Permission to work in the UK
Please note that the information set out below is for general guidance only and the actual conditions and criteria are subject to change at short notice. You should contact your local HR representative for advice specific to your circumstances.
The UK Government website
provides further information.
EEA and Swiss Nationals
You have a right to work in the UK if you are:
- a British citizen or European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss
national. The British citizenship and European
national sections on the UKBA website explain your right
to work.
- a family member of a British citizen, EEA or Swiss national.
You will normally be entitled to join them in the UK and look for
work, regardless of your own nationality. If you would normally
need a visa to enter the UK, you will need to obtain an EEA family permit, which is free of
charge.
Turkish Nationals
If you are a Turkish citizen you may be eligible to
apply for an European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) visa
which would allow you to work in the UK.
Croatian Nationals
If you are a Croatian national your work authorisation
will normally take the form of a Certificate of Sponsorship plus an
Accession Worker Registration Certificate.
UK Ancestry
If you are a Commonwealth citizen, and have a grandparent who
was born in the UK, you may be eligible for a UK Ancestry visa which would entitle you
to come and work in the UK.
Non EEA Nationals
If you are a non EEA national you will require permission under
one of the following tiers of the Points Based Immigration System
before you can start work in the UK:
Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) is for people
who are recognised or have the potential to be recognised as world
leaders in the fields of science and the arts.
Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur) for
graduates identified by UK Higher Education Institutions as having
developed world class innovative ideas or entrepreneurial skills,
to extend their stay in the UK after graduation to establish or
develop their businesses in the UK. They are also permitted to
undertake other work for up to 20 hours a week to support
themselves.
Tier 2 (General) is for workers who have a
skilled job offer to fill a gap in the workforce that cannot be
filled by a settled worker. From 6 April 2012
recent graduates who wish to remain in the UK to work following
their studies may apply through Tier 2.
Tier 4 (Students) are permitted to work
for up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time if they
are studying at degree level or above at a Higher Education
Institution or up to a maximum of 10 hours per week
during term time if they are studying below degree level at a
Higher Education Institution or at a publicly-funded Further
Education Trust. Students are able to work full time during
vacation times, including the time between the end of their course
and the end of their student visa.
Tier 5 is for people who want to come to
the UK to undertake temporary work for a licensed Tier 5 sponsor.
The only two categories of relevance to the Trust are:
Tier 5 (Government authorised
exchange) which allows sponsored researchers and
visiting academics who will give lectures, act as an examiner or
work on a supernumerary research collaboration to come to the UK
for up to a maximum of 24 months.
Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) which
allows people from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand Monaco and
Taiwan to come and work in the UK for up to a maximum of 24
months.
Dependents
If you are a dependent of a non EEA national who has permission
to work in the UK you may be able to apply for a dependent's visa
that will allow you to work where this is permitted under the rules
of that particular tier.