UK Work Visas

Hiring internationally can unlock access to skills your business needs to grow. But choosing the right visa route, and understanding how it fits with your wider workforce plans, is critical to getting it right first time.

Choosing the right visa for your business

Work visas are not one-size-fits-all. The route you choose will influence:

• Who you can hire
• How quickly you can fill a role
• The cost of recruitment
• Your compliance obligations
• Long-term retention and progression.

Taking a structured approach ensures your recruitment plans aren’t delayed by avoidable issues and that your visa strategy supports your broader business goals.

Key UK work visa routes

We advise on all major UK work visa options, including:

• Skilled Worker visas: The main route for employing overseas talent in permanent or fixed term roles. We help you assess eligibility, salary thresholds and the end-to-end visa process.
• Global Business Mobility routes: Designed for international businesses transferring staff or establishing a UK presence. We ensure these routes align with your corporate structure and mobility strategy.
• Scale-up and specialist routes: Alternative options that may offer greater flexibility for high-growth businesses or niche roles. We’ll assess whether these routes provide a commercial advantage.
• Business visitor visas: Suitable for individuals who are based outside the UK and are simply required to travel to the UK for short periods of time for business reasons. We help ensure employees stay within permitted activities and avoid compliance risks.
• Permitted Paid Engagement visas: Used in limited circumstances for short-term professional engagements. We provide clear guidance on when and how this route can be used.

Each route serves a different purpose. It’s important to identify the most effective option based on the role, the individual and your wider business objectives.

Sponsor licences and work visas

In many cases, hiring overseas workers will require a sponsor licence alongside the visa application. This is a core part of the UK immigration system and a key consideration for employers.

We advise on how sponsorship fits into your recruitment plans and support you through both the licence and visa process.

How can we help you?

We work with HR teams, founders, in-house counsel and business leaders to deliver practical, outcome-focused advice.

Our support includes:

• Identifying the most suitable visa route for each role
• Advising on eligibility, costs and timelines
• Preparing and submitting visa and sponsor licence applications
• Supporting employees through the process
• Advising on how visa choices align with your broader strategy.

Our focus is simple: to help you hire the people you need, when you need them, while staying compliant and in control.

Managing work visas over time

Immigration doesn’t stop once a visa is granted. Ongoing management is essential to avoid disruption and support employee retention.

We advise on:

• Visa extensions and renewals
• Switching between visa routes as roles evolve
• Settlement (indefinite leave to remain) planning
• Ongoing compliance with Home Office requirements.

Taking a proactive approach helps maintain workforce stability and reduces risk.

International hiring doesn’t need to be complex. With the right advice, it can be a smooth and strategic part of your growth.