🇬🇧 UK Introduces Easy Work Visa for Overseas Employees in 2024

The UK is extending a warm welcome to foreign labour in its construction sector. This is fantastic news if you’re a construction worker seeking international opportunities.

The UK government has announced that they will permit foreign bricklayers and plasterers to search for employment within their shores, despite predictions of record net migration.

This decision, although criticised by high-ranking Conservative MPs, has seen the inclusion of construction workers in the occupation shortage list.

This move opens the door for companies to recruit overseas workers for an annual wage as low as £20,960 – about 80% of the median income.

Other professions such as carpenters, joiners, tilers, and roofers are also included in this list, which means reduced visa expenses for them.

The idea was recommended by the migration advisory group to address the rising job vacancies post-pandemic and the acute shortage of skilled labour in this area.

Although this decision has caused a stir, especially since it came soon after conservative supporters asked for a decrease in net migration before the next election, it has been warmly received by the UK’s construction industry, recognising it as an important measure to tackle labour shortages in particular roles and effectively fill vacancies.

Table of Contents

UK Work Visa with No Sponsorship Needed | Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visit Visa
Who is Eligible for the Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visa?
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recently published its Review of Adult Social Care in the UK
UK Temporary Worker Visa (Tier 5)

UK Work Visa with No Sponsorship Needed | Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visit Visa

Artists, entertainers, and performers from all over the world are in high demand. Recognising this, the UK government has introduced a special visa within the UK Visitor visa category known as the UK Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor Visa.

Unlike the standard visitor visa which restricts the earning potential of its holders, there are a few exceptions in this new category.

Holders can earn remuneration if they are performing at a Permit Exempt Festival in the UK or if they are authorised as Permitted Paid Engagement Visitors.

This visa primarily targets professionals invited as recognised authorities in their fields, allowing them to visit the UK for specific paid work without having to secure sponsorship.

Who is Eligible for the Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visa?

The UK Permitted Paid Engagement Visa is open for the following individuals:

Professors or lecturers invited to deliver a lecture at a university
Lawyers appearing before the court
Pilots examining the UK’s airline industry as per international standards
Fashion models
Sportspersons
Professionals from the entertainment industry

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recently published its Review of Adult Social Care in the UK

MAC is an independent body advising the UK government on various migration issues.

Its April 2022 report reveals the struggles of the UK’s social care sector, which is unable to meet the rising demand for social care services due to staff shortages and budget constraints.

These issues have been aggravated by the pandemic. MAC predicts that the social care sector will need an additional 236,000 full-time equivalents in the next 11 years to meet the rapidly growing demand for social care services.

MAC has made the following recommendations on the Health & Care Work Visa to the UK Home Office:

The launch of a fully-funded minimum wage program for UK care workers
Pay for all hours spent at work by social care workers, including time spent sleeping or travelling
Exemption of Health and Care Work Visas from the Immigration Skills fee
Retention of the current salary threshold for the Health and Care Work Visa
Fee waiver for Health and Care Work Visa holders who complete five years in nursing or caring jobs

MAC further recommends a review of application fees for all types of visas, ensuring affordability for middle and low-income individuals.

It has also proposed to make the Health and Care Work Visa a permanent option for eligible care workers and asked the government to keep care workers on the Shortage Occupation List until the next review.

MAC also suggests a pilot umbrella scheme wherein sponsorships are offered to international care workers.

UK Temporary Worker Visa (Tier 5)

Finally, let’s discuss the UK Carer Visa, a type of visa introduced by the UK government in February 2022. Originally set to last a year, it has been extended to 2024.

The UK government has set aside an estimated £15 million to help companies recruit foreign workers, covering almost all expenses like visa fees, flight tickets, and proof of funds.

Requirements include having a Care Certificate, preferably obtained online, using a licensed agency to increase the chances of success, and obtaining an IELTS certificate before starting the application process.

Benefits include a processing time of only three weeks, and the ability to bring your family with you.

To increase the odds of landing these jobs, it is recommended to market yourself directly to the recruiting firm or employer, sign up with job-seeking websites to stay updated on new job postings, and to use the official UK job website, Find a Job.

Must Read: 🇬🇧 Call to Apply: Farm Worker Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship 2023

More Guides: