
Do you need a visa to work in the UK?
Check the Visitor Rules and see the full list of business and academic activities you can do as a visitor to the UK. If you require EU, EEA or Swiss citizens to work in the UK for longer than 6 months, they need to apply for a visa. Find out more about working in the UK.
Can EU citizens work in the UK after Brexit?
Prior to Brexit, EU nationals could live and work in the UK without the requirement for a work visa under the right of free movement. Since Brexit, EU nationals now require a work visa to be employed in paid work in the UK. The most popular route is the UK Skilled Worker visa.
Do EU citizens need sponsorship to work in the UK?
EU nationals coming to the UK for work after 1 January 2021 will need to apply for a UK visa. In most cases, these will be work visas under the points-based immigration system. The main work visa routes are the skilled worker route and the intracompany transfer route. Both require sponsorship by a licenced employer.
Do EU passport holders need a visa to visit the UK?
Whilst EU passport holders can still visit Britain without a visa, they no longer have the automatic right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

When will the UK allow foreigners to work in the UK?
The new immigration rules will apply to foreign nationals arriving in the UK from 1 January 2021. This means that anyone coming to the UK to work after this date, excluding Irish citizens, will need to apply and pay for a visa in advance. Employers planning to recruit EU national workers from 2021 will need to apply to the Home Office ...
What counts as proof of eligibility to work in the UK?
Up until 30 June 2021, an EU citizen can use their passport or national identity card as proof of eligibility to work in the UK. After this date, they will need to show their employer evidence of their immigration status under either the EU Settlement Scheme or a valid visa under the new UK points-based system.
Do EU nationals need visa for UK?
Whether or not an EU national needs a visa will depend on when they first arrived in the UK. If they are living in the UK by 31 December 2020, they should apply for settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. For EU nationals coming to the UK after 1 January 2021 for work, they will need to be granted a visa under the UK’s new points-based system.
Do EU citizens need a national insurance number to work in the UK?
EU citizens will need a national insurance (NI) number to work in the UK, although they can start work without an NI number if they can prove their right to work. If an EU citizen is applying under the EU Settlement Scheme, they can use their national insurance number to help confirm their UK residence through automated checks of tax and benefit records.
Is a national insurance number proof of right to work?
To apply for a national insurance number you must have the right to work in the UK. However, when applying for a job in the UK, your employer will still be required to carry out a manual or online right to work check. This means you will still need to provide proof of your immigration status, for example, if you are an EU citizen, evidence of status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
How to check your right to work?
You must then use the employers’ online service to check their right to work by submitting this share code on the government website.
What is the main route for a work visa?
The main work visa routes are the skilled worker route and the intracompany transfer route. Both require sponsorship by a licenced employer.
How long do you have to work in the UK to get a visa?
If you require EU, EEA or Swiss citizens to work in the UK for longer than 6 months, they need to apply for a visa. Find out more about working in the UK.
How long before you arrive in the UK do you have to complete a passenger locator form?
In the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK from abroad you must complete a passenger locator form to give us your journey and contact details. This is part of the UK ’s COVID-19 response.
What happens if you don't qualify for a business exemption?
If you do not qualify for a business exemption, you can pay for a COVID-19 test. If the test is negative, you can reduce your self-isolation period after international travel.
When will the UK list of travellers end?
You will not be able to use the List of Travellers scheme to visit the UK from 1 October 2021.
Do you need a green card to drive in the EU?
If you have vehicle insurance issued in the EU, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland, you should carry an insurance green card or other valid proof of insurance.
Can Irish citizens live in the UK?
Irish citizens can continue to enter and live in the UK.
Can Swiss citizens use ePassport?
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can continue to use the automatic ePassport gates to pass through the border on arrival.
Who are EU Citizens?
These countries include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania. When we talk about the EU citizens, we are referring to the nationals of these 27 EU member countries. However the same Brexit rules also apply to citizens of EEA countries such as Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
When did the UK leave the EU?
Following the official exit of Britain (UK) on 29th March 2019, it hasn’t been business as usual for the European Union (EU) citizens who used to enjoy the freedom of migrating and working in the United Kingdom, among other EU countries before Brexit.
