Visas

You will normally need a visa (and a work permit or a Certificate of Sponsorship) to come to the United Kingdom to work.

The UK visa types which will be relevant are as follows:

Youth Mobility Scheme;
UK Ancestry/Right of Abode;
Sponsorship by UK Employer;
Highly Skilled Worker.

Youth Mobility Scheme

The youth mobility scheme replaces the old working holiday visa and is based on a quota system for participating countries. Generally, you can apply if you:

are a citizen of a country taking part in the scheme (includes Australia);
are 18 years old or over when your visa lets you come to the United Kingdom (becomes valid) and under 31 years old when you apply;
have £1,600 in available maintenance (funds) when you apply.

The visa allows you to live and work in the United Kingdom for a maximum time of 24 months. Note: there is no right to apply to live permanently in the United Kingdom if you are there under the youth mobility scheme.

Please refer to the UK Home Office website for more details and a handy self-assessment tool.

UK Ancestry/Right of Abode (INF 9 and INF 12)

You may be eligible to apply for a UK Ancestry (5 years) or Right of Abode (indefinite) visa if either your parents (Right of Abode) or grandparents (Ancestry) were born in the UK. There are no restrictions on the type of work you may undertake. You will need to provide an original or certified copy of the relevant birth certificate and proof of your intention to find employment as well as other supporting evidence.

Sponsorship by UK Employer (Tier 2 Skilled Workers)

Despite recent UK migration changes which make the process more of an administrative hassle, most large firms are generally prepared to sponsor high caliber candidates who expect to stay in the UK longer than 2 years. These firms will pay for the visa and assist candidates with this process.

Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)

The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme has now been closed to new applicants. However you can now apply as a highly skilled worker (Tier 1 General) under the points-based system (see below).

Highly Skilled Worker (Tier 1 General Migrant)

The highly skilled worker category is designed to allow highly skilled people to come to the United Kingdom to look for work or self-employment opportunities. Unlike sponsored skilled workers (who are covered by tier 2 of the points-based system), you do not need a job offer to apply under the highly skilled worker category. When you apply, you are awarded points based on your qualifications, previous earnings, United Kingdom experience, age, English language skills and available maintenance (money). You can apply under the highly skilled worker category if you are:

already in the United Kingdom with permission to stay in an immigration category that allows you to switch into the highly skilled worker category;
already in the United Kingdom as a highly skilled worker and you want to extend your permission to stay within your existing category;
already in the United Kingdom under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP), you want to extend your permission to stay and you are eligible to switch into the highly skilled worker category; or
outside the United Kingdom and you are eligible to apply for permission to enter (known as 'entry clearance') under the highly skilled worker category.

Go to the visa services website UK Home Office visa services website for more information and a self-assessment points calculator.

For more information on visas please go to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/.