Work Permit in UK

Guidance - Work permit holders (INF 13)
Last updated 16 July 2008

This guidance explains what you will need to do if you want to come to the United Kingdom (UK) to work in work permit employment, and what the Immigration Rules say. It is only a guide but it aims to answer some common questions.

Important!
From 27 November 2008 applicants who do not already have a valid work permit, and who wish to work in the UK must apply under the relevant tier (Tier 2 and Tier 5: Temporary worker). Details are in our INF21 to INF28 guidance.

Please note that no applications for work permits will be accepted after 26 November 2008. Employers in the UK who applied for work permits on, or before this date will continue to have their applications processed and work permits will continue to be issued until all are dealt with. Such applications will therefore be assessed using the guidance below.

Do I need a work permit?
If you are an overseas national who is not settled in the UK and you intend to work in the UK, you must have a work permit unless you are:

  • an EEA national
  • a Swiss national
  • a family member of an EEA or Swiss national who is in the UK exercising their treaty rights or a family member of an EEA or Swiss national who intends to join them in the UK, or is travelling with them to the UK
  • a citizen of Gibraltar
  • a Commonwealth citizen with permission to stay in the UK on the basis of UK Ancestry
  • a seaman under contract to join a ship due to leave British waters
  • a person employed as a civilian in NATO Forces
  • a person given permission to stay as the dependant of a person settled in the UK
  • a dependant under another category (in some cases), or
  • a student (in some cases).

Back to questions

What is a work permit?
Work permits are issued by Work Permits (UK), part of the Home Office's The UK Border Agency. A work permit relates to a specific person and a specific job. The work permit scheme lets UK employers recruit or transfer people from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), while still protecting the interests of resident workers in the UK. Work permits also allow overseas nationals to come to the UK for training or work experience.

There are six types of work permit.

  1. Business and commercial.
    These allow UK employers to recruit people from outside the EEA who will fill a vacancy that the employer has not been able to fill with a resident worker.
  2. Sportspeople and entertainers
    These allow UK employers to employ established sportspeople, entertainers, cultural artists and some technical and support people from outside the EEA.
  3. GATS (Global Agreement on Trade in Services)
    This allows employees of companies that are based outside the European Union to work in the UK on a service contract awarded to their employer by a UK-based organisation.
  4. Sectors Based Scheme (SBS)
    From 1 January 2007, this scheme only allows workers from Romania and Bulgaria to enter the UK for up to 12 months to take low-skilled work in the food manufacturing industry. More details on this scheme are available from Work Permits (UK). (Contact details are under 'More advice and information' at the end of this guidance).
  5. Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES)

Do I need a work permit?
If you are an overseas national who is not settled in the UK and you intend to work in the UK, you must have a work permit unless you are:

  • an EEA national
  • a Swiss national
  • a family member of an EEA or Swiss national who is in the UK exercising their treaty rights or a family member of an EEA or Swiss national who intends to join them in the UK, or is travelling with them to the UK
  • a citizen of Gibraltar
  • a Commonwealth citizen with permission to stay in the UK on the basis of UK Ancestry
  • a seaman under contract to join a ship due to leave British waters
  • a person employed as a civilian in NATO Forces
  • a person given permission to stay as the dependant of a person settled in the UK
  • a dependant under another category (in some cases), or
  • a student (in some cases).

Back to questions

What is a work permit?
Work permits are issued by Work Permits (UK), part of the Home Office's The UK Border Agency. A work permit relates to a specific person and a specific job. The work permit scheme lets UK employers recruit or transfer people from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), while still protecting the interests of resident workers in the UK. Work permits also allow overseas nationals to come to the UK for training or work experience.

There are six types of work permit.

  1. Business and commercial.
    These allow UK employers to recruit people from outside the EEA who will fill a vacancy that the employer has not been able to fill with a resident worker.
  2. Sportspeople and entertainers
    These allow UK employers to employ established sportspeople, entertainers, cultural artists and some technical and support people from outside the EEA.
  3. GATS (Global Agreement on Trade in Services)
    This allows employees of companies that are based outside the European Union to work in the UK on a service contract awarded to their employer by a UK-based organisation.
  4. Sectors Based Scheme (SBS)
    From 1 January 2007, this scheme only allows workers from Romania and Bulgaria to enter the UK for up to 12 months to take low-skilled work in the food manufacturing industry. More details on this scheme are available from Work Permits (UK). (Contact details are under 'More advice and information' at the end of this guidance).
  5. Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES)
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