Ensuring your workers are eligible to work in the UK

Understand the work permit scheme

If someone you wish to employ isn't automatically eligible to work in the UK, you may be able to arrange a work permit for them.

The work permit scheme allows UK employers to recruit or transfer people from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Recruitment agencies, employment agencies and other similar businesses cannot apply for work permits, as they aren't recruiting to fill a specific vacancy. If you're planning to employ someone on a work permit, you may be involved in making an application for them and will have received direct notification from Work Permits (UK) of the application's success.

Along with permission from Work Permits (UK) for the person to take up the employment in question, ensure that the work permit applicant has been given leave to enter or remain in the UK. This will be in the form of an endorsement in their passport or other travel document, or it may be a letter issued by the Home Office providing confirmation of this.

Work permits are managed by Work Permits (UK), part of the Home Office's Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

The main types of permit issued are the:

• Business and Commercial Work Permit - the most common scheme for UK businesses hiring overseas nationals.
• Training and Work Experience Scheme - this enables people from outside the EEA to undertake work-based training for a qualification or period of work experience.
• Sports and Entertainments Work Permit - this enables established sports people and entertainers from outside the EEA to be employed.
• Sectors Based Scheme - open to overseas workers aged 18-30 where employers can show they have been unable to recruit resident workers in certain posts.

Multiple Entry Work Permits (MEWP) are available under the Business and Commercial and Sports and Entertainments Categories - allowing an overseas person to enter the UK regularly for short periods without having to reapply for a new permit each time. The MEWP is normally valid for between six months and two years and cannot be extended.

Download notes on work permits from the Work Permits (UK) website (DOC).

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Check entitlement to work in the UK
• When to check documents and how long to keep them
• Who doesn't need permission to work?
• Understand the work permit scheme
• Check if an applicant qualifies for a work permit
• How to apply for a work permit
• Extend or change existing work permits
• Employees from the European Economic Area

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