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Advice to Business on Employment
Employing workers and students from overseas can offer businesses in Scotland many benefits, including –
- New skills
- Routes into international markets
- Increased ability to compete in the global marketplace
- A diverse and culturally-rich work environment
Compare the Different Types of Leave
Below are the main types of permissions to work that an employer might need to know about. Click on links to access more information.
| Type of leave | Restrictions on working | Maximum duration of leave | Apply for settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit | Yes1 | 5 years for each application | Yes |
| EEA national | No | No limit | Not applicable |
| EEA national (Workers Registration Scheme) | No | No restriction as such, but must register with Home Office for the first 12 months of employment | Yes |
|
Yes2 |
No visa as such but must register with Home Office |
Yes | |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Scheme (SAWS) | Yes | 6 months | No |
| International Graduates Scheme (IGS) | No | 1 year |
No3
|
| Working holiday-makers |
Yes4
|
2 yrs |
No3 |
| Students | Yes5
|
3 years |
No3 |
| Fresh Talent Post Study | No | 2 years |
No3 |
| Highly Skilled Migrants (Tier 1) General sub-category6 | No | 5 years | Yes |
| Highly Skilled Migrant Programme | No | 5 years | Yes |
| UK ancestry visa | No | 5 years | Yes |
1 Employment is restricted to the precise job and employer for which the work permit was granted.
2 An employer may need to obtain a work permit for the individual and if this is approved, the job applicant can obtain a worker authorisation document. In certain circumstances, the employee will be able to apply for the worker authorisation document for a specific job without a work permit.
3 Migrants in these categories cannot apply directly for settlement but may apply to switch into one of the following employment categories – work permit employment, highly skilled migrant programme and innovator.
4 Although leave is for up to two years, applicants can only work for a maximum of 12 months. May not engage in business or provide services as a professional sportsperson.
5 Students may work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during term time and full-time during vacations until the expiry of their student visa.
6 This category became available on 29 February 2008 for all in-country applicants and on 1 April 2008 for those applying out of country from India. Rest of world applicants can apply from their home countries from "summer 2008".
For more information contact The Relocation Advisory Service info@scotlandistheplace.com
Information on the services we provide,free of charge
The Relocation Advisory Service
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