Work Permits and visas

The process for obtaining a work permit application can vary depending on the situation:

The employee is currently in the UK on a work permit for a different employer:

All new work permit applications will need to be made to Work Permits UK
A Further Leave to Remain (IED) application will need to be processed at the same time to enable the employee to take up work at the new employer.

The employee is currently in the UK on a work permit for the same employer and will need an extension to do a similar job:

A work permit extension application will need to be made with Work Permits UK.
A Further Leave to Remain (IED) application will have to be made at the same time in order for the employee to take up work at the new employer.

The employee is currently outside the UK and wishes to take up a new job in the UK:

A new work permit application will have to be made to Work Permits UK
When the work permit is approved, a visa application will need to be made at the British Embassy or Consulate where the employee is resident. The visa is endorsed in the employee's passport.

When the visa is approved at a British Embassy or Consulate or a further leave to remain (IED) application is agreed from within the UK it gives the employer permission to employ a specific person in a specific job at a specific location.

Who needs a work permit

Foreign nationals who belong to the following categories have the right to work in the UK without any work permit. Anybody not in one of these categories must obtain permission to work in the UK:

Nationals of EEA (European Economic Area) countries - Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom – and also Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland
Those with Indefinite Leave To Remain in the UK (Permanent Residence)
Those staying in the UK as the spouse of an EEA national
Those in the UK as the spouse or partner of a Work Permit holder,
A holder of a Business Person, Sole Representative, Investor, Student and ancestry visa holder and their dependents
Nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia have to apply for the Worker Registration Scheme within one month of starting a new job in the UK.

As well as these categories of people, citizens of European Community Association Agreement countries (Bulgaria and Romania) may come to the UK to set up in business and are exempt from the usual investment requirements. There is a very high refusal rate for this type of visa, however. Take a look at our guide to freelance work in the UK for EC Association Agreement nationals.