Work Permits
The Home Office issue work permits to UK-based employers wanting to employ a worker from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Work permits are issued for a specific individual to work in a specific job. The Home Office only issue work permits for certain types of work requiring specific skills and qualifications and normally only when the employer has been unable to recruit a suitable employee from within the EEA.
Once the employer obtains a work permit, the employee must obtain Entry Clearance (or in some limited circumstances further Leave to Remain in the UK).
In should be noted that to qualify for a Business and Commercial work permit, the position must require the following qualifications:
- a United Kingdom degree level qualification; or
- a higher national diploma (HND) level qualification, which is relevant to the post on offer; or
- a HND level qualification, which is not relevant to the post on offer, plus one year of relevant full-time work experience at national/Scottish vocational qualification (N/SVQ) level three or above;
Or the job must need the following skills:
- three years full-time experience of using specialist skills gained through doing the type of job for which the permit is needed. This should be at N/SVQ level three or above.
