Tier 1 Post-Study Work Visa

  • This is a visa which allows people who have successfully completed a UK degree within the last 12 months to remain in the UK for two more years, and they are allowed to work in employment or self-employment without restriction.
 Tier 2 General Work Permit

  • A skilled person who is not an EEA national they may have to sponsor them under the Tier 2 General scheme. To do this the employer must be on the Tier 2 Sponsor Register. 
  • The employer must issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for the prospective employee and then the prospective employer must apply to the UK Border Agency (either in the UK or from outside the UK) for Tier 2 General leave so they can take up the job.

Tier 2 Sponsor Register Application for Employers

  • For a UK company to employ a non-EEA employee who does not otherwise have any right to work in the UK they must first apply to the UK Border Agency to get on the Tier 2 Sponsor Register. 
  • Once they are on this Register they may then be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship and the prospective employee will then be able to make an application to the UK Border Agency to work for the company as a Tier 2 Migrant.

Tier 4 Student Visa

  • A person can apply, either in the UK or from outside the UK, for a Tier 4 Student Visa either as a child student (from the age of 4 upwards) or as an adult student. The course must be a full-time course (of at least 15 hours per week). The Tier 4 Student must be sponsored by their school, college or university, which must issue a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies for them before the visa application can be made. In some cases it is possible for a Tier 4 Student to work, on a part-time basis:
  • Above degree level:  20 Hours per week Term time and Full time in holidays and completion of their course assuming they still have valid leave.
  • Tier 4 ( General ) Students at a publicly-funded further education college, Below Degree Level:  10 hours per week Term time and full time in holidays and on completion of their course assuming they still have valid leave.


“Student Visitor Permits” are not allowed to work.

Tier 5 Temporary Worker Visa

  • This visa category includes various types of worker or performer, including creative artistes, sports people, charity workers and religious workers, who wish to come to the UK to work unlimited hours for a temporary period.

Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

  • This visa category is only open to people aged 18 to 30 who are nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or Monaco, and it can only be granted once in a lifetime. It is granted for two years, and allows unlimited work in employment and limited self-employment.

What is the difference between a Work Permit and a Visa?

A UK Work Permit is a document issued by the Work Permits (UK), a part of the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate; it gives he employer permission to employ a specific person in a specific job at a specific location.


A UK Work Permit is not a permission for the employee to take up work in the UK. The permission for an employee to enter and work in the UK is conferred by a UK Immigration or Consular officer who, following the issue of a Work Permit, may issue to the employee a suitable visa. The visa is an endorsement stamped in the employee’s passport.


Even if an employee is already working in the UK on a Work Permit, a new employer must obtain a new Work Permit before the employee can change jobs.

UK Ancestry Visa