UK Visas Programmes

Skilled Worker route

The Skilled Worker route encompasses the majority of UK jobs eligible for overseas recruitment, providing a simple and flexible process for accessing the global talent pool. Under the Skilled Worker route, anyone hired from outside the UK will need to demonstrate that:

• they have a job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor (you)
• the job offer is at the required skill level – RQF 3 or above (A Level and equivalent)
• they speak English to the required standard

Global Talent route

The Global Talent route enables the most highly skilled individuals, who can achieve the required number of points, to enter the UK without a job offer if they are endorsed by a recognised UK body, as approved by the UK Home Office.

This route is designed to attract recognised global leaders and promising individuals in science, humanities, engineering, the arts and digital technology. Top scientists and researchers can benefit from a quicker endorsement process as part of a fast-track STEM scheme.

Start-up and Innovator routes

The Start-up and Innovator routes are designed to attract entrepreneurial talent and innovative, scalable business ideas to the UK. Start-up is for those setting up an innovative business for the first time, and Innovator is for those with industry experience and at least £50,000 funding. Applicants can be individuals or teams. Applicants must be able to speak, read, write and understand English.

UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

A UK Expansion Worker visa allows applicants to come to the UK to set up a branch of an overseas business that has not started trading in the UK yet. The applicant must already work for the overseas business as either a senior manager or specialist employee.

Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP)

The GEP is the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) flagship programme that enables internationally mobile entrepreneurs and innovation-rich companies to scale and grow from a UK global HQ.

The GEP offers mentoring and business support to non-UK based founders to help them set up and scale their business from a UK global headquarters. Support is free and includes:

• Mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs
• Providing introductions to key networks including investors
• Guidance on how to grow internationally
• Continued help from DIT once located in the UK, especially around exporting