Check if you need a UK visa: Information based on your answers

You need a visa to work in the UK

Based on your answers, you might be eligible for 12 visas.

Skilled Worker visa If you’re coming to work in an eligible skilled job

You may be able to work in an eligible skilled job.

These include:

jobs that require a university degree, such as scientists or doctors
many managerial or skilled administrative roles
skilled trades, such as carpenters or plumbers

Need a job offer

Yes

Your offer must be from a UK employer that's a registered sponsor for this visa

Need a minimum salary

Yes

How much you need to earn depends on the work you do

Need knowledge of English

Yes

You must usually prove you can read, write, speak and understand English

Initial visa length

Up to 5 years

Can extend

Yes

You can extend as many times as you want, as long as you're still eligible

Can settle

Yes - after 5 years

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the Skilled Worker visa

Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) If you’re transferring to your employer’s UK branch to work in an eligible high-skilled job

You may be able to work in an eligible high-skilled job at your employer’s branch in the UK.

Need a job offer

Yes

Your offer must be from a UK employer that's a registered sponsor for this visa

Need a minimum salary

Yes

How much you need to earn depends on the work you do

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

Up to 5 years

Can extend

Depends on initial visa and salary

You may be able to extend up to the maximum stay - this depends on your salary. To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility) If you’re transferring to your employer’s UK branch for a graduate trainee programme

You may be able to work in a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role at your employer’s branch in the UK.

Need a job offer

Yes

Your offer must be from a UK employer that's a registered sponsor for this visa

Need a minimum salary

Yes

How much you need to earn depends on the work you do

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

Up to 1 year

Can extend

No, with exceptions

To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)

Scale-up Worker visa If you’re coming to work for a fast growing UK business (‘scale-up’ business)

You may be able to work in the UK with the option to change employer or job after an initial period.

You must have a job offer to work for at least 6 months:

in an eligible high-skilled job - including jobs that require a university degree, or higher skilled managerial or administrative roles
from an approved scale-up business - it must meet eligibility criteria, including growing by 20% each year for the last 3 years

After 6 months, you can choose to work at any other UK employer or become self-employed.

Need a job offer

Yes

Your offer must be for at least 6 months from a UK scale-up business that's a registered sponsor for this visa

Need a minimum salary

Yes

How much you need to be paid depends on the work you do

Need knowledge of English

Yes

You must usually prove you can read, write, speak and understand English

Initial visa length

2 years

Can extend

Yes

You can extend as many times as you want, as long as you're eligible

Can settle

Yes - after 5 years

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the Scale-up Worker visa

Youth Mobility Scheme visa If you’re aged 18 to 30

You may be able to live and work in the UK. You can:

work in most jobs
be self-employed or a director of a company - within certain rules

The eligibility criteria include:

being aged 18 to 30 when you apply
depending on where you’re from, successfully applying for a ballot

Need a job offer

You can find work once you're in the UK

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

Up to 2 years

Can extend

To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the Youth Mobility Scheme visa

UK Ancestry visa If one of your grandparents was born in the UK

You may be able to live and work in the UK. You can be an employee, self-employed or a director of a company.

The eligibility criteria include:

being aged 17 or over
proving that one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man

Need a job offer

You can find work once you're in the UK

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

5 years

Can extend

Yes

You can extend as many times as you want, as long as you're still eligible

Can settle

Yes - after 5 years

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the UK Ancestry visa

Charity Worker visa (Temporary Work) If you’re coming to volunteer for a charity

You may be able to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity.

Need a job offer

Yes

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

Up to 1 year

Can extend

Depends on initial visa

You may be able to extend up to a maximum stay of 1 year. To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the Charity Worker visa (Temporary Work)

Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work) If you’re coming for an approved government programme

You may be eligible for a Temporary Work - Government Authorised Exchange visa if you take part in an approved:

work experience programme
research and training programme
Overseas Government Language Programme

Need a job offer

Yes

Your offer must be from a UK employer that's a registered sponsor for this visa

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

Up to 2 years

Up to 1 year for work experience

Can extend

Depends on initial visa

You may be able to extend up to a maximum stay of 2 years (1 year for work experience). To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work)

Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility) If you’re temporarily providing an eligible service in the UK

You may be able to provide services to a UK business.

The eligibility criteria include:

doing an eligible job - or proving you have relevant qualifications
having enough professional experience - this is between 1 and 6 years, depending on your work

Need a job offer

Yes

Your offer must be from a UK employer that's a registered sponsor for this visa

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

6 to 12 months

Depends on your nationality and the service you're providing

Can extend

Depends on initial visa

You may be able to extend up to a maximum stay of 6 or 12 months. To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)

International Agreement visa (Temporary Work) If you’re coming to work in the UK for a foreign government or international organisation

You may be eligible for a Temporary Work – International Agreement Worker visa if you’re coming to work:

for a foreign government or eligible international organisation
as a private servant in a diplomat’s home, for example as a cook, cleaner or carer

Need a job offer

Yes

Your offer must be from a UK employer that's a registered sponsor for this visa

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

Up to 2 years

Can extend

Depends on job

You may be able to extend up to a maximum stay of 2 years (5 years if you work as a private servant in the household of a diplomat). To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the International Agreement visa (Temporary Work)

Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) If you’re coming to work as part of a high-value contract between your overseas employer and a UK organisation

You may be eligible to be transferred by your employer to a different organisation in the UK.

The eligibility criteria include:

your overseas employer having an eligible contract with the UK organisation worth at least £50 million
you having worked for your overseas employer for at least 12 months outside the UK
you working in an eligible job

Need a job offer

Yes

Your offer must be from a UK employer that's a registered sponsor for this visa

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Initial visa length

1 year

Can extend

Yes, up to a maximum stay

You can stay for up to 2 years on this visa. To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

High Potential Individual (HPI) visa If you've recently graduated from a top global university

You may be able to live and work in the UK. You can be an employee, self-employed or a director of a company.

The eligibility criteria include having a qualification from an eligible university in the last 5 years.

Need a job offer

You can find work once you're in the UK

Need a minimum salary

Need knowledge of English

Yes

You must usually prove you can read, write, speak and understand English

Initial visa length

2 to 3 years

3 years with a PhD or doctoral qualification, otherwise 2 years

Can extend

To stay longer, you may be able to switch to another visa

Can settle

Settling means you can live permanently in the UK. If you successfully apply, you can use this status to apply for citizenship

Find out more about the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa