UK Work Visas Without the Need for Sponsorship
As a requirement of being able to work in the United Kingdom, getting a work visa is essential if you are to explore such opportunities. A work visa usually requires you to be sponsored by a UK employer, but some pathways exist which allow individuals who want to work without sponsorship. In this guide, we will discuss how you can obtain a UK work visa without sponsorship, the different visa types and what needs to be done from your side.
If you are looking to go and work in the UK but do not have a sponsoring employer, the UK government has made several visa options available. Here are the different main categories that you can look into:
Global Talent Visa
Those who in the fields of science, humanities, engineering, arts and technology are strongly skilled should apply for Global Talent Visa. The visa available to you to work in the UK without an employer who needs sponsor才能上班。 You have to demonstrate that you are an internationally recognized expert or emerging talent in your field and be endorsed by a UK organisation who is on the approved list. It is one of the most flexible visas available and can lead to settlements within the UK.
Start-up and Innovator Visas
If you have a new business idea or innovation and are an entrepreneur, then the Start-up Visa and Innovator Visa may be for you. Even these visas do not require an employer as a sponsor but you need to have an endorsement from an approved organisation in the UK. The business concept or innovation is feasible, scalable and innovative and you need to demonstrate the skills and means to successfully develop the business.
Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
Young people from some countries (e.g. Australia, Canada and Japan) can apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa to live and work in the UK for a period of up to two years. The only catch is that this particular visa has specific criteria with regard to age and nationality as it doesn’t require a UK employer to sponsor you.
Ancestry Visa
To help with this, some may qualify for the UK Ancestry Visa if they have a grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom. This visa facilitates the opportunity to live and work in the UK (for a maximum of five years) for those with direct lineage of UK ancestry. Well, the visa does not need a sponsor as such but you must prove your lineage and be in a position to financially support yourself.
Graduate Visa
International students who have studied in the UK and finished their degree can stay, knowing they can apply for a Graduate Visa to work in the country for two years (three years if you hold a PhD). This visa allows you to work at any skill level without the sponsorship of an employer.
FAQS
Some visa types, for example the Global Talent Visa or Start-up Visa do not require a job offer or sponsorship from an employer.
No, the Youth Mobility Scheme is not open to all citizens but only those from certain countries (Australia, Canada, Japan etc.) See here (UK government website) for the countries that could be eligible.
You are required to prove your English language proficiency for most work visas, excepting some cases such as the Graduate Visa which does not require you to prove your level of English.
The salary requirement differs for the type of visa. To give you an idea, the Skilled Worker Visa has a minimum salary of £26,200 but can be less for some jobs.
This depends on the type of visa you are on. If your new job is in the same field and proper visa requirements are met, you may change jobs for most work visas.
Yes, many of the work visas (for example, Skilled Worker Visa and Global Talent Visa) lead to permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after a period of residence in the UK.