For non-EU nationals, in order to come to the UK specifically for the purposes of work, you will need to be sponsored by an employer in the UK. For the majority of people this will be under Tier 2 (General) of the Points-Based System, although there are other niche categories, such as those for ministers of religion and sportspersons.

An employer must hold a Sponsor License that allows them to offer roles to foreign nationals. They must be offering a job at an appropriate salary level and that is skilled at degree level or above. This skill level is being reduced in January 2021 from ‘degree’ to ‘A-level’ and will mean that a far wider range of workers will be able to take advantage of this route.

You will also need to show:

• Sufficient maintenance to support yourself in the UK (employers may choose to certify this)
• Your employer has issued you with a Certificate of Sponsorship
• Your employer has (unless you are in a shortage occupation) completed a Resident Labour Market Test
• A sufficient level of English

Please note that for those applying from outside of the UK, there is a monthly cap on the number of applications that can succeed. It is possible to sponsor dependents to join you.

After five continuous years as a worker it is possible to apply for settlement in the UK. There are also more streamlined processed for intra-company transfers were some of the above steps are either removed or simplified. Please note that in these cases, there is no route to settlement in the UK, although again dependents are permitted to join.