UK work permit: Visa requirements, how to apply and cost (2026)

When planning a move or a longer stay in the UK for a job or furthering your career overseas, you'll need to check if you need a visa or permission to work. UK immigration rules can change and the route you need will depend on your nationality, the kind of work you plan to do, whether you have a job offer and how long you want to stay.

This guide will cover the key UK work permit and work visa information to help you get prepared.

After securing a position working abroad, you'll also need an easy, cost-effective way to pay for your move and manage money internationally. With Wise, you can send money to and from the UK at the mid-market exchange rate, with low, transparent fees*.

Open a Wise account

Do you need a work permit to stay and work in the UK?

You may need a visa to come to the UK to work, study, visit or join family. GOV.UK has a visa checker tool you can use to check which visa options apply to your nationality and reason for travel.¹

The right route depends on factors such as where you're from, your skills, your job offer, how long you want to stay and your personal circumstances.²

It’s worth noting that Irish citizens don't need to apply for a UK visa to live and work in the UK. Rights between the UK, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies are protected through the Common Travel Area arrangements.³

If you're visiting the UK, you should be careful not to assume you can work while you're there. Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa or an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) even for a visit and the activities you're allowed to do as a visitor are limited.¹

Do you need a job offer to be eligible to stay and work in the UK?

In most cases, yes. For many UK work visas, including the Skilled Worker visa, you'll need a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you apply.⁴

There are exceptions like the Graduate visa for people who have successfully completed an eligible UK course and want to stay in the UK afterwards. You don’t need a job offer to apply, but you must already be in the UK and apply before your Student visa or Tier 4 visa expires.⁵

Long-term work visas in the UK

Skilled Worker visa

A Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. It replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa.⁴

To qualify, you must have:

• a confirmed job offer from a Home Office-approved UK employer
• a certificate of sponsorship with information about the role
• a job that's on the list of eligible occupations
• pay that meets the minimum salary rules for the work you'll be doing
• proof that you can speak, read, write and understand English.⁴

For many Skilled Worker applications, the minimum salary is whichever is higher: 41,700 GBP a year or the going rate for the type of work. Lower thresholds can apply in some specific situations, so always check the GOV.UK guidance for your occupation and circumstances before applying.⁶

You can stay for up to 5 years before you need to extend and you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK after 5 years if you meet the requirements.⁴

Health and Care Worker visa

A Health and Care Worker visa is for eligible medical professionals coming to the UK to work for the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care. To qualify, you'll need an eligible health or social care job, an approved UK employer, certificate of sponsorship and pay that meets the relevant salary rules.⁷

This route is cheaper than a standard Skilled Worker visa and you don’t need to pay the immigration health surcharge. You can stay for up to 5 years before extending or updating your visa.⁷

Senior or Specialist Worker visa

The Senior or Specialist Worker visa is part of the Global Business Mobility route. It allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job at your employer's UK branch. This visa replaced the Intra-company Transfer visa.⁸

To qualify, you must be an existing employee of an organisation approved by the Home Office as a sponsor, have a certificate of sponsorship, work in an eligible occupation and be paid at least £52500 a year.⁸

If you're on a graduate trainee programme, you’ll need the separate Graduate Trainee visa instead.

Temporary work visas in the UK

Seasonal Worker visa

The Seasonal Worker visa is for people coming to the UK to work in horticulture, such as picking fruit or vegetables, for up to 6 months. It can also be used for poultry work from 2 October to 31 December in the same year.⁹

You'll need a sponsor and must meet the eligibility requirements before applying. Visas for poultry work must be applied for by 15 November each year.⁹

Graduate visa

The Graduate visa lets eligible students stay in the UK after successfully completing a qualifying UK course. You must be in the UK when you apply, hold a current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa, and apply before it expires.⁵

The length of stay is changing. If you apply on or before 31 December 2026, the Graduate visa lasts 2 years. If you apply on or after 1 January 2027, it lasts 18 months. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it lasts 3 years.⁵

Creative Worker visa

The Creative Worker visa is for people offered work in the UK as a creative worker, such as an actor, dancer, musician or film crew member. It replaced the Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting visa (T5). Sportspeople should check the International Sportsperson visa instead.¹⁰

You'll need a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor and the work you do in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organisation.¹⁰

Can I get a work permit as a self-employed individual?

