UK Visa Route Guides

Additional immigration routes

Short-term work assignments

Artists, entertainers, and creative professionals

International business transfers and expansions

Medical professionals and healthcare workers

Professional athletes and sports professionals

Ministers, missionaries, and religious roles

Business representatives and agents

Routes for skilled professionals with job offers

The British National (Overseas) visa route is designed for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) status holders and their close family members. It allows them to live, work, and study in the UK with a pathway to citizenship. This visa was introduced in response to the National Security Law imposed in Hong Kong by China, offering a unique immigration path for BN(O) citizens to settle in the UK. The main purpose of this visa is to uphold the UK's historic and moral obligation to BN(O) citizens, providing them with greater security and the opportunity to lead a life in the UK with access to the National Health Service, employment, and education.

The Charity Worker visa (Temporary Work) is a UK immigration route designed for individuals who wish to come to the UK to undertake unpaid voluntary work for a charity. The main purpose of this visa is to allow non-UK residents to contribute to the charitable sector in the UK, enhancing their skills and experience in a global setting. This visa requires sponsorship from a licensed charity in the UK that will confirm the applicant's role and the nature of the voluntary work to be undertaken. It is important to note that this visa does not permit any paid work and is strictly for voluntary charity work only.

The Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work) is designed for individuals who wish to work in the UK in the creative industries, such as theatre, film, television, and music. This visa route allows artists, entertainers, and musicians, as well as their technical and support staff, to undertake short-term engagements in the UK. It requires sponsorship from a UK-based employer who is registered with the Home Office as a licensed sponsor. The main purpose of this visa is to enrich the UK's cultural landscape by enabling international creative talent to contribute to various projects and events.

The Frontier Worker permit is designed for individuals who are not primarily resident in the UK but work in the UK while living elsewhere. This visa route is aimed at EEA and Swiss nationals who were employed or self-employed in the UK but reside outside the UK. The main purpose of this permit is to allow these individuals to continue their work activities in the UK without needing to apply for a more traditional work visa, facilitating cross-border employment while maintaining their primary residence in another country.

The Global Talent visa is designed for individuals who are leaders or potential leaders in the fields of academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology. It is aimed at those who have been endorsed as recognized leaders (exceptional talent) or emerging leaders (exceptional promise) in their respective field by a Home Office-approved endorsing body. This visa route does not require a job offer or sponsorship from a UK employer, allowing applicants the flexibility to work, change jobs, or be self-employed in the UK. The main purpose of this visa is to attract and retain world-class talent in the UK, contributing to its growth and international competitiveness.

The Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work) is designed for individuals who intend to come to the UK for a short-term work experience, to undertake training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, research, or a fellowship through approved schemes that aim to share knowledge, experience, and best practice. This visa category is part of the Temporary Worker route and requires sponsorship from a UK-based organisation that is authorised by the Home Office. It is not a route to settlement, but it allows individuals to gain valuable experience in the UK for a temporary period.

The Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility) is a UK immigration route designed for overseas employees who are being transferred to a UK branch of their organization as part of a structured graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role. This visa is part of the broader Global Business Mobility routes, aimed at facilitating international business operations and talent mobility. It requires sponsorship from the UK entity and is tailored for individuals who have been working for their employer overseas for a minimum period before the transfer. The main purpose is to enhance global business operations and skills transfer within multinational companies, without leading to settlement in the UK.

The Graduate visa route is designed for international students who have completed a degree at undergraduate level or above at a UK Higher Education Provider. It allows them to stay in the UK to work, or look for work, at any skill level for a period of 2 years (3 years for PhD graduates). This visa is aimed at retaining talented graduates in the UK labor market, without requiring sponsorship from an employer. It offers a flexible post-study work option, enabling graduates to gain valuable work experience in the UK.

The Health and Care Worker visa is a UK immigration route designed for medical professionals, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, who are offered a job in the National Health Service (NHS), social care sector, or adult social care by a UK sponsor. This visa aims to streamline the process for healthcare professionals to work in the UK, acknowledging the critical role they play in the healthcare system. Applicants must have a job offer from an approved employer, meet the English language requirement, and have the appropriate salary offer.

