Long Term Work Visas Routes
Discover long-term UK work visas for skilled professionals, graduates, and sponsored workers across a range of sectors, helping you choose the right path for your career in the UK.
Long Term Work Visas Options
Long-term UK work visas are designed for individuals with a confirmed job offer in the UK who intend to work for extended periods, often with a pathway to settlement. These routes suit skilled professionals, healthcare workers, religious leaders, and those joining fast-growing UK businesses. Applicants typically need sponsorship from an approved UK employer and must meet skill, salary, and English language requirements. Most routes allow dependents and lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years.
Skilled Worker Visa
This is the main UK work visa for skilled non-UK nationals. It requires a job offer from a licensed sponsor in an eligible occupation. Applicants must meet a minimum salary threshold and demonstrate English proficiency. The visa lasts up to five years and can lead to settlement. It's suitable for a wide range of roles across sectors like tech, finance, education, and engineering.
UK Scale-Up Visa
This visa is for individuals joining a recognised high-growth UK company in a skilled role. It begins with six months of sponsored employment, after which the visa holder can work without sponsorship or even become self-employed. Applicants must meet a higher salary threshold than under the Skilled Worker route and demonstrate English proficiency. The visa can lead to settlement after five years.
Health and Care Worker Visa
A sub-category of the Skilled Worker route, this visa targets qualified healthcare professionals, including nurses, doctors, and care workers. It offers reduced fees and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. The role must be in an eligible occupation and the sponsor must be an approved NHS body, medical provider, or CQC-registered care organisation. The visa allows settlement after five years.
Minister of Religion
This visa allows religious workers—such as ministers, missionaries, or members of religious orders—to work full-time in their faith communities in the UK. A Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed religious organisation is required. The role must be central to the organisation’s religious activities. The visa is valid for up to 3 years and 1 month initially, extendable to 6 years, and offers a route to ILR.
Long Term Work Visas
Long-term work visas provide non-UK nationals with opportunities to live and work in the UK under sponsored or unsponsored routes. These include options like the Skilled Worker visa, Graduate visa, Health and Care Worker visa, and Scale-Up visa. Many of these pathways offer a route to settlement and allow dependents to join. Learn more about each visa type, including eligibility, sponsorship requirements, permitted work, and progression to Indefinite Leave to Remain.