Visa Requirements
There are many different ways of working legally in the UK below is a short overview of some of these.
British passports
A British passport allows the holder to work in the UK and EU member states. If you were born in the UK you should be entitled to one.
If your father was born in the UK and was married to your mother (illegitimate children are only able to claim via their father if they were born after July 1, 2006), you will stand a good chance of being granted British citizenship.
You can claim through a British-born mother if you were born after January 1, 1983. If you were born before that, you will first need to register as a British citizen then you should be able to apply for a passport.
EU passports
Citizens of the EU member states, as well as those from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are free to come to the UK and work unrestricted.
Those from new EU member states need to register their employment.
Ancestry visas
An ancestry visa allows you to enter the UK and work without restrictions. It is usually valid for five years, and can be renewed as many times as you want.
Commonwealth citizens aged 17 or over who have a grandparent born in the UK (or the Republic of Ireland before March 31, 1922), are eligible to apply. You will also need to show evidence that you intend to work in the UK.
You will need to apply for an ancestry visa before reaching the UK.
Working Holidaymaker Visa
The scheme is open to citizen’s aged 17 to 30 of Commonwealth countries. This visa permits you to come to the UK for up two years, and work for up to 12 months out of that time. You will need to prove you have enough money to support yourself for at least two months, including paying for an onward ticket.
The idea of this visa is that employment is meant to be incidental to your holiday although you can work in your chosen profession, which was once not the case.
You can only get this visa once, however if you have been approved for the visa but do not enter the UK on it before it expires, you can apply for another one.
Work permits
A work permit enables you to work in the UK in the particular job and company for which you have been sponsored. If you wish to change jobs, you would need to get another work permit. A work permit can be issued for up to five years.
Partnership visas
If you are married to, or are the civil or long-term partner of a British citizen or someone who is settled in the UK, you should be eligible for a visa off the back of their status. Visas of this type allow you to work in the UK without restrictions. Usually you will initially be allowed to stay for two years, and if you are still married or living together after that you can apply for Indefinite Leave To Remain.
Student visas
Student visas are available for those on approved courses. Courses must be full-time and unless you are on a degree course, you must intend to leave the UK when you have finished the course. If your course runs for six months or more, you may work for up to 20 hours a week.