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UK Visa Categories
UK Visa Categories

There are different types of visa categories you could apply for. Check this page to find out which one you might be eligible for.

Rowan avatar
Written by Rowan
Updated over 2 years ago

Corporate Visas

Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled worker visa allows you to relocate to the UK and work for your employer.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:

  • work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office

  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK

  • do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations

  • be paid a minimum salary - how much depends on the type of work you do

  • Meet the English language requirements - B1 CEFR

Processing Times

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

  • 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK

With a Skilled Worker visa you can:

You cannot:

  • apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension

  • change jobs or employer unless you apply to update your visa

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Skilled Worker visa.

Intra Company Transfer Visa

Eligibility

To qualify for an Intra-company visa, you must:

  • be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor

  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from the employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK

  • do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations

  • be paid at least £41,500 for an Intra-company Transfer visa or at least £23,000 for an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa

  • You must also have worked for your employer outside the UK before coming to transfer to the UK

    • Intra-company Transfer (earning less than £73,900 a year) Must be working for 12 months outside the UK

    • Intra-company Transfer (earning £73,900 a year or more) No time limit on how long worked outside the UK

    • Intra-company Graduate Trainee - must have worked for 3 months outside the UK

The specific eligibility requirements depend on the job.

Processing Times

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

  • 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK

What you can and cannot do

With an Intra-company visa you can:

You cannot:

  • apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension

  • change jobs unless you update your visa

  • apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’)

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with an Intra-company visa.

Business Visit Visa

You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities.

You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months. You might be able to apply to stay for longer in certain circumstances, for example to get medical treatment.

Eligibility Criteria

You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to do the following business activities:

  • attend interviews, meetings, conferences and seminars

  • negotiate and sign deals and contracts

  • attend trade fairs to promote your business (you cannot sell things)

  • get work-related training if you’re employed overseas and the training is not available in your home country

  • give a one-off or short series of talks as long as they’re not for profit or a commercial event (you must not be paid)

  • carry out site visits and inspections

  • oversee the delivery of goods and services provided by a UK company to your overseas company or organisation

  • deliver training or share knowledge on internal projects with UK employees of the company you work for overseas

  • install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on equipment, computer software and hardware, if your overseas company has a contract with a UK company or organisation

A Business visit visa costs £95 for up to 6 months. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in.

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