Work in the UK

Working in the UK

Almost every route that lets you work in the UK is sponsored — an employer with a Home Office licence offers you a specific job, and your permission is tied to it. The main exception is Global Talent, where an endorsement replaces the employer.

Which route fits depends less on what you do than on who is offering it and on what terms.

The main work routes

Skilled Worker — the standard route. A licensed sponsor, an eligible job, and salary at or above the thresholds for your occupation. Leads to settlement.

Health and Care Worker — for eligible roles in health and social care, within the Skilled Worker regime and sharing its rules on sponsorship and settlement.

Global Talent — for leaders and potential leaders in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology. No job offer required; an endorsement or an eligible prestigious prize is. Can lead to settlement more quickly than other routes.

Scale-up Worker — a sponsored start followed by a period in which you are not tied to the sponsor. Also within the Skilled Worker regime for settlement purposes.

Temporary Worker routes — time-limited, and most do not lead to settlement. Check before treating one as a step towards staying.

Which routes lead to settlement

Not all of them do, and the difference matters if staying permanently is the goal. The work routes above that lead to settlement all require you to be still sponsored and still meeting the salary requirement when you apply — not merely to have been at some point.

If your route does not lead to settlement, time spent on it may still count towards the ten-year long residence route, provided the permission was lawful and continuous.

Before you rely on this

VisaXplain is not a law firm and does not give immigration advice. Salary thresholds and eligible occupations change; check GOV.UK for current figures and take advice from a regulated adviser before you act.