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Work permits

The Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES) work permit arrangements

This page explains what a Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES) work permit is and how you can apply for one.

The Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES) arrangements enable companies to take people from outside the European Economic Area to undertake work-based training for a professional or specialist qualification, or a period of work experience.

The TWES is to enable people to gain skills and experience through work-based learning which they can then use back in their own country. We issue TWES permits if a person needs to do:

  • work-based training for a professional or specialist qualification; or
  • a period of work experience.

If a person will be filling a post which would otherwise be done by a resident worker, then you will need to apply under the Business and Commercial arrangements.

You can make a TWES application if:

  • you are an employer based in the United Kingdom; and
  • you can employ an employee and have a genuine vacancy for an employee in the United Kingdom; and
  • you are responsible for the post and the delivery of any project or piece of work; and
  • the gross pay and conditions are what you would give a resident worker doing similar training or work experience and meet
  • the national minimum wage; and
  • the employment meets the United Kingdom legislation and you have ensured that you and your employee have obtained any necessary registration or licensing; and
  • the post is additional to your normal staffing requirements; and
  • the person has had a TWES permit previously; and
  • the person is going to be doing work experience or training for minimum of 30 hours per week; and
  • the entry level to qualify for the training or work experience is at national/Scottish vocational qualification (N/SVQ) level three or equivalent; and
  • the person has the suitable skills, qualifications and/or experience; and
  • the person leaves the United Kingdom at the end of the agreed period; and
  • the person speaks English to a level where they will be able to understand what they are being taught; and
  • our company and the person doing the managing and training should be able to do so properly.

All training should be completed in the shortest possible time and you must inform us when the individual has finished.

The individual will be allowed two attempts (three if we think there are exceptional circumstances) to take their exams and we only issue TWES permits for a person to achieve a single qualification only.

Medical Training Initiative (MTI)

This category is appropriate for overseas post-graduate medical specialists who are training in the United Kingdom, normally with the National Health Service (NHS). It covers all schemes and arrangements sponsored or administered by the medical royal colleges.

Participation in the MTI is not intended to lead to settlement in the United Kingdom. MTI permits will be granted for the period of training to a maximum period of 24 months, after which the individual will be expected to return overseas. Where a maximum period is approved the UK Border Agency will refuse applications for in-country extensions.

To find out further information about the Medical Training Initiative and on the different types of Training and Work Experience Scheme criteria, you must read the TWES guidance notes. This guidance can be downloaded from the right side of this page.

For information on how to apply for a work permit under the TWES arrangements see the Applying page.

To find out if the individual or any dependants will need a visa you should see the visa services website.

Application forms

Training and Work Experience

Training and Work Experience, extension of stay

Medical Training Initiative

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Terms explained

  • European Economic Area

    Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.

  • Resident worker

    A person who is a national of the European Economic Area (EEA) or is legally settled in the United Kingdom with permission to work here. In some cases, an employer who wishes to employ a person who is not a permanent resident must show that no resident worker could be found to take the job.

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