Different kinds of permit for work permit applications are :
- Business and Commercial Work Permit
- Training and Work Experience Scheme
- Sports and Entertainments
- Student Internship
- General Agreement on Trade in Services
People from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) are recruited from the employers through the
Business and Commercial Work Permit, they are filling the vacancy that may otherwise be filled by a 'resident worker'. Those who are applying for Business and Commercial work permits require Multiple Entry Work Permits and they should use form WP1 and for changes of employment' or use form WP1X for extensions to existing work permits. For Sponsored Researchers use the form SR1 to apply for new, change of employment and extension applications.
People who are from outside EEA need the
Training and Work Experience Scheme to undertake work-based training for a professional or specialist qualification, or a period of work experience. When applying for Training and Work Experience work permits use form WP1 and for changes of employment or use WP1X for extensions to existing work permits.
The
Sports and Entertainments arrangements allow employers in this country to employ established sportspeople, entertainers, cultural artists and some technical/support people from outside the EEA. Please use form WP3 when applying for Sports and Entertainments work permits, Multiple Entry Work Permits and for changes of employment or use WP3X for extensions to existing work permits.
The
Student Internship arrangements allow students from outside the EEA studying first or higher degree courses overseas to undertake an internship with an employer in this country. Please use form WPSI when making an Internship application. Please see the 'Student Internship guidance for employer' (Student Internship (notes)) for further details.
The
General Agreement on Trade in Services arrangements allow employees of companies that are based outside the European Union to work in the UK on a service contract awarded to their employer by a UK-based organisation. This is a special and exceptional arrangement within the normal work permit rules made under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). The company abroad that is contracted to provide the service needs to apply using the application form GATS-A. Please see the 'Guidance notes for employers on how to apply for a General Agreement on Trade in Services work permit' (GATSA (notes), and associated guidance in GATSB (notes) if necessary) for further details.
People from outside the EEA are recruited under Sectors Based Scheme (SBS) to fill vacancies that they are unable to fill with 'resident workers'. This works currently in the hospitality and food manufacturing sectors. SBS only covers only those posts that are recognized as hard to fill by work permits (UK). These are specified in the Sectors Based Scheme Guidance. The business and commercial arrangements specified in the guidance notes are at a level would not meet the skills criteria, but the same has been identified as hard to fill in the UK. The SBS is quota based.
Please use form SB1 when applying for an SBS work permit or a change of employment under these arrangements or form SB1X for an extension to an existing work permit. Please see the 'Guidance notes for employers on how to apply for a Sectors Based Scheme work permit' (Sectors Based Scheme (notes)) available on this website using the 'All Forms' link on the right hand side of this page.
