Work Permits in Scotland

Scotland is not only a beautiful country where you can choose either the vibrant city life of Edinburgh or the quiet peaceful life on the Shetland Islands, it also offers a wide variety of different types of work areas. If you are an expert in electronic technologies or want to work in energy industries, are interested in the sciences sector including drug discovery, bio-manufacturing and stem cell sciences, Scotland might be just the right place for you.

Scotland is covered by the Immigration Rules set by the UK Government. There are a number of schemes for workers. So if you want to work and stay in Scotland for a certain amount of time you will have to find the visa that is right for you.

Some visas available for foreigners are as follows:

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa

Apply for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa if you want to set up or run a business in the UK and have more than £50,000 investment funds available, extend or switch your visa, bring your family

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa

Apply for a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa as an expert endorsed by a designated competent body as a leader or potential leader in arts or sciences, bring your family

Tier 1 (General) visa

Switch to or extend a Tier 1 (General) visa if you have leave to remain or you’re on the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme – fees, eligibility, knowledge of English, family members

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa

Apply for a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa if you’ve been endorsed for a business idea – eligibility, documents, extend or switch, bring your family

Tier 1 (Investor) visa

Apply for a Tier 1 (Investor) visa if you want to invest £1,000,000 or more in the UK – eligibility, fees, extend or switch, bring your family

Tier 2 Priority Service

Get a decision within 10 days if you apply to extend or switch to a tier 2 visa using the priority application service

Tier 2 (General) visa

Apply for a Tier 2 (General) visa if you’ve been offered a skilled job in the UK – eligibility, fees, documents, extend or switch, bring your family, taking a second job

Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa

Apply for Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa if you’re staff, a graduate trainee or taking part in a skills transfer – eligibility, documents, extend or switch, bring your family

Tier 2 (Minister of religion) visa

Apply for a Tier 2 (Minister of religion) visa if you’ve been offered a job in a faith community – eligibility, extend or switch, knowledge of English, bring your family

Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa

Apply for a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa if you’re an elite sportsperson or coach with sponsorship – getting sponsored, eligibility, documents, extend your visa, family members

Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Charity Worker) visa

Apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Charity Worker) visa to do unpaid charity work – eligibility, documents, family members

Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and sporting) visa

Apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and sporting) visa to work in the UK if you’re a sports person or creative worker – eligibility, extend or switch, bring your family

Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange) visa

Apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange or GAE) visa for work experience, training, research or fellowship – eligibility, extend or switch, family members

Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – International Agreement) visa

Apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – International Agreement) visa if you’re working under international law (including diplomatic households) – extend or switch, family members

Members of the European Union have the right to travel for the purpose of work between all member countries. You do not require a work permit of any kind. However, once here you may wish to obtain a residence permit from the Home Office. This provides official confirmation of your right of residence in the UK and can be used later if seeking settlement status.

If you are an non EEA national, you will need to meet one of the work permit arrangements if you want to work in Scotland.

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