Persons
coming to the UK for certain categories of employment may do
so without obtaining a work permit. These categories are known
as permit-free employment.
- The categories
of employment for which a Work permit is not required are:
Representatives of overseas newspapers, news agencies and
broadcasting organisations, on long term assignment to the
UK
- Representatives
of overseas firms which have no branch, subsidiary or other
representative in the UK
In order to qualify
for admission the applicant is expected to produce evidence
of a contract with the overseas company and evidence that the
company is actively functioning. The applicant must be a senior
employee of the overseas company and have the power to make
decisions and negotiate on the company’s behalf. During the
first year he is expected to set up a registered branch of the
company or wholly owned subsidiary and continue to run it
- Ministers
of religion, missionaries and member of religious orders
Ministers of religion
are defined as religious functionaries whose main regular duties
comprise the leading of a congregation in performing the rites
and rituals of the faith and in preaching the essentials of
the creed.
They will need
to provide evidence that they are ordained as ministers and
have been working as such for at least a year abroad, as well
as evidence from the congregation or institution with which
they will be working to show why they are needed and that
the congregation will be able to support them. The provision
applies to all religions but ministers from non-Christian
or non-mainstream churches may experience most difficulties.
A missionary is
defined as a person who is directly engaged in spreading a
religious doctrine and whose work is not in essence administrative
or clerical.
Our company can
assist those persons seeking to enter for permit-free employment
in obtaining entry clearance for this purpose. They will be
admitted for 12 months initially and may apply for an extension
. They will then have to show that they are still engaged
in the occupation and the employer requires them to continue.
They may be given an extension for three years. After four
years in the relevant occupation, they may apply for-settlement
and this will be granted provided they have been continuously
employed in the relevant job for the four-year period and
the employer still wishes them to continue.
Case Studies
