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Coming to work in the UK

From the hustle and bustle of life in London to the slower pace of the Scottish Highlands, the UK offers all kinds of opportunities for people with specialist skills. Many overseas jobseekers are attracted here by the strong £ and the popularity of the English language.

Tough measures are in place to ensure current residents don’t lose out on jobs to those from overseas and employers have to prove that they cannot fill vacancies from the pool of local jobseekers. But if you have a desperately needed skill, you’ll be a valuable asset to an employer and getting a work permit should be much easier.

Will I be allowed to work in the UK?
Your right to work in the UK depends on a number of factors, including your nationality and the terms of your permission to enter the country. There are different rules for three main groups:

• citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA);
• other foreign nationals outside the UK; and
• other foreign nationals who are already in the UK.

The government-run site, Working in the UK, provides clear information about the various routes open to foreign nationals who want to come and work here.

A visa (also know as ‘entry clearance’) is required for various foreign nationals before they can enter the country. Check with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to see what kind of visa you need.

In the case of work permits, you need to secure a job before you arrive in the UK. It is employers who apply for work permits, not employees or recruitment agencies. Your employer has to prove you are the right person for the job and you must continue working for that employer to stay in the UK.

The Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (SEGS), launched in 2004, enables certain non-EEA students who have successfully completed and obtained a degree (with second-class honours or above), a Master’s degree or a PhD, to work in the UK for up to 12 months once they have completed their studies.

The Working Holidaymaker Scheme allows Commonwealth citizens aged between 17 and 30 to come to the UK for an extended holiday of up to two years. You can work, but only if this is not the main reason for your stay.

Under the UK Ancestry scheme, Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK can enter the country and work for up to five years. No separate work permit is required and the scheme allows candidates who have worked continuously for five years to apply for permanent residency.

For the full range of visas and permits, applications and leaflets, visit your local British Embassy or the UK Visas website.

What else do I need to consider?
Most employees will pay tax through the Pay as You Earn (PAYE) system, which means money is deducted from your pay by your employer .

In addition to tax, every worker between 16 and retirement age must pay national insurance (NI) contributions that will again be automatically deducted from your pay. Applying for an NI number can be a lengthy process, requiring an interview with identification such as passport, proof of address, a letter confirming you have work and, if available, pay slips. You will be given an account number, which is to be used when dealing with HM Revenue & Customs.

Getting a bank account in the UK can be an arduous task if you have just arrived here. Try to get your current bank to set up an account with an affiliated bank in the UK, as this is much easier. Banks require proof of address and a referral letter from your home bank or British employer. You may have to be resident in the country for six months or more before you can apply for a credit card or overdraft.

Good quality housing is not in shortage in the UK, but it can come at a price. The best way to start is to run an internet search on one of the many property websites to assess the typical price for the are in which you're looking. A short-term flat share is probably the best option until you're settled.

Totaljobs.com > Career Advice > Jobseeking plus > Coming to work in the UK

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