As the demand for skilled engineers grows, many UK employers are turning to international talent to fill specialised roles. If you’re one of them, you may find this guide useful, as we explore the main visa options you can pursue when hiring engineers from abroad.
1. Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker Visa is one of the most popular options for UK employers seeking to hire engineers from abroad. It can enable you to bring in professionals with specific skills, provided you meet certain criteria.
Key Requirements:
- Job Role: The position you’re looking to fill must align with the UK’s list of eligible occupations, which includes a wide range of engineering fields such as electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering.
- Salary Requirements: You must offer a minimum salary that meets visa thresholds, which vary depending on job category and experience level.
- English Proficiency: Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in English — at minimum, they should be able to prove they can read, write, speak and underhand English at level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.
The Skilled Worker Visa typically lasts up to five years, with the potential for renewal and a pathway to permanent residence. For employers, the Skilled Worker Visa offers a structured but flexible option for long-term hires.
2. Global Talent Visa
The Global Talent Visa is designed for leaders and promising individuals in fields such as engineering, science, and technology. This visa is a particularly good fit if you’re looking to hire highly qualified engineers into advanced or specialised roles.
Key Requirements:
- Endorsement by an Approved Body: Candidates must obtain endorsement from a recognized UK body (e.g., Royal Academy of Engineering).
- Exceptional Talent or Promise: Applicants are assessed on their career achievements and potential, with fast-tracking available for particularly renowned professionals.
This visa offers considerable flexibility, as it allows for self-sponsorship, meaning the individual is not tied to a single employer. The Global Talent Visa is valid for up to five years and offers a streamlined route to permanent residence.
3. Intra-Company Transfer Visa
If you are a multinational company that needs to bring engineers from overseas branches to the UK, the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa is a good alternative.
Key Requirements:
- Role and Experience: The candidate must have worked for your organisation outside the UK for at least 12 months.
- Skill and Salary Requirements: Similar to the Skilled Worker Visa, the ICT visa mandates a minimum salary level depending on the role.
- Licensing as a Sponsor: Your UK entity must be registered as an approved sponsor to use the ICT route.
While the ICT Visa is valid for up to five years within a six-year period, it doesn’t lead to permanent residency, making it ideal for temporary assignments or short-term projects.
4. Graduate Visa
The Graduate Visa is a more recent pathway aimed at retaining talented international graduates from UK universities. This option allows you to hire recent graduates in engineering without sponsorship requirements.
Key Requirements:
- Graduate of a UK Institution: The candidate must have completed a recognized degree at a UK university.
The Graduate Visa is valid for two years (or three years for PhD graduates), giving you the flexibility to assess a graduate's potential before committing to sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Visa.
Additional Considerations for Employers
- Sponsorship Licence: UK employers must obtain a sponsorship licence to hire international employees under most visa categories. This requires an application and adherence to sponsorship obligations, including monitoring and record-keeping.
- Visa Fees and Processing Times: The costs of sponsoring a visa vary widely based on the visa type, duration, and candidate's country of origin. We recommend factoring in processing times and potential delays when planning to hire international talent.
- Path to Settlement: Visas like the Skilled Worker and Global Talent visas offer pathways to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), an attractive option for retaining long-term hires. Take advantage of these opportunities to retain skilled talent and communicate these possibilities to candidates, as it can be a significant draw for expat professionals.
Conclusion
From long-term routes like the Skilled Worker and Global Talent visas to flexible, temporary options such as the Graduate Visa, each pathway comes with its own requirements and benefits. By carefully considering the needs of both the role and the candidate, you can make informed choices that streamline your hiring process and ensure compliance with UK immigration law.
