General work visa (UK)

If you are a non EU citizen and have been offered a skilled job in the UK, you will need to apply for a visa.

To do this, you will need to be employed by a licensed sponsor who will confirm that you can perform the work for which you were hired.

You can start the visa application 3 months before you’re due to start work in the UK.

After getting the Tier 2 (General) visa you can stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years.

With the visa you are allowed to work for your sponsor, do a second job in certain circumstances, do voluntary work, study, travel abroad and return to the UK and bring family members with you. However, you cannot own more than 10% of your sponsor’s shares, get public funds, apply for a second job until you’ve started working for your sponsor.

To be eligible, you need to:

• have a valid certificate of sponsorship for your job
• show you’re being paid an appropriate salary for your job (at least £30,000 per year)
• prove your knowledge of the English language
• have personal savings so you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (£945 for 90 days before you apply)
• show you can travel and your travel history over the last 5 years
• have tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country
• provide a criminal record certificate (if you work in education, healthcare, social services)

Read everything you need to know at the UK Government website here.