial features during the application process. You will need to visit a biometric capture centre in your location for the biometric capturing.
How long can you stay in the UK with a Skilled worker visa
The skilled worker visa allows you to stay in the UK legally for up to 5 years. After 5 years you can extend your visa, update your visa if you change employment or apply to settle in the UK permanently.
How long does the UK skilled visa application take
It takes 3 weeks if you are outside the UK or 8 weeks if you are inside the UK.
UK Health and Care Worker Visa Requirements
If you possess a UK Health and Care Worker visa, you can lawfully work with an approved employer in the United Kingdom. This visa permits you to enter the country and engage in eligible employment.
To get this visa you need to meet the UK health and care worker visa requirements outlined below.
Eligible Employment in the UK
UK health and care visa requirements include an eligible job offer in the UK which meets the following job criteria:
- your job is eligible for a UK health and care visa.
- you will be working for a UK health and care sector employer that has been approved by the UK Home Office.
- you’ll be paid the minimum wage or the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you will be doing – whichever is higher.
- Your employer must ensure the work schedule follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work.
Knowledge of English
The UK is an English-speaking nation, thus the employee must communicate effectively in English. Proof of English Knowledge is part of the UK work Visa requirements.
Visa application fee
The visa applicant needs to pay for the visa application fee(s) and also pay for a healthcare surcharge for each year of stay in the UK.
Proof of Funds
UK visa requirements include proof of adequate funds to take care of your expenses and that of other dependants travelling with you if any. Acceptable proof of funds includes a recent bank statement of account.
If your certificate of sponsorship indicates that your employer will support you then this might not be necessary.
Proof of relationship with relatives travelling with you
The UK visa applicant needs to provide evidence of proof of relationships with the spouse, children and parents if any of them will be travelling with him or her.
Note: The applicant must apply for a UK visa for all the relatives travelling with him or her.
International passport
UK work visa requirements include a valid passport with at least six months of validity and at least one blank page for the visa stamp.
Tuberculosis test results
If you are submitting a UK visa application from a location outside of the UK, then you may require a negative pulmonary tuberculosis test result from a designated diagnostic facility to enter the UK.
To check if you need a pulmonary tuberculosis test result as part of the UK work visa requirements click here
Criminal record certificate
Depending on your age and the duration of your stay in each country, it may be necessary to provide a criminal record certificate from every country you have resided in as part of the UK work visa requirements.
If you are younger than 28, you will require a certificate from any country where you have resided for a cumulative period of 12 months or more since you reached the age of 18.
Similarly, if you are 28 years old or older, it is required that you obtain a criminal record certificate from any country in which you have resided within the last 10 years.
Passport photograph
The passport photograph should be recent and not taken more than six months ago.
Biometric data
UK work visa requirements include capturing your biometric data such as fingerprints and facial features during the application process. You will need to visit a biometric capture centre in your location for the biometric capturing.
How to apply for a UK Work Visa online
You may need a visa to travel to the UK depending on your citizenship. To check if you need a visa to enter the UK click here.
To apply for a UK Visa, you will need the UK visa requirements stated above and then follow the steps below:
- Visit the UK official website.
- Navigate to and Click on Visa and Immigration
- Click Work in the UK
- Select the UK work visa type
- Navigate to the How to Apply section and click on Outside the UK
- Navigate to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa and click on Start Now. Once you’ve started your UK visa application, you can save your UK visa application form and complete it later.
Explore common reasons for Visa application denial/rejection.
