This article has been reviewed by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.
Updated March 2024
The United Kingdom has become a promising destination for Indian professionals looking to explore fresh opportunities in their careers. Its work visa program attracts individuals from the Indian subcontinent due to the diverse job market and high quality of life it offers.
Obtaining a work visa in the United Kingdom has been made notably hassle-free. Moreover, the UK has introduced initiatives such as the Young India Professionals Scheme, designed specifically to benefit Indian workers.
In this article, Wego will chart out the entire pathway for Indian citizens to obtain a visa to work in the United Kingdom.
Table of Contents
Can I apply for a UK work visa from India?
Yes, you can apply for a UK work visa from India. The United Kingdom presents a diverse array of work visas, each tailored to specific skill sets and occupational categories, including prominent options like the skilled worker visa, as well as temporary visas such as the seasonal worker visa.
Furthermore, there are specialized visas designed for entrepreneurs, recent graduates, and employees of foreign corporations, among others.
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UK work visa for Indians requirements
The requirements for UK work visas can vary depending on several factors, such as the nature of employment and whether or not you have a job offer. Indians can apply for different types of work visas according to their particular requirements.
Before we look at specific requirements for different types of visas, here are some of the general requirements to fulfill for obtaining a UK work visa.
- your certificate of sponsorship reference number – your employer will give you this
- proof of your knowledge of English
- a valid passport or another document that shows your identity and nationality
- your job title and annual salary
- your job’s occupation code
- the name of your employer and their sponsor license number – this will be on your certificate of sponsorship
If your documents are not in English, you must provide a certified translation. Moreover, you might be asked to provide additional requirements based on your situation.
- evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, for example, bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you)
- proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you
- your tuberculosis test results, if you’re from a listed country
- a criminal record certificate – if you’re working in specific jobs
- a valid ATAS certificate if your employer tells you that you need one because your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher
- your unique Ecctis reference number (formerly unique UK NARIC reference number). Since your qualification is from outside the UK – you’ll need to apply through Ecctis
- a blank page in your passport for your visa
You will need other specific documents in addition to these for applying for specific visas. Please refer to our dedicated UK work visa requirements article below for more information:
UK work visa for Indian types
The following are some of the types of UK work visas available for Indian citizens:
Skilled worker visa
A skilled worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. It also allows you to work in UK waters.
Your visa can last for up to 5 years. You should apply to extend your visa when it expires or if you switch jobs or employers. This visa is suitable for you if you meet the following eligibility requirements:
- you must have knowledge of English
- you must work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
- have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
- do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
- be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work you do
The particular qualifications vary based on your career.
Health and care worker visa
A health and care worker visa allows medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care. You must have a confirmed job offer to apply for this visa.
To qualify for a health and care worker visa, you must:
- be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional
- work in an eligible health or social care job
- work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
- have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
- be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work you do
- check if your job is eligible
Please note that the health and care worker visa can be extended as many times as you would like. After staying in the UK for 5 years, holders of this visa can even apply to settle permanently in the UK, also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain.
Overseas domestic worker visa
If you are a domestic worker, such as a cleaner, chauffeur, cook or nanny, employed by the same private household for at least one year and live outside the UK, you may be eligible to apply for this type of visa through your employer.
In order to be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:
- are 19 or older
- have worked for your employer for at least 1 year
- work in the same household as your employer or one they use regularly
- plan to travel to the UK with your employer, their partner, or children
- intend to work as a full-time domestic worker in a UK household your employer will live in
- plan to leave the UK at the end of 6 months
- can support yourself in the UK without the need for public funds
Additionally, your employer must be either:
- a British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and who does not intend to remain in the UK for more than 6 months
- a foreign citizen who is coming to the UK on a visit and who does not intend to stay for more than 6 months
Please note that you can use this visa to visit the UK with your employer for up to 6 months. However, you must return home at the end of the 6 months, as you cannot extend an overseas domestic worker visa.
Temporary work visas
Temporary work visas provide individuals with the opportunity to work in the United Kingdom for a limited duration, typically spanning up to 12 months. Among the diverse range of visas falling under this category are the seasonal worker visa, Government Authorized Exchange visa, Creative worker visa, Religious worker visa, Charity worker visa, and International Agreement visa.
In general, to be eligible for a temporary work visa, you must have:
- a valid job offer from a UK-based institution that holds a Certificate of Sponsorship and is legally allowed to hire international workers.
- a certificate of sponsorship from your sponsors.
- at least GBP 1,270 (AED 5,806) in savings, available in your bank account for at least 28 days in a row.
Please note that the period of time you can stay depends on the length of your visa and the start and end dates of your job. Depending on the scheme you apply for, you’ll get a visa for a maximum of 12 months or 24 months.
Work visa for students
After graduating from their courses, students residing in the UK can opt to stay longer and pursue employment by securing a graduate visa. A graduate visa lets you stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing a course in the UK.
You can apply for a Graduate visa if you fulfill these criteria:
- you’re in the UK
- your current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
- you studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or any other eligible course for a minimum period of time with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
- your education provider (such as your university or college) has told the Home Office you’ve successfully completed your course. You can ask your education provider if you’re not sure whether they’ve told the Home Office you’ve successfully completed your course.
Please note that to be eligible to apply for this visa, you must be in the UK when you apply.
For more information on the type of work visas provided by the UK, you can visit the official UK government site.
How to apply for a UK work visa from India?
Applying for a UK work visa as an Indian national is a straightforward process when you adhere to the correct procedures and closely follow the UK government’s guidelines. The typical steps involved in obtaining this visa are as follows:
- fill out the application form and provide responses in English.
- make the visa fee payment online (in most cases).
- schedule and attend an appointment at a visa application center.
- pay the health surcharge as required.
- undergo biometric data collection, including fingerprint and photo capture, for the issuance of a biometric residence permit.
UK work visa for Indians processing time
The processing time of the UK work visa for Indians ranges in the following manner:
- 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK.
- 8 weeks if applying from within the UK.
Please keep in mind that processing times may vary based on individual circumstances and the type of visa being applied for. It is advisable to check the official UK government website for the most current information regarding visa processing times.
UK work visa for Indians price
The cost of a UK work visa can fluctuate based on the visa type and whether the application is submitted from within or outside the United Kingdom.
For your reference, here are the visa costs of some of the available UK work visa applications made from India:
- skilled worker (certificate of sponsorship for 3 years or less): INR 78,553
- skilled worker (certificate of sponsorship for over 3 years): INR 155,139
- overseas domestic worker: INR 69,594
- temporary work visas: INR 32,557
- health and care worker visa (certificate of sponsorship for 3 years or less): INR 31,028
- health and care worker visa (certificate of sponsorship for 3 years or more): INR 31,028
- graduate visa: INR 32,557
If you don’t see your category here, you can head over to the official UK government website for a complete price list of UK work visas from India. The healthcare surcharge has recently been raised from £624 to £1,035 (approximately $1,253). Additionally, the annual rate for children and students has seen an increase from £470 to £776.
India Young Professionals Scheme
Introduced by the UK government, the India Young Professionals Scheme visa offers Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 an opportunity to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.
The British government, while revealing this initiative, emphasized that India is the initial country with visa-national status to be granted access to this program, underscoring the strength of the UK-India Migration and Mobility Partnership established in the previous year.
For more information on the India Young Professionals Scheme visa, please visit our dedicated article below:
