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| Working In The
United Kingdom |
| There are very strict rules
governing the employment in the UK of individuals from overseas. Overseas
nationals who wish to take up employment in the UK must be in possession of a
valid work permit and valid passport when they arrive here. If not, the
Immigration Officer may refuse them admission. However, individuals from the
European Economic Area (EEA) do not require work permits; countries of the EEA
are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech
Republic*, Denmark, Estonia*, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland,
Hungary*,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia*, Liechtenstein, Lithuania*,
Luxembourg, Norway, Poland*, Portugal, Slovakia*, Slovenia*,
Spain, and Sweden.
Gibraltarians and Commonwealth citizens given leave to enter or remain in the
UK on the basis that a grandparent was born here do not need work permits
either. Nationals from countries marked
with an asterisk (*) need to apply for permits under
the UK's Worker Registration Scheme when they start
working. |
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| Work Permit Applications |
| Work permits are not issued to
individuals; an application for a work permit can only be made by an employer
in Great Britain who has a specific job to offer a named person. The Department
for Education and Employment usually only issues work permits for jobs
requiring people with degree level or equivalent professional qualifications,
people with work experience at a senior level, or for areas in which there is a
particular skills shortage. The Department needs to be satisfied that the
vacancy cannot be filled by resident or EEA labour. UK employers wishing to
make a work permit application can obtain application forms and an information
leaflet ("Guide for Employers") by telephoning: 01937 840224. |
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Working holidaymakers |
The working
holidaymaker scheme is an arrangement whereby a single person aged 17-27 comes
to the UK for the purpose of an extended holiday (up to 2 years) and who
intends taking employment which is incidental to the holiday. That means
part-time or casual work. Working holidaymakers are not allowed to take full
time work for more than half of their stay. In order to qualify as a working
holidaymaker, you must fulfil ALL of the following criteria:
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You are a Commonwealth citizen, British Dependent Territories
citizen or British Overseas citizen; |
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You are seeking entry for an extended holiday; |
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You are unmarried or married to a person who at the same time
qualifies for entry as a working holidaymaker and you intend to take holiday
together; |
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You do not have any children who are 5 years of age or over,
or who will reach 5 years of age before you complete your holiday; |
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You are able to support and accommodate yourself without
recourse to public funds; |
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You have the means to pay for your onward journey; |
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AND you intend to leave the United Kingdom on completion of
your holiday. |
You can apply by
contacting your nearest diplomatic post (i.e. British Embassy, High Commission
etc.) You must attend in person and your application should be accompanied by
your passport, evidence of sufficient funds to maintain and accommodate
yourself, and a letter confirming your work details. |
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Entry Clearance |
| An application
visa or Entry Clearance certificate issued for the purposes of travel to the
UK. Applications for entry clearance, including for working holiday makers,
must be made in the country where you are living, to the British Embassy, High
Commission, or other British Diplomatic mission designated to issue entry
clearance. Entry Clearance is not required from all countries; check with your
nearest British Diplomatic Post. |
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Senior Level Posts |
| It is possible to
come to the United Kingdom for an interview for a job with a business visa,
which is normally valid for one week. You will have to return home whilst your
prospective employer applies for a work permit, which will normally take about
6 weeks. Work Permits are not automatically given; there has to be a residency
test and the job must be shown to have been advertised nationally. |
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Contacts and Links |
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