Non-EEA workers
Most Non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals must obtain permission through the UK Border Agency’s Points Based System. The UK Border Agency provides a points based calculator to help you find out if you're likely to obtain enough points.
Note: All links below will direct you to the appropriate points based calculator on the UK Border Agency's website.
Tier 1 visa
Tier 1 is for highly skilled people. It has four categories:
- Graduate Entrepreneur for recent graduates who have shown entrepreneur promise at their university
- Entrepreneur — for those setting up or running a business
- Investor — for those investing in a business in the UK
- Exceptional Talent - for those internationally recognised as world leaders in science or arts and the humanities
Tier 2 visa
Tier 2 is for workers whose UK employer is willing to sponsor them.
The employer needs a licence from the UK Border Agency for this. There are four categories:
Tier 5 Temporary workers
Tier 5 applies when a UK employer sponsors you to work for them for a limited period of time.
The employer needs a licence from the UK Border Agency for this. There are five categories:
Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme
This scheme is for young people aged between 18 and 30 from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand and Taiwan.
You will be sponsored by your own national government. In other words, a UK employer does not need to sponsor you.
If successful, the UK Border Agency grants you two years' leave to remain in the UK and you can do any job except professional sportsperson or doctor in training.
Learn more about the Youth Mobility Scheme
Need more help?
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