The UK’s post-Brexit immigration system is designed to encourage growth and development of key industry sectors. It has resulted in a complex immigration regime with routes open to both individuals and businesses.
The UK Government does, however, have the tech sector firmly in its sights with a clear desire to attract and develop a future pipeline of tech talent. There are now 10 visa immigration routes open to talented individuals wishing to build a career in the UK and businesses wishing to recruit the very best from around the world.
Fragomen LLP, the world’s leading provider of immigration services, and the Coalition for a Digital Economy (COADEC), an independent not-for-profit advocacy group, partnered to create a guide that will help tech start-ups and individuals wishing to work in the sector find the best and most appropriate route to immigration and accessing international talent.
The Immigration Guide for Tech Start-ups offers a detailed explanation of the requirements and restrictions associated with each of the 10 immigration routes.
Immigration routes for businesses:
- Skilled Worker Visa
- Senior or Specialist Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)
- Temporary Worker (GAE) Visa
- Scaleup Visa
Immigration routes for individuals:
- Global Talent Visa
- High Potential Visa
- UK Expansion Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)
- Start Up Visa
- Innovator Visa
- Graduate Visa
Kelly Chua, a Director at Fragomen said: “There is a real and concerted effort by the Home Office to support technology businesses through the immigration system. There are routes where an employer can sponsor individuals, and for high potential individuals to live and work in the UK. The 10 routes open tech start-ups and individuals can turn to are highly nuanced, with specific requirements and outcomes, and this guide is designed to help businesses and individuals find the most appropriate immigration route.”
Frances Lasok, Head of Talent and Skills at Coadec, said: “The new immigration system does a great job of providing lots of options for different types of skilled tech talent, but that flexibility means there’s complexity. The “right” immigration option will be different for different people, depending on someone’s background and future plans, so when a busy founder is looking for options and doesn’t know where to turn, we’re hoping to bridge the knowledge gap with this guide.”