On December 31st 2020, the UK left the European Union ending free movement for EU nationals in the UK. As such many questions, and confusions, have arisen regarding what UK employment visas are needed after Brexit and how it will affect EU citizens looking to work in the UK and the UK businesses that employ them.
How to get a UK employment visa after Brexit?
The end of free movement means that EU citizens who wish to live and work in the UK after 2021 will face more complex and more costly visa requirements than before. These are essentially the same requirements that non-European citizens have.
In order to receive a UK work permit, EU workers must achieve a required score of 70 points on the government’s new points based system. Mandatory points criteria includes:
- They speak English to the required standard
- They have a job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor
- The job offer is at the required skill level
Meanwhile, there are a certain number of ‘tradeable’ points criteria which can be traded for other points criteria:
- Salary – higher salaries receive more points
- Whether jobs are in a “shortage” category
- Education qualifications, e.g. PHD in a job-relevant subject or PhD in a STEM subject, again relevant to the job.
How will UK visa changes affect my business?
It goes without saying that visa stipulations have made it increasingly more difficult for businesses and potential employees to get a UK employment visa post-Brexit. The new legislation means more paperwork, cost and time spent on visa applications when hiring EU citizens. However, the alternative to not hiring EU citizens means cutting back on the top talent and the potential staff shortages we have seen dominate the news in recent months.
So, how can you get round UK visa changes?
A PEO or an Employer of Record can help you to navigate UK employment visas after Brexit, taking responsibility for compliance and sourcing work permits as well as handling payroll, recruitment and employee onboarding. This way, you can still continue to employ the top talent from the EU, as well as from around the world, without the responsibility and cost of post-Brexit work permits.
Find out more about how a PEO can help UK businesses after Brexit in our previous blog or contact our team on +44 (0) 1625 537 555 or at [email protected].
