Basic Facts

If you are someone from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA), you will need a valid work permit to work in the UK.

British citizens, Swiss nationals and nationals of a country in the EEA do not need Home Office permission to work in the UK. The EEA includes the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland*, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein*, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway*, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

EEA nationals are granted a right to live and work in the United Kingdom by European Community Law. This is called a RIGHT OF RESIDENCE. The Home Office's Immigration & Nationality Directorate is responsible for immigration policy and the UK's on-entry and after-entry controls. For more information on immigration to the UK take a look at the website of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate at the British Home Office, www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk.

* Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU). However, the EEA Agreement gives nationals of these countries the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.

Need a Visa?

If you are a non-EU national, you must be in possession of a work permit in order to take up employment.

Traditionally, the only way to obtain a work permit was to be sponsored by a UK employer. A programme now exists to encourage skilled individuals to seek entry to work in the UK. The advantage of this is that you DO NOT need to have a prior offer of employment, differing dramatically from existing Work Permit programmes.

This unique programme is the Highly Skilled Workers’ Programme (the Programme). The Programme has been very successful since its introduction in 2002. The Programme was revised in November 2003 and should enable more applicants to qualify for entry. It is widely acknowledged that there is a growing need in the UK for individuals with exceptional personal skills and experience in a wide range of industries and professions, including legal and financial fields.

An application made under the Programme is an application for immigration status and, accordingly, you may bring your immediate family with you. Unlike the existing work permit system, this work permit is granted to you (and not a UK company) so you may change jobs as many times as you wish whilst in the UK.

Successful application enables you to apply for entry to the UK for a 12-month period in order to look for work in your chosen field. If you are successful in finding work, the initial 12-month period may then be extended for an additional 3 years, after which you may apply to stay permanently.

The Programme operates on a points-based system. In addition to satisfying the points criteria, candidates must show they are able to work in their chosen field in the UK, are able to support themselves and their family until they find work and are willing to make the UK their main home for the period of the Programme.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Programme and would like to make an application, then we suggest you contact UK Working. UK Working aim to help skilled professionals obtain access to various positions and opportunities available in the UK. To find out how you would qualify on the points system, you can take a test on their Points Calculator.

Click here to find out more.

Good luck with obtaining your work permit.

The totallyfinancial.com.au team