Work in the UK with a Tier 2 visa

A UK employer can use a variety of visas to employ a non-EU national. There are, however, strict legal requirements that the employer and employee both must meet. We ensure that employers and employees do everything by the book and have the greatest chance of success when making a UK work visa application.

UK work permits for a non-EU national

As a UK-based company, If you want to sponsor a non-EU national as an employee you must have met the requisite criteria for a Tier 2 visa.

The skills charge: Important information for UK employers

In 2017, the UK government introduced a skills charge to encourage businesses to train British citizens to fill skilled roles and reduce reliance on migrant labour. The charge is payable when an employer sponsors an employee on a Tier 2 visa.

The nuts and bolts of the skills charge

The skills charge is levied against employers hiring Tier 2 migrant employees under the General and Intra-Company Transfer categories. Each hire will set them back £1,000 per year, as covered by the certificate of sponsorship. Those sponsoring non-EEA nationals to fill a vacancy for the full duration of a Tier 2 visa will pay £5,000 to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Exceptions to the rule

There is relief for small businesses and charity sponsors in the form of a reduced rate of £364 per year. A sponsor will be allowed this relief where their annual turnover is £10.2 million or less, with fewer than 50 employees.

Government has provided for other exemptions, including for companies who have hired migrant workers who:

Were on Tier 2 visas before April 2017 and are applying to extend from within the UK
Are Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) graduate trainees
Are non-EEA nationals filling PhD-level roles
Change from a Tier 4 student visa to a Tier 2 (General) visa

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Get the employees you need: UK visa sponsorship for employers

The process for UK-based employer is as follows:

Obtaining a sponsorship licence
Issuing a certificate of sponsorship (COS)

Obtaining a sponsorship licence

Prove to the Home Office that they are a genuine company operating and trading lawfully in the UK
Meet the suitability criteria
Give the Home Office no reason to believe that you represent a threat to immigration control
Comply with the duties of sponsorship

Issuing the certificate of sponsorship

Once an employer has a sponsorship licence, they can issue Tier 2 certificates of sponsorship. These are divided into two different types: Restricted and unrestricted.

Unrestricted category

Employers will not need permission from the Home Office to issue a certificate of sponsorship for candidates under this category.

The unrestricted category is for an employee:

With a salary of £153,500 or above
Seeking to extend their employment with their existing employer
With an existing certificate of sponsorship with other employers
Already in the UK with a current visa type that allows switching to a Tier 2 from within the UK*
Being transferred from an overseas branch of the UK sponsoring company

*Includes the Tier 1 post study work visa or the Tier 4 student visa

Restricted category

This category is for candidates who are unable to switch to a Tier 2 visa from within the UK. These candidates need to apply for their visa from overseas (e.g. Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa) or for those who are already overseas.

There is a cap on the number of potential employees permitted through this scheme. This is currently set at 20,700 for the year and only those who pass a new points-based system will qualify.

Points are gained from the salary amount, whether the job is on the current shortage list and whether the position is at PhD level. You must also conduct the resident labour market test. This test is to protect the resident work force and means you must advertise the post to give resident workers the opportunity to apply.

The Home Office has categorised, rated and coded every occupation and specified a minimum salary for each one. Whatever type of certificate is required, you will need to decide upon the appropriate code and offer at least the minimum salary stated. Apart from a few occupations in the creative sector, jobs have to at least be classed at degree level (NQF Level 6).

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UK Tier 2 work permit: Get a UK work visa

A non-EU national with a job offer from a UK-based company will need to apply for a Tier 2 visa. This will allow a migrant to live and work in the UK. There are, however, several requirements and restrictions associated with these visas.

Work and live in the UK

If you have been offered short- or long-term skilled employment in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a UK Tier 2 visa.

You can apply for a Tier 2 (General) visa if the following criteria are met:

You have a job offer for a skilled position in the UK
You’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland

Who can apply for a Tier 2 (General) visa?

The Tier 2 visa will allow you to live and work in the UK if you have been offered permanent employment and your employer is willing to sponsor you.

Some professions - such as engineering, healthcare and teaching - are in such high demand in the UK that they can use a fast-tracked application process.

If your occupation is not on the shortage list, your employer must show that the role cannot be filled by a qualified UK resident. They must meet the resident labour market test by advertising the post for a minimum of 28 days.

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How does it work?

A Tier 2 (General) visa is a points-based category. Points are awarded for the following:

Future expected earnings - 20 points
Sponsorship - 30 points
English language skills - 10 points
Available maintenance (funds) - 10 points

To be eligible for the Tier 2 work permit, your post will need to be at the right level for sponsorship (at least NQF Level 6). The minimum salary required for a Tier 2 is £20,800, but this may vary depending on your occupation and your SOC code.

What are the steps?

There are three main steps involved in lodging an application for a UK Tier 2 visa.

1. Tier 2 Sponsorship licence

The first stage is undertaken by the employer. Your employer will apply directly to UKVI for a sponsorship licence.

Your employer will also need to meet the resident labour market test to show that they could not find any suitable resident worker for the post.

2. Certificate of sponsorship

An approved sponsor applies for a certificate of sponsorship (COS) for the position they would like a non-resident worker to fill. Once a COS is assigned, the migrant may apply for their visa.

3. Applying for the Tier 2 (General) visa

In this final stage, the prospective employee will submit a visa application using their unique COS number and provide evidence that they meet the Tier 2 visa requirements.

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Work in the UK with a Tier 2 visa

More in this section

UK work permits for a non-EU national

The skills charge: Important information for UK employers

Get the employees you need: UK visa sponsorship for employers

Obtaining a sponsorship licence

Issuing the certificate of sponsorship

UK Tier 2 work permit: Get a UK work visa

Work and live in the UK

Who can apply for a Tier 2 (General) visa?

How does it work?

What are the steps?

Contact an immigration expert

Fill in the form below and we'll get back to you shortly.

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