The main way people come to live in the United Kingdom is through a system called the Points Based System (PBS). First, people who are not from the European Economic Area (EEA) have to choose one of five categories based on what they want to do in the country – work, study, invest, or train. They need to pass a test that looks at specific factors, like the rules, benefits, and qualifications for each level. People who want to come to or stay in the UK need to have enough points. Points can be earned based on age, qualifications, language skills, earnings, and funds.
There are five levels or tiers of visas.
- Tier one:Â These visas are meant for highly skilled workers, entrepreneurs, investors, and graduate students living outside the European Union (EU) and EEA. These candidates do not need a job offer to apply.
- Tier two: Skilled workers, professional sportspeople, and clergy members outside the EEA can apply for a visa within tier two when they have a job offer and can fill gaps within the country’s labor force.
- Tier three: Tier three visas were meant for low-skilled workers providing temporary labor. However, the government decided not to accept immigrants from outside the EU for tier three positions and has since removed these visas.
- Tier four:Â Students over age 16 from outside the EEA should apply for a tier four visa if they want to study at a school, college, or university in the country.
- Tier five:Â This category has six sub-tiers of temporary workers related to creative and sporting positions, charity, religious workers, and young people who work in the UK on working holidays.
To qualify for a UK work visa, there are certain conditions that need to be met.
The needed documents for a UK work visa depend on the type of visa and category your employees require. Tier two includes long-term visas, but not the special talent visas mentioned in tier one. The tier two general UK work visa is the most common for companies expanding. It is for people from outside the EEA and Switzerland who have a job offer in the UK.
All people applying for a general work visa need to have a company or an authorized sponsor who will hire them. Different work permits have different requirements. However, the most common requirements are:
- An application form
- Two color photographs were taken within the past six months
- A valid passport
- Proof of financial means to cover UK living costs
- Proof of accommodation
- Detailed travel itinerary
- Tuberculosis test results
- Biometric information
- A visa invitation letter if the individual is staying with a friend or family member
- Paid UK visa fees
- Certified translations of any document that’s not in English or Welsh
Application Process
Your workers should request a UK visa three months before they plan to start working for you. It can take up to three weeks to process a visa application, so it’s best to apply early either at an application center or online through the UK Home Office Visas and Immigration Services website. The PBS system has different requirements and evaluations for each tier. Some categories may also have extra requirements. It is important to make sure your employees understand what they need to do to apply.
The UK plans to completely move its immigration process and permissions online by 2025.