There are fewer UK work visa routes for self-employed people, but some options may apply depending on what you plan to do.

The Innovator Founder visa is designed for people who want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK. Your business idea must be new, innovative, viable and scalable and it must be endorsed by an approved body. This visa used to be called the Innovator visa.¹¹

You can stay for 3 years on an Innovator Founder visa and you may be able to extend it for another 3 years when it is due to expire.¹¹

The old Start-up visa is closed to new applicants.¹²

How to apply for a work permit in the UK

Once you've chosen the right visa, you'll usually apply online through GOV.UK. The basic process is:

1. Check whether you need a visa and which route fits your circumstances
2. Prepare your evidence and documents
3. Apply online, upload or provide documents and pay the fee
4. Prove your identity, which may involve biometrics such as fingerprints and a photograph
5. Wait for a decision before travelling, if you're applying from outside the UK.²

For most work visas, the earliest you can apply is 3 months before your employment start date.²

You'll usually need a valid passport or travel document. Depending on the visa and your circumstances, you might need supporting evidence such as a certificate of sponsorship, proof of English language ability, financial evidence or a tuberculosis (TB) test result.²

Depending on your passport, visa route and where you apply from, you may be asked to prove your identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check app or by attending a visa application centre.¹³

How long does a UK work visa take?

Processing times vary by visa route and whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.

For many work visas, GOV.UK says you can usually expect a decision within 3 weeks if you're applying from outside the UK or 8 weeks if you're applying from inside the UK.⁴ Some routes may offer paid priority services, but availability can vary.

How much does a UK work permit cost?

Here are current GOV.UK costs for some common UK work visas. Fees can change, and exact costs depend on where you apply from, how long you plan to stay and your personal circumstances, so always check the official visa page before applying.

The immigration health surcharge is usually £1035 a year for most adult visa and immigration applications. It is £776 a year for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants and applicants under 18.¹⁴

For many work visas, you must usually show you have at least £1270 available to support yourself in the UK. This doesn’t apply if you've already been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months or if your employer certifies that they can cover your first month in the UK up to £1270.⁴

Moving money when you work in the UK

If you need to transfer money to your account in the UK or move cash from the UK to an account elsewhere, you have options other than your usual bank.

With Wise, you can send money internationally with low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rate. That means no hidden mark-up added to the exchange rate. You can check the fee and rate upfront before you send.

You can also open a Wise account to hold and manage money in multiple currencies and order a Wise card for spending and cash withdrawals when travelling or settling in abroad.

Open a Wise account

UK work permit FAQs

What is the main UK work permit route?

For many people with a job offer, the main route is the Skilled Worker visa.⁴

Can I apply for a UK work visa without a job offer?

Sometimes, but many work visa routes need sponsorship and a job offer. Routes that don't require a job offer include the Graduate visa, Youth Mobility Scheme visa, Global Talent visa, UK Ancestry visa and High Potential Individual visa, depending on your circumstances.¹²

How early can I apply for a UK work visa?

For most work visas, you can apply up to 3 months before your employment start date.²

Can I bring family members on a UK work visa?

Some UK work visas allow eligible partners and children to apply as dependents. The rules vary by route.⁴

Sources:
1. GOV.UK - Check if you need a UK visa
2. GOV.UK - How to apply for a visa to come to the UK
3. GOV.UK - Common Travel Area guidance
4. GOV.UK - Skilled Worker visa
5. GOV.UK - Graduate visa
6. GOV.UK - Skilled Worker visa
7. GOV.UKa - Health and Care Worker visa
8. GOV.UK - Senior or Specialist Worker visa
9. GOV.UK - Seasonal Worker visa
10. GOV.UK - Creative Worker visa
11. GOV.UK - Innovator Founder visa
12. GOV.UK - Working in the UK
13. GOV.UK - UK Immigration: ID Check app
14. GOV.UK - Paying for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application
Sources last checked on 9 July 2026