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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. Pleae click on links to access more information.
| Type of leave | Restrictions on working | Maximum duration of leave | Apply for settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Economic Area national (from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden). Swiss nationals can also work without restrictions | No | No limit | Not applicable |
| EEA national Worker Registration Scheme (for nationals of Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia) | No | No restriction as such, but must register with Home Office for the first 12 months of employment | Not applicable |
|
Yes2 |
No visa as such but must register with Home Office |
Not applicable | |
|
Tier 2 (formerly work permits) |
Yes1 |
at discrection of Home Office |
Yes |
|
Fresh Talent Post Study (Tier 1) |
No |
2 years |
No3 |
|
No |
5 years |
Yes | |
|
No |
5 years |
Yes | |
| Tier 5 Temporary workers and Youth Mobility Scheme |
Yes
|
2 yrs |
No3 |
| Students | Yes4
|
depends on length of course |
No3 |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Scheme (SAWS) | Yes | 6 months | No |
| UK ancestry visa | No | 5 years | Yes |
1 Employment is restricted to the precise job and employer for which the authorisation 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 specific work permit.
3 Migrants in these categories cannot apply directly for settlement but may apply to switch into one of the following employment categories – Tier 2 employment, Tier 1 General
4 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.
For more information contact The Relocation Advisory Service info@scotlandistheplace.com
Information on the advice and assistance the
Relocation Advisory Service provides (free of charge)
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