Are You an EU Citizen Searching for Jobs in the UK? Since Freedom of Movement ended, searches for EU workers has significantly diminished.

But some industries still rely on EU talent – for instance the travel industry – but how long will this continue?

Skilled Worker Visa

Prior to Brexit, EU citizens could travel freely between UK and other EU nations for work purposes without needing a visa. Since Britain’s official exit from the EU on 31 January 2020, individuals looking to conduct business there must go through an approved UK visa scheme in order to do so.

Skilled Worker Visa is one of the options open to individuals looking to work and reside in the UK for up to five years, before qualifying for Indefinite Leave to Remain status after that time frame. In order to apply, applicants must hold a job offer from an employer licensed as Tier 2 sponsor with genuine vacancies within your occupation – while also possessing financial resources sufficient for paying at least the minimum salary requirements set out by the Home Office.

British businesses may hire EU nationals remotely in order to bypass immigration procedures entirely, however this approach carries substantial compliance risks. We advise employers who wish to employ EU citizens remotely of following practical and compliant hiring approaches such as relocation or remote work as a part of their hiring processes – or conducting right-to-work checks as part of this process in order to verify they possess legal permission for work in the UK.

Scale-up Visa

Scale-up Visa is one of the UK’s pioneering new paths to attract high-growth entrepreneurs and allows EU citizens to switch jobs without needing a sponsorship licence or bring along family. Workers sponsored must work for at least six months in the role for which they were sponsored; thereafter they can work at any employer without telling the Home Office and take on additional or alternative work without having to inform it first. They must earn at least PS36,300 annually or the going rate in their field and be proficient in English (speech, writing and understanding).

Notably, unlike the Skilled Worker Visa which only applies to highly skilled roles, this route is open to employees of high-growth businesses from any sector and fulfilling certain requirements for growth; using PAYE data, the Home Office also checks if businesses meet certain growth rates by measuring employment and turnover growth rates.

Scale-up visa holders receive an initial two-year visa that may be extended up to three years if their company continues its rapid expansion. They can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years of continuous residence in the UK.

High Potential Individual Visa

The High Potential Individual visa offers talented individuals a way to enter the UK and contribute to economic and societal progress without needing a job offer or sponsor. To qualify, applicants must meet criteria related to educational, language and financial maintenance; pass health checks as well as character references checks before being approved for this scheme.

This visa provides greater flexibility than its counterparts, such as the Scale-up and Investor visas, by permitting you to work in most jobs without restrictions on your career path or prevent you from starting a business. Furthermore, its application can be done from either abroad or inside the UK and could take anywhere between three weeks (if applying from abroad) to eight weeks for approval if applying from inside.

To qualify, you must hold an academic qualification that was issued from one of the top global universities listed by the Home Office Global Universities List – this list includes Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds and Academic Ranking of World Universities.

As with the EUSS route, High Potential Individual visas do not lead to settlement or indefinite leave to remain in the UK; however, you may apply to change to another visa route before your current one expires.

Right-to-work Checks

Before any individual can begin work, they must provide evidence that they have the legal permission to do so. This applies equally to contractors and freelancers (with some limited exceptions).

Proof that one is an EU citizen can be shown by showing their European passport or ID card, or they can use the Home Office’s Employer Checking Service which requires employees to provide a share code in addition to valid documentation such as passport/ID cards/EUSS accounts. Employers should note that those using EUSS must get their status verified with the Home Office in order to maintain a statutory excuse.

Since Brexit will mark an end to free movement between UK and EEA countries, most EEA workers will require visas in order to work and live in the country long-term. When applying for their visas they should ensure they possess all relevant permits prior to beginning work; this may require obtaining a sponsor licence from the Home Office whose primary responsibility should be carrying out right to work checks compliant with regulations and penalties from both them and their employers – another duty which a sponsor license serves.