How long does it take to apply for EUSS?
If an EU citizen working in the UK didn’t manage to apply to the EUSS on time, the Home Office had issued a special provision that allowed them to make the application within 28 days after the 30th June Deadline. The application was likely to be successful if it showed that the applicant had missed the application deadline on reasonable grounds. Citing illness or domestic abuse by your spouse is among the reasons that can be considered reasonable grounds for failing to submit your application on time.
Can an EU worker live in the UK without a work visa?
Otherwise, an EU worker living in the UK without a work visa or pre-settled/ settled status under EUSS risks being labelled an overstayer and possible subsequent deportation to their home countries.
How to get a work visa in the UK?
All UK work visa applications begin online. But to get a biometric residence permit – which is required for some visas – you’ll need to visit your nearest authorized visa center to have your fingerprints recorded. They’ll also take your photograph. If you’re already in the UK and need to switch or extend your visa, you can apply locally. There’s no need to leave the country. If your visa requires you to present your supporting documentation upon arrival in the UK, you usually have ten days to do so.
How long do you have to stay in the UK to apply for a visa?
There’s no need to leave the country. If your visa requires you to present your supporting documentation upon arrival in the UK, you usually have ten days to do so.
What is the Tier 5 Working Holiday Visa?
The Tier 5 category of visas is designed for temporary workers. This includes people doing charity work, creative or athletic activities, and certain religious work. It also includes people between the ages of 18 and 30 who want a working holiday experience.
How much does a Tier 2 visa cost in the UK?
To give you an idea of costs, a Tier 2 visa costs £610. Those who apply for a Tier 2 visa in a field where there is a shortage of skilled labor pay a bit less at £464.
What is a standard visitor visa?
The UK Standard Visitor Visa has replaced many other categories of visas, including the former Business Visitor Visa. If you’re coming to the UK for business meetings, conferences, training, research, seeking funding, and a whole host of other business-related activities, this is the visa for you. It differs from the Tier 2 General Visa in that the holder is not allowed to work and earn money in the UK. It’s also for a much shorter period of time. In general, the Standard Visitor Visa only allows stays of 6 months. However, there are some exceptions, including a 12-month stay permitted for academics conducting research.
How long does it take to get a visa?
Decisions are usually made fairly quickly, within 15 days on average.
How many foreigners work in the UK?
There are more than 3.5 million foreigners working in the UK. That’s more than the population of many countries! Between the ease of working in English, the diverse opportunities, and a large number of global firms, it’s easy to see why the UK has such a tremendous appeal for expats. Not surprisingly, given that there are so many different opportunities, there are also a host of different UK work visas to choose from. These are the most common ones to know about, plus tips on starting the application process.
How long do you have to stay in the UK to visit?
The visitor must adhere to the rules of entry, including not intending to undertake any of the prohibited activities and leaving the UK within the six-month visitor period.
How long does it take to leave the UK?
Leave to enter as a visitor is on the basis that the individual leaves the UK within the six month period and does not participate in specified prohibited activities such as employment, studying, marriage, medical treatment or accessing public funds.
What is the difference between a tourist visa and a business visa?
In the UK, the standard visitor visa applies to both tourists and business travellers .
What can visitors ask about their immigration history?
Visitors can also be asked about their immigration history and previous travel and visits to the UK, to determine if the traveller is a genuine short-stay visitor or if they are using the visit route for ‘under the radar’ residency.
What happens if a traveller is refused entry to the UK?
If a traveller is refused entry, this will be noted on their UK immigration record, which can impact future Home Office applications. As such, travellers and their employers should take steps to reduce the risk of border issues.
What are the EU nationals?
Post-Brexit rules for EU nationals. ‘EU nationals’ refer to citizens of the 26 European Union member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Following the end of EU free movement, EU nationals who do not hold valid UK immigration status such as EU settled status or pre-settled status, ...
Can EU citizens come to the UK?
Under the UK immigration rules, EU nationals can come to the UK and seek permission at the border to enter as visitors, without having to apply for a visa. EU nationals are considered “non-visa nationals” in the UK, meaning they can seek permission to enter as a visitor at the border without having to apply for a visitor visa, ...