The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa is designed for individuals who have demonstrated high potential in their early career stages and have graduated from top global universities outside the UK within the last 5 years. This visa route aims to attract and retain exceptional talent in the UK, contributing to its economy and academic standing. It does not require a job offer or sponsorship from a UK employer, offering flexibility for holders to seek employment, engage in business activities, or further their studies in the UK.

The India Young Professionals Scheme visa is a reciprocal arrangement between the UK and India, designed to allow young professionals from India to live and work in the UK for up to two years. This visa route is aimed at individuals aged 18 to 30 who wish to gain professional work experience abroad, enhancing their career prospects upon return to their home country. It does not require sponsorship from a UK employer, making it an attractive option for those seeking flexibility in their employment choices in the UK. The scheme is part of the UK's efforts to strengthen ties with India and is intended for those who have not previously participated in the scheme.

The Innovator Founder visa route is designed for experienced businesspeople looking to establish a business in the UK. Unlike other visa categories, this route does not require sponsorship from a licensed sponsor but does necessitate an endorsement from an approved endorsing body that will assess the innovation, viability, and scalability of the business idea. It's aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience and a genuine intention to develop their business idea in the UK. This visa also offers a pathway to settlement, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs planning to relocate to the UK permanently.

The International Agreement visa (Temporary Work) is designed for individuals coming to the UK to provide a service covered under international law, including employees of overseas governments and international organizations, as well as private servants in diplomatic households. This visa route is part of the temporary worker category and requires sponsorship from a UK-based employer or organization. The main purpose is to facilitate work in the UK that falls under international agreements, such as the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and similar bilateral agreements. This visa does not lead directly to settlement in the UK.

The International Sportsperson visa is designed for elite professionals in the sports industry who aim to be based in the UK. This visa category is for athletes, coaches, or qualified sportspeople recognized by their sport's governing body as being at the highest level of their profession internationally. The main purpose is to allow these individuals to work or compete in the UK, contributing to the development of their sport within the country. Applicants must have a sponsorship from a sports club or organization in the UK and an endorsement from the relevant governing sports body.

The Minister of Religion visa, under the religious worker category, is designed for individuals who have been offered a job within a faith community in the UK. This visa is suitable for those who intend to undertake preaching, pastoral work, or work in a religious order. Applicants must be sponsored by a licensed sponsor in the UK, which could be a religious organization. The main purpose of this visa route is to facilitate religious workers' entry into the UK to support the spiritual needs of their communities, ensuring they can contribute effectively to their congregations or religious groups.

The Overseas Domestic Worker visa in the UK is designed for individuals who are employed as domestic workers in private households. This visa route allows them to accompany their employer who is visiting or relocating to the UK. Eligible applicants include cleaners, chauffeurs, cooks, nannies, and those providing personal care for the employer and their family. The main purpose of this visa is to protect the rights of domestic workers while allowing them to continue their employment with their overseas employer in the UK.

The Religious Worker visa (Temporary Work) is designed for individuals who wish to come to the UK to undertake non-pastoral and non-preaching religious work, such as working in a religious order or supporting the day-to-day activities of a religious institution. This visa is part of the Temporary Work route and requires sponsorship from a UK-based religious organization that holds a valid Sponsor Licence. It is aimed at those who have been offered a job within a religious community in the UK, such as administrative, support, or monastic roles. The main purpose is to allow religious workers to contribute to their religious communities in the UK on a temporary basis.

The Representative of an Overseas Business visa is designed for senior employees of an overseas business planning to set up a UK branch or a wholly owned subsidiary for an overseas parent company. This visa is also applicable to employees of overseas newspapers, news agencies, or broadcasting organizations posted on a long-term assignment to the UK. The main purpose of this visa route is to allow non-EEA nationals to establish a commercial presence for their company in the UK, facilitating international business and cultural exchange.

