Short-Term Work Visa
Short-Term Work Visas
If you are planning to work for no more than 1 to 2 years in the UK, a short-term work visa may be suitable for you. There is a wide range of temporary visas.
Graduate Visa
If you are in the UK on a student visa, a Graduate visa can give you permission to remain in the UK for at least 2 years after you have successfully completed your course of study in the UK.
A Graduate visa allows you to work, or search for a job in the UK, for a maximum of 2 years after the completion of your course in the UK. The graduate visa extends to a maximum of 3 years for applicants who have completed their studies with a doctorate.
This visa does not have a route to settlement; however, you may be able to switch to a different visa type; such as a Skilled Worker visa.
High Potential Individual Visa
The High Potential Individual visa route will open on the 30th May 2022. The visa is offered to recent graduates of top-ranking universities as specified by the Home Office Global Universities List. Individuals under this route will be permitted to stay in the UK for two or three years depending on degree level. High Potential Individuals will be able to take up employment, take up self-employment, or set up a business all without the need for sponsorship.
The High Potential Individual visa is not available if you have permission to stay on a Graduate Visa.
Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
If you are aged 18-30 and a citizen of a participating country, you may be eligible for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa. This visa allows you to work and study in the UK for up to two years. Dependants are not permitted on this route, and it does not have a route to settlement, however, you may be able to switch into a category of visa that leads to settlement.
Temporary Work – Charity Worker Visa
A Charity Worker visa allows an individual to carry out unpaid voluntary charity work in the UK for up to a year. Before applying for a visa, you must have a certificate of sponsorship from a licenced employer.
Temporary Work – Creative Worker Visa
The Creative Worker visa is for creative workers such as actors, musicians, dancers, or film crew members. The visa allows for a creative worker to come to the UK for a maximum of a year or for the given period in your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days (whichever is less).
If you do not fall within the Home Office visa national list, you have a valid certificate of sponsorship, and your engagement will be for 3 months or less, you may be able to be granted your visa at the border under the Creative Worker Visa Concession.
Temporary Work – Religious Worker Visa
A Religious Worker visa is for individuals who want to support the activities of a religious UK institution by carrying out religious work in a non-pastoral role or religious order in the UK. The visa will allow you to live and work in the UK for up to two years or up to 28 days more than the time that is specified on your certificate of sponsorship.
Temporary Work – International Agreement Visa
The International Agreement visa is for individuals who are contracted to do work covered by international law or treaty while they are in the UK. This includes working for an overseas government or an international organisation, working as a private servant in a diplomatic household or as an employee in the household of someone who works for a ‘recognised international organisation’. With the visa, you can stay in the UK for up to two years, or the period specified by your certificate of sponsorship plus an additional 28 days.
Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa
With a Government Authorised Exchange visa, you can come to the UK for a short time for work experience, further training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, or for research or fellowship through an approved government authorised exchange scheme.
You can stay in the UK for one to two years depending on the scheme you are applying for, or the time given specified by your certificate of sponsorship, plus 14 days.
Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker Visa
The Seasonal Worker Visa is for workers who want to come to the UK to carry out seasonal horticultural work for up to 6 months. The sponsor must be an approved scheme operator.
Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee Visa
The Graduate Trainee visa is for workers to come to or stay in the UK to work for their employer in their UK branch. The job must be eligible and part of a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role. You can stay in the UK for up to a year or for the specified time of your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days.
Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker Visa
The UK Expansion Worker visa allows for a Senior Manager or specialist employee to come over to the UK to set up a branch of an overseas business that has not currently started trading in the UK. You can stay in the UK for a year after the start date of the job stated on your sponsorship, or for the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days.
Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker Visa
The Secondment Worker visa allows for your employer to send you to the UK to do an eligible job for a different organisation. Your employer must have a high-value contract with the UK organisation. You can stay in the UK for a year after the start date of the job stated on your sponsorship, or for the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days.
Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier Visa
To be eligible for a Service Supplier visa you need to have a contract where you provide a service for a UK company. This is either as an employee for an overseas company or a self-employed professional based overseas. The time you can spend in the UK depends on the trade agreement you are providing services under. You can stay in the UK for whichever of these two is the shortest:
- 6 or 12 months depending on the trade agreement you’re providing services under
- The time stated on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days.
Immigration Solicitors
No matter what your immigration needs may be, our solicitors are here for you. We know that it isn’t always easy to understand which visa is right for you, and how you would meet the minimum requirements. Therefore, our immigration experts can explain the best immigration path for you in an easy-to-understand language without any legal jargon.
We can help you with every aspect of your short-term work visa application and help arrange for your partner and children to come too.
If you want expert support applying for your temporary work visa, our highly skilled immigration solicitors are here to help.
We can help you with your short-term work visa application but we can not help you find or apply for jobs.
