UK Work Visa for Indian Citizens - Types, Cost & Documents Required

Indians make up the largest section of individuals obtaining UK skilled visas. If you are a skilled professional and want to boost your career growth to ensure high wages and an enhanced quality of life, then the United Kingdom is the right place for you.

Read the next sections to learn more about the intricate details regarding the UK work visa for Indians.

What Is a UK Work Visa ?

A UK work visa is an official document that lets individuals work in the United Kingdom legally.

What Are the Types of Work Visas Issued in the UK?

The United Kingdom offers the following types of work visas for Indians.

Tier 1 (General) Visa: Applicants who are current visa holders and have a UK permanent residence permit, meaning they have the permission to stay in the UK, can apply for this variant. Here, they can switch their existing visa to a Tier 1 (General) visa.
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa: Under this category, applicants must be endorsed as a globally recognised leader or emerging leader in the field of science, humanities, engineering, digital technology, medicine, and arts. Applicants who come from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland can also apply for this type of visa. Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa and Tier 1 Investor Visa are also available for individuals who wish to start a business or invest in the UK. Entrepreneurs, highly skilled workers, investors, and graduate students living outside the EEA and European Union (EU) don’t need a job offer for their Tier 1 visa application.
Tier 2 (General) or Skilled Worker Visa: Individuals who have gained a skilled job in the United Kingdom or are outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland can apply for Tier 2 (General) visa. To apply for this UK work visa, applicants must obtain a sponsorship certificate from a licensed UK employer. Further, applicants must establish a link between the work they do in the UK to the work of their sponsor organisation. Professional sportspeople, skilled workers, and clergy members outside the EEA can opt for a visa within Tier 2 to bridge the gap in the country’s labour force. If individuals wish to switch fields, they will have to reapply under the right occupation category or conduct the necessary transfer of permit paperwork, as stated by the immigration authority.
Tier 5 Visa: Individuals who wish to receive short term training or experience within the country can apply for this variant. The applicant’s age must range between 18 and 35. Tier 5 has six sub-tiers for temporary workers involved in sporting and creative positions, religious workers, charity, and young people working in the United Kingdom on holidays.
Representative of Overseas Business Visa: Individuals who are the sole representative of an overseas company that is planning to establish a UK branch or a wholly-owned subsidiary for an overseas parent company can apply. In addition, employees of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation posted on a long-term assignment to the UK can apply for this type of UK work visa. Individuals who are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland and belonging to any of the two conditions mentioned are eligible for this UK work visa variant.
Domestic Worker in a Private Household Visa: This kind of visa is available for individuals who are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland and are domestic workers in a private household. The conditions further include submitting proof of employment for at least 1 year with the present employer, and the employer has legal permission to stay in the UK throughout the applicant’s employment contract.

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for a UK Work Visa from India?

The United Kingdom moved out of the European Union (EU) on 31st January 2020. After this, the UK introduced a new points-based immigration system that treats both EU and non-EU citizens equally.

Individuals (except Irish citizens) must pass a point-based system and fulfil certain requirements for which they will score points. Individuals with the highest score or points will get a visa.

Under this system, points are awarded based on the following parameters,

Qualifications
Sponsorship
English language skills
Self-provided funds
Future expected earnings

Individuals will need a work permit in the UK relating to the type of work that they are doing.

Note: The majority of UK work visas demand sponsorships from UK-based employers. Hence, applicants must have secured a job with sponsorship from a licensed employer in the UK before applying for the work visa.

As individuals are aware of the UK work visa requirements for Indian citizens, let’s move on to the section focusing on the application procedure.

How to Apply for a UK Work Visa from India?

Searching for the application process for a UK work permit for Indians ? Read along!

As the Skilled Worker Visa programme is for those who have a job offer in hand, the application process will focus on this variant only. Follow the steps mentioned below.

Step 1 – At first, apply for a job. The UK publishes a list of jobs UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL). The applicant’s occupation must be there on the list. Remember, individuals cannot apply for a work permit directly; their employer will complete the process on their behalf.

Step 2 – Prove English proficiency. Though IELTS is not required in the UK, individuals have to prove their English proficiency through other documents.

Step 3 – At this stage, applicants must prepare the application package within 90 days of their starting their work in the United Kingdom and submit documents.

Documents Required to Apply for a UK Work Visa for Indian Citizens

To apply for a UK work visa, applicants need to have the documents mentioned below.

Certificate of Sponsorship/ job offer letter from a licensed UK company
Current employment details
Current salary slip and bank statements for the last year
Commendations/ certificates for outstanding achievements
Academic/ professional certificates
Proof of funds for the principal applicant and his dependents (if any)
A valid passport with travel history/ immigration visa stamps etc
Birth and marriage certificates
NOC on criminal records after police verification
English Language Proficiency Test scores and clearance Certificates from a recognised Test Authority
National Insurance number, travel and health insurance details
Other supporting documents

What Is the Processing Time Taken to Get a UK Work Visa?

