Work permits and visas
You will need a work permit to work in England, Scotland and Wales if you are not a national of the European Economic Area (EEA) and not otherwise entitled to work in the UK.
A work permit is a document issued by the Border and Immigration Agency that allows you to work for a particular employer. Work permit applications can only be made by a UK based employer, so a school or local authority would apply for a work permit for you.
A work permit that allows you to teach for four years in England as an unqualified teacher cannot be extended and you must gain qualified teacher status (QTS) during this time. The four-year period starts from the first day you teach in a mainstream school in England and includes breaks in service. If you don’t achieve QTS during this period, you cannot be employed as a teacher in a mainstream school in England. The Teachernet website provides further information on the four year rule.
If you wish to leave your school, your new employer must apply for a fresh work permit for you. Some supply agencies link teachers who want to work in England with schools willing to employ overseas trained teachers; the agency then applies for work permits on behalf of the school. Work permit arrangements do not allow direct employment with agencies.
Important changes for work permit arrangements
The introduction of the new points-based system (PBS) means there will be important changes to the way businesses will recruit overseas workers in the future.
Tier two (skilled workers) and tier five (temporary workers) of the new PBS replace the current work permit scheme. If you wish to recruit migrants in these tiers; or renew a period of employment for a current work permit holder; after November 2008, you must apply to UK Border Agency for a sponsor licence.
Following successful registration, anybody you wish to employ via these routes must hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) provided by you. This will be used as the basis of their application to enter the UK or remain for a further period of time once their existing leave has ended.
You are able to continue to recruit migrants who have applied under the Tier one (highly skilled) route without applying to act as a sponsor.
When to make your application
Tiers two and five go live in November 2008, but you can apply to be a sponsor now. Our Agency will support you throughout the application process and post registration.
Find out how to register as a sponsor by visiting the UK Border Agency website.
You should apply soon to ensure that your application is processed, your licence is in place and you can continue with your recruitment throughout the switch-over period.
The licence duration will run from the date your relevant tier switches on. To ensure you are ready for November, please apply early. You will not lose any of your licence period by applying early.
To learn more about the PBS, please visit the website of the UK Border Agency.
