To Be Or Not To Be Sponsored
Many firms will sponsor you to work in the UK. However you will not need this if you have:
- A British or EU passport
- UK Right of Abode – meaning you have parents who were born in the UK
- UK Ancestry Rights – meaning you have grandparents who were born in the UK
- A spouse with any of the above
- Working Holiday Visa – however you must be under the age of 30 and can only work in the UK for one year although you may stay for two years. This is not recommended as many employers do not like taking on someone with this visa as it is difficult to transfer to a work permit.
- Tier 1 (General) Migrant Visa (formerly known as the Highly Skilled Migrant Visa) - points are awarded for Age, Qualifications, Previous Earnings and UK Experience, for which you need to score a minimum of 75 points. For candidates with non-UK experience, this means that you will need to have a Masters or PhD in order to achieve the minimum level of points required for this visa.
Recent changes in the UK immigration system have meant that it has become more difficult for employers to sponsor and bring in professionals from outside of the UK. Employers must pass The Resident Labour Market Test which has been designed to protect the domestic labour market and ensure that organisations employ from the UK workforce first before looking offshore for talent. Employers must demonstrate that they have been unable to find a suitable candidate from within the resident labour force.
For further information, go to www.ukvisas.gov.uk.