The visa application processing can take 3 weeks if an applicant is outside the United Kingdom.

As stated earlier, in the case of a skilled work visa, employees need to apply 3 months prior to start working for their employers; they must apply earlier.

What Is the Validity of a UK Work Visa?

Tier 2 Visa programmes come with a validity of 5 years. Applicants can renew it by submitting proper documents.

How Much Does It Cost to Apply for a UK Work Visa?

Refer to the table given below to know the UK work visa cost for Indians.

Tier 1 Visa Category	Approximate Cost (in £)
Tier 1 investor – primary or main applicant	£1,871.98
Tier 1 Graduate entrepreneur	£478.85
Tier 1 exceptional talent applicant – only for dependents	£802.04
Tier 1 entrepreneur – primary or main applicant	£1,346.46
Tier 1 CESC entrepreneur – only for main applicants	£1,273.93

Skilled Visa Category	Approximate Cost (in £)
Skilled Worker where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less - main applicant and dependents	£804.62
Skilled Worker who received a certificate of sponsorship for three years or less - main applicant (CESC)	£732.08
T2 Minister of Religion – principal applicant and dependents	£804.62
T2 Minister of Religion - main applicant (CESC)	£732.08
Skilled Worker, shortage occupation, has been issued for over three years - principal applicant (CESC)	£1,151.13
Skilled Worker, where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for over three years - main applicant and dependents	£1,609.35
Skilled Worker - Shortage Occupation - Health and Care Visa - where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for over three years - main applicant (CESC)	£539.52
Skilled Worker - Shortage Occupation - Health and Care Visa - where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for three years or less - principal applicant and dependents	£305.94
Skilled Worker, shortage where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for three years or less - main applicant (CESC)	£539.35
Skilled Worker, shortage occupation, where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for over three years - main applicant and dependents	£1223.76
Skilled Worker - Health and Care Visa - where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for three years or less - principal applicant and dependents	£305.94
Skilled Worker - Health and Care Visa - where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for three years or less - main applicant (CESC)	£233.42
Skilled Worker, where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for over three years - main applicant (CESC)	£1526.30
International where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for up to 12 months - principal applicant and dependents	£321.77
Skilled Worker - Shortage Occupation - Health and Care Visa - where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for over three years - main applicant and dependents	£611.89
Skilled Worker - Health and Care Visa where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for over three years - principal applicant and dependents	£611.89
Skilled Worker - Health and Care Visa - where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for over three years - main applicant (CESC)	£539.35
Skilled Worker - Shortage Occupation - Health and Care Visa - where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for three years or less - main applicant (CESC)	£233.42
Skilled Worker, shortage occupation where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for three years or less - principal applicant and dependents	£611.89
International Sportsperson where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for up to 12 months - main applicant (CESC)	£249.23
International Sportsperson where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for over 12 months - principal applicant and dependents	£804.41
International Sportsperson where issuance of a certificate of sponsorship occurred for over 12 months - main applicant (CESC)	£731.89

Temporary Work Application	Approximate Cost (in £)
Temporary Work - Charity Work - main applicant (CESC)	£249.23
Temporary Work - Seasonal Work - main applicant only	£321.77
Temporary Work - Charity Work - principal applicant and any dependents	£321.77
Temporary Work - International Agreement Work - main applicant (CESC)	£249.23
Temporary Work - Youth Mobility Scheme - main applicant only	£321.77
Temporary Work - Creative Work - principal applicant (CESC)	£249.23
Temporary Work - Government Authorised Exchange visa - main applicant and any dependents	£321.77
Temporary Work - Religious Work - main applicant and any dependents	£321.77
Temporary Work - Government Authorised Exchange visa - main applicant (CESC)	£249.23
Temporary Work - Religious Work - main applicant (CESC)	£249.23
Temporary Work - Seasonal Work - principal applicant (CESC)	£249.23
Temporary Work - International Agreement Work - main applicant and dependent	£321.77
Temporary Work - Creative Work - principal applicant and any dependents	£321.77

What Are the Reasons to Reject a UK Work Visa?

The below-mentioned reasons can result in UK work visa refusal.

Incomplete documentation
Applying for the wrong visa type
Not fulfilling financial requirements
Violating visa rules on previous UK visit
Having criminal record
Not qualifying the point-based system.

With the knowledge of the eligibility parameters of the new points-based immigration system, obtaining a UK work visa for Indians will be easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What types of professions are covered under the Tier 2 Visa Programme?

Types of professions are covered under the Tier 2 Visa Programme Doctors (Physicians), Teachers/Professors, Scientists and Research Fellows, Innovators, Entrepreneurs/Business Investors, Nurses/Healthcare workers, Engineers, Finance experts, IT specialists, And a few others.

What type of visa replaced the Intra-company Transfer visa, previously the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa?

A Senior or Specialist worker visa replaced the Intra-company Transfer visa, previously the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa. This type of visa enables individuals to come or stay in the United Kingdom to do an eligibility at their employer’s branch.