The Scale-up Worker visa is designed for individuals who have a job offer from a UK-based scale-up company recognized by the Home Office. This visa category is part of the skilled worker route, aimed at attracting talented professionals to contribute to the growth of fast-moving and innovative UK businesses. Applicants must have a confirmed job offer in an eligible role at the required skill level and salary threshold. The main purpose of this visa is to support the UK's innovation sector by making it easier for scale-up companies to recruit the talent they need from around the world.

The Seasonal Worker visa is part of the Temporary Worker category under the UK immigration rules, designed for individuals who wish to come to the UK for seasonal employment in specific sectors such as horticulture. This visa route requires sponsorship from an approved employer in the UK who holds a valid Seasonal Worker sponsor licence. It is aimed at those who will be undertaking roles that are essential for the seasonal operations of the sponsoring business, typically in the agricultural sector. The main purpose of this visa is to fill temporary gaps in the labor market by allowing non-UK residents to undertake seasonal work for a limited period.

The Secondment Worker visa under the Global Business Mobility category is designed for overseas workers being seconded to the UK as part of a high-value contract or investment by their employer. It's aimed at employees of multinational companies who need to transfer staff to the UK temporarily. The main purpose is to facilitate intra-company transfers that don't fit under other specific categories like the Intra-Company Transfer visa, focusing on the transfer of specialist or senior employees to a UK branch or connected company to fulfill contractual commitments or invest in the UK business.

The Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) is a UK immigration route designed for senior managers or specialist employees who need to be transferred to a UK branch of their employer for a temporary period. This visa is part of the Global Business Mobility routes, aimed at facilitating international business operations and talent mobility. It requires sponsorship from the UK entity of the multinational company, and is tailored for individuals who have a crucial role or specialist knowledge essential to the business's UK operations. This visa does not lead directly to settlement, but offers a way for businesses to fill specific roles with existing overseas employees.

The Service Supplier visa under the Global Business Mobility category is designed for overseas workers who are coming to the UK to provide a service in line with the UK's international trade agreements. This visa is aimed at employees of foreign businesses that have a contract to provide services to a UK company. It's suitable for senior employees, specialists, or trainees who need to undertake assignments in the UK. The main purpose is to facilitate international business activity and service provision within the framework of the UK's trade commitments, without leading to permanent settlement.

The Skilled Worker visa is designed for individuals who have been offered a skilled job in the UK and have a sponsor licensed by the UK Home Office. It's aimed at workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland who meet the job, salary, and language requirements. The main purpose of this visa route is to fill gaps in the UK's workforce with skilled workers from abroad, contributing to the economy and specific sectors' needs. Applicants must have a confirmed job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved employer to apply.

The UK Ancestry visa is designed for Commonwealth citizens who have a grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or in what is now the Republic of Ireland before March 31, 1922. This visa route allows individuals to live, work, and study in the UK for up to 5 years, after which they may be eligible to apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain). It's aimed at those wishing to explore their ancestral roots while contributing to the UK's economy. Applicants must prove their relationship to their UK-born grandparent and their ability to work and support themselves in the UK.

The UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) is designed for senior managers or specialist employees who are being transferred to the UK to undertake a role related to the expansion of an overseas business into the UK. This route is part of the Global Business Mobility visa scheme, aimed at facilitating temporary work assignments for overseas businesses seeking to establish a presence in the UK or to transfer staff for specific business purposes. It requires sponsorship from the UK entity that the worker will be joining, and is tailored for individuals who have a proven track record with their employer overseas and are now needed to support the company's growth plans in the UK.

The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is designed for young people aged 18 to 30 who want to live, work, and travel in the UK for up to 2 years. It's aimed at fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the UK and participating countries and territories. This visa route does not require a job offer or sponsorship to apply. However, applicants must be from a country that has an agreement with the UK or be a British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen, or a British National (Overseas). The scheme allows holders to undertake most types of employment during their stay, with some restrictions, and to enter and exit the UK multiple times.