Work permits are visas for non UK people who have a job offer and the company offering the job is prepared to sponsor the applicant, to allow them to work in the UK.
As a result of serious skills shortages in the UK the government has announced changes to policy so work permits can be obtained and issued more easily. One of the biggest changes is a 'fast-track' work permit which will allow workers in areas of shortage to enter the UK on working visas easily.
The aim of fast-tracking these visas is to ease the burden on employers by allowing them to hire non-EU staff. In the past employers had to prove that no other EU candidate could do the job.
Work permit extensions have also been increased from four to five years, and it will be easier for employers to renew work permits, including the stamping of passports.
The government hopes to cut down the processing time for 80 percent of the applications to one week by early next year.
While it is still necessary to have a job offer with the employer being prepared to sponsor the employee, a qualification and work experience are now not required.
New criteria require either:
A university degree
A diploma level qualification relevant to the position
A diploma level qualification not relevant to the position and 1 years relevant work experience
A minimum of 3 years work experience specifically related to the job
Those currently eligible for the fast-track visas:
Nursing posts in the following areas:
acute care, elderly care, general nursing, intensive care neo-natal nursing, learning disabilities, mental health, midwifery, occupational health nurses, paediatric care and theatre nurses.
Doctors posts in the following areas: Accident and emergency medicine, audio logical medicine, clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, diagnostic radiology, old age psychiatry, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, paediatrics radiotherapy, morbid anatomy and histopathology, nuclear medicine, occupational medicine, palliative medicine, urology.
Electronic and Opto-Electronic Engineering:
Ieng and CEng engineers and PhD Physicists in the following areas: Cellular phone systems development, design and development of electronic systems with embedded software, integrated circuit design, opto-electronics, photonics, radio frequency and microwave system and component design, systems integration, telecommunications systems development, video and audio systems development.
Other jobs:
Actuaries, CAA licensed aircraft engineers, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, teachers (posts in the Greater London area covering compulsory schooling), and veterinary surgeons. For more information log on to www.workpermits.gov.uk.