United Kingdom visa pathways and migration community

British National (Overseas) visa

The British National (Overseas) visa allows British nationals (overseas) and their eligible family members from Hong Kong to live, work, and study in the UK. Applicants can apply to stay for 2 years and 6 months or 5 years, with the option to extend and a pathway to permanent settlement (indefinite leave to remain) after 5 continuous years in the UK.

Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work)

The Creative Worker visa allows people with a job offer in the creative industries to work in the UK for up to 12 months. Applicants must have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor, make a unique contribution to the UK labour market, meet minimum pay thresholds, and have sufficient savings to support themselves. Eligible partners and children can apply as dependants.

Frontier Worker permit

The Frontier Worker permit allows citizens of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein who live primarily outside the UK to work in the UK, provided they began working in the UK by 31 December 2020. The permit is free to apply for, lasts for 5 years (or 2 years for retained status), and proves your right to work, rent, and access eligible benefits and NHS healthcare.

Global Talent visa

The Global Talent visa allows leaders or potential leaders in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time. Eligible individuals can apply through an approved endorsement or directly if they have won an eligible prestigious prize.

Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work)

The Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work) allows individuals to come to the UK for a short time for work experience, training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, research, or a fellowship through an approved exchange scheme. Applicants must have a licensed UK sponsor and meet financial requirements. The visa is granted for up to 12 or 24 months depending on the specific exchange scheme.

Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)

The Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility) allows overseas employees to come to the UK to work for their employer's UK branch on an eligible graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role. Applicants must have worked for their sponsor overseas for at least 3 months, have a valid certificate of sponsorship, and meet salary and maintenance requirements. The visa is valid for up to 12 months and cannot be extended or switched into from inside the UK.

Graduate visa

A Graduate visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 18 months (2 years if applying on or before 31 December 2026, or 3 years for doctoral qualifications) after successfully completing an eligible course in the UK on a Student or Tier 4 visa. It allows you to work in most jobs, look for work, or be self-employed.

Health and Care Worker visa

The Health and Care Worker visa allows qualified medical, health, and adult social care professionals to come to or stay in the UK to work in an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in adult social care. Applicants must have a confirmed job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from an approved UK employer, meet minimum salary thresholds, and prove knowledge of English. The visa can last up to 5 years, is extendable, and can lead to permanent settlement.

High Potential Individual (HPI) visa

A High Potential Individual (HPI) visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for 2 years, or 3 years if you have a PhD or doctoral qualification. To apply, you must have been awarded an eligible degree-level qualification from a top global university outside the UK within the last 5 years. You do not need a UK job offer to apply, and you can work in most jobs, look for work, or be self-employed.

India Young Professionals Scheme visa

The India Young Professionals Scheme visa allows Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 with an eligible degree-level qualification and required savings to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. Applicants must first be selected in the ballot before applying.

Innovator Founder visa

The Innovator Founder visa allows individuals to set up and run an innovative, viable, and scalable business in the UK. Applicants must have their business idea assessed and endorsed by an approved endorsing body, meet English language requirements, and have personal savings. The visa allows a stay of 3 years with options to extend or apply for permanent settlement.

International Sportsperson visa

The International Sportsperson visa is for elite sportspeople and qualified coaches who are internationally established and endorsed by their sport's governing body. Applicants must have a valid certificate of sponsorship from a UK employer. The visa lasts for up to 3 years, can be extended, and provides a potential route to permanent settlement after 5 years.

Minister of Religion visa (T2)

The Minister of Religion visa (T2) allows individuals offered a job within a UK faith community—such as a minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order—to live and work in the UK. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor, meet English language requirements, and demonstrate sufficient personal savings. The visa allows a stay of up to 3 years and 1 month, with pathways to extension and permanent settlement.

Overseas Domestic Worker visa

The Overseas Domestic Worker visa allows domestic workers living outside the UK to visit the UK with their employer for up to 6 months. Applicants must be 19 or older, have worked for their employer for at least 1 year in a private household, and intend to work full-time in a UK household their employer will live in.

Religious Worker visa (Temporary Work)

The Religious Worker visa (Temporary Work) allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months to do religious work in a non-pastoral role or religious order. You must have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed UK sponsor and satisfy personal savings requirements.

Representative of an Overseas Business visa

The Representative of an Overseas Business visa allows employees of overseas newspapers, news agencies, or broadcasting organisations to work in the UK on a long-term assignment. It allows an initial stay of 3 years, with options to extend for 2 more years and apply for permanent settlement after 5 years. Individuals already in the UK as sole representatives can also apply to extend their stay.

Scale-up Worker visa

The Scale-up Worker visa allows you to come to the UK to do an eligible job for an approved fast-growing UK business for at least 6 months. It grants permission to stay for 2 years, can be extended, and offers a pathway to permanent settlement after 5 years.

Seasonal Worker visa (Temporary Work)

The Seasonal Worker visa allows individuals to come to the UK to work in horticulture for up to 6 months or in poultry from 2 October to 31 December. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid certificate of sponsorship from an approved UK sponsor, and have at least £1,270 in personal savings to support themselves unless their sponsor covers costs.

Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

The Secondment Worker visa allows overseas employees to transfer to the UK to work in an eligible job for a UK organisation that has an approved high-value contract (worth at least £50 million) with their overseas employer.

Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

The Senior or Specialist Worker visa allows eligible overseas employees to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job at their employer's UK branch. Applicants must have a certificate of sponsorship from an approved Home Office sponsor, work in an eligible occupation code, have previous overseas employment with the sponsor (if earning under £73,900), and be paid at least £52,500 per year or the job's going rate.

Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)

The Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility) allows overseas employees or self-employed professionals to come to the UK to provide services covered by a valid international trade agreement. Applicants must have a certificate of sponsorship from an approved UK sponsor, meet relevant job or qualification requirements, and have at least 12 months of qualifying experience outside the UK. Permission is granted for 6 or 12 months depending on the trade agreement.

Skilled Worker visa

The Skilled Worker visa allows qualified individuals to come to or stay in the UK to work in an eligible role with a Home Office-approved sponsor. Applicants must have a valid certificate of sponsorship, meet minimum salary and English language requirements, and have sufficient savings. The visa can last up to 5 years, allows extensions, and offers a route to permanent settlement (indefinite leave to remain) after 5 years.

Visit

Standard Visitor visa

The Standard Visitor visa allows you to visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business activities, short-term study, and other permitted activities. Longer stays may be available for medical treatment or academic visitors.

Study

Student visa

The UK Student visa allows individuals aged 16 or over to study in the UK if they have an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor, meet financial requirements, and demonstrate English proficiency. It permits full-time study and certain part-time work or sabbatical officer positions. Stay length depends on course level, typically up to 5 years for degree-level courses and up to 2 years for below degree-level. Eligible dependants may also apply under specific postgraduate conditions.