Global Expansion Resources | United Kingdom
UK Work Permits & Visas
Helping businesses expand into the UK with our expert PEO services
Comply with UK visa laws and obtain the correct work permits for employees working in the UK using our expert PEO Services
While expanding into a new country and recruiting internationally is an exciting venture for your business it also comes with an abundance of red tape and obstacles to overcome. Obtaining UK work visas for your employees is often one of these obstacles.
A vital document for your employees, work permits can be especially difficult to obtain at the best of times, but, with the introduction of new post-Brexit laws, UK visas have become more challenging and time-consuming to apply for. As such, applying for work permits takes a huge amount of time and resource, two aspects that expanding businesses just don’t have.
Our UK PEO services cover visa applications including obtaining the correct documentation and compliantly applying for the correct, most appropriate visa. With an expert team dedicated to securing work permits, you can be assured that your employees working in the UK have the correct visas while you focus on growing your business. Read on to find out all you need to know about UK work visas and how our PEO services can help you navigate each step.
What’s included:
HR software
Bespoke employee management software included in our PEO service.
Global compliance
We have expert teams across the world to ensure global compliance.
Transparent pricing
Avoid hidden costs and account for our fee with our transparent pricing.
United Kingdom Expansion Advice
What are the types of UK work visa?
Like many countries, the UK has different visas depending on skill level and job role. As well as a whole host of temporary work visas, the UK offers the following long-term work visas:
- Skilled Worker Visa
- Health and Care Worker visa
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
- Minister of Religion Visa (T2)
- International Sportsperson visa
Each visa has different eligibility requirements and therefore requires different documentation. It is important that you have an in-depth knowledge of each visa, its eligibility and application processes to ensure full compliance when employing people in the UK.
How do I apply for a UK work visa?
Applying for a work visa is a long process full of red tape hence why it is recommended that applications are started three months before an employee’s start date. Employees and employers will both need to check what type of UK visa is required as applications vary for each visa time. Meanwhile, obtaining the wrong visa could result in non-compliance and the inability to legally work in the UK.
While each visa has its own requirements, below are some of the documents you will need for every UK visa application:
- Proof of knowledge of English
- A valid passport or other document that shows identity and nationality
- Job title and annual salary
- Job occupation code
- Employer name and their sponsor licence number – this will be on the certificate of sponsorship
It is essential that applicants for a UK visa have a confirmed job offer from a licensed UK employer. This employer will then act as a sponsor and provide a Sponsorship Certificate which is essential for every visa application.
As well as applications varying by visa type, they also vary depending on the employee’s home country. Likewise, whether an employee is travelling with family can also impact applications, which can often make applying for a UK visa laden with obstacles.
Has Brexit affected UK visas?
Brexit has affected the employment of foreign employees in the UK overall and visa applications have not escaped new regulations brought about by Brexit. There have been numerous changes to visa application processes and the types of visas available since Brexit, but one standout change is EU visas. Pre-Brexit, European nationals were entitled to live and work in the UK without a visa. However, since January 2021, EU nationals now need a valid work visa to work or study in the UK, making it more challenges for UK and European businesses to recruit European nationals in the UK.
You can find out more on UK employment visas post-Brexit in our blog.
How much does a UK visa cost?
UK visa fees largely depend on the application you are making, the type of visa you require and how long that visa needs to last. The UK government have a handy tool to check visa costs. However, it is worth remembering that as well as the cost to apply for a UK visa, the cost of extra staff to process these applications or the cost of non-compliance can make obtaining a UK visa an expensive process for your business.
Why use a PEO partner to obtain a UK work permit?
Applying for a UK visa independently can result in non-compliance which runs a huge risk of fines, penalties and can jeopardise your expansion plans. Not to mention that applying for a UK work visa is only one task to overcome when expanding your business. Businesses also need to consider payroll, tax, national insurance contributions, recruitment and employment contracts.
A PEO partner can take all of this from your shoulders, allowing you to focus on your company’s expansion knowing that visa applications and employee management is taken care of compliantly. If you want to find out more about how our PEO Services in the United Kingdom can support your global expansion, call our experts on +44 (0) 20 8129 6860 or email [email protected] to get started.
Don’t take our word for it!
“
Talk to an expert today
Whatever stage you’re at in your global expansion journey, we can help.
Contact us today to see how Leap29 can be the trusted expansion partner that supports your global expansion.
By submitting this form, you agree to our privacy policy.
United Kingdom
Expansion Resources
Local expertise, global reach
Employ people compliantly in 180+ countries – with or without your own foreign entities. We can help you set up and manage foreign entities – or act as an Employer of Record. We can also help with multi-country payroll and all your HR management. Wherever, whenever and however you want to employ people, we can help.
180+
Belgium
Turkey
Germany
New Zealand
Netherlands
USA
Australia
Finland
France
Singapore
We make expansion in the UK simple
Employing people compliantly across international borders can be challenging but we make it simple, bringing down barriers and making light work of the complexities. We offer the full range of compliant global expansion solutions so that wherever, whenever and however you want to employ people, we can support you.
EOR Services
Employ people compliantly in 180+ countries – without setting up new entities. We’ll shoulder responsibility as Employer of Record (EOR), making sure all your international employment is fully compliant.
We can also take care of your global HR from multi-country payroll to onboarding and offboarding.
Payroll Solutions
Getting global payroll right is one of the hardest challenges for any business expanding into new countries. We can shoulder this burden, freeing up valuable in-house resource to focus on growing your business.
Consider us an extension of your HR team, ready to answer all your questions large and small.
Global Mobility
Mobilise your people across borders with ease. Relocating to work abroad can feel daunting. But with Leap29 at your side, your employees can feel safe and supported.
We’ll guide your employees through the complexities of working in another country, helping them settle in fast.
Entity Services
Follow the opportunities to grow your business – wherever they take you.
We lighten the load of establishing and managing foreign entities and can help you solve all your entity challenges from running compliant, accurate multi-country payroll to local accounting and financial reporting.
PEO Solutions
Employ international talent wherever and whenever you need it – and enjoy the peace of mind of knowing you’re fully compliant. Our Professional Employer Organisation (PEO) services allow you to focus on growing your business while we handle compliance, multi-country payroll and your global HR.
Support & Advisory
The help you need to make your global growth effortless – trusted guidance and advice on your expansion challenges large and small.
HR Support
When you’re employing people in lots of different countries, answering just a simple query can take a disproportionate amount of time for your in-house HR team. Our HR Support service reduces this burden, saving you time and money and giving you the confidence of knowing your employees are well looked after, whatever their location.
Contractor Payroll
Enjoy compliant contractor payroll that meets all local requirements for tax, social security and employment legislation. We understand the importance of compliant contractor payroll to the success of your business and will pay your contractors on time, every time.
Start hiring today – and onboard within hours.
Pricing
Budget confidently with transparent, competitive fees and no hidden costs.
Want us to shoulder employer liability and take care of your global HR through our EOR solution? No problem. Just want global payroll? You can have that too. Pick the solutions that your individual business needs.