Jump to content

Work permits

Work permit holders

This section provides information for United Kingdom work permit holders.

Your work permit application will be made by a United Kingdom based employer. If the work permit application is successful the work permit will allow you to take a specific job with a specific employer.

Switching to a work permit
This page explains whether you can switch to work permit employment if you are already in the United Kingdom under a different immigration category.

Switching to the Training and Work Experience Scheme
This page explains whether you can switch to the Training and Work Experience Scheme if you are already in the United Kingdom under a different immigration category.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can the overseas national work while the application is being processed if they are already living in the United Kingdom?

    Normally if you have been issued with a new work permit you can not start working under the conditions of that permit until you have been granted further leave to remain (FLR) to do so using application form FLR(IED). However, you may work while the FLR(IED) form is being processed if you have valid leave to remain in an immigration category that allows you to do so.

    For example, if you are residing in the United Kingdom as a working holidaymaker or on a permit-free training visa, you can continue to work until a decision is made on your FLR as long as the work permit application and the associated application for FLR is received before the expiry date of your visa.

    An interim arrangement is currently in place whereby existing work permit holders can start a new job on the strength of the work permit permission letter, providing his/her existing leave to remain covers all or part of the period of the new employment. In these cases individuals will then have to submit a further leave to remain application before their existing leave expires, or within six months, whichever is the sooner. As the employer's work permit will have been approved, and the individual will still have to submit a further leave to remain application, this does not undermine immigration controls.

Back to top