Work permit (United Kingdom)
| Type | Immigration route |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Ministry | Home Office |
| Introduced | Pre-2008 (Original scheme) 2020 (Skilled Worker route) |
| Status | Superseded (Replaced by Skilled Worker visa) |
| Related | Points-based immigration system (United Kingdom) |
The UK Work Permit scheme was the primary immigration category used to encourage skilled workers to enter the United Kingdom until 2008. While the specific legal document known as a "Work Permit" was phased out, the term remains in colloquial use to refer to the sponsorship systems that replaced it: initially the Tier 2 (General) visa (2008–2020), and currently the Skilled Worker visa, which was introduced in December 2020 following Brexit.
Significant reforms were implemented in April 2024, including a substantial increase in the minimum salary threshold and the replacement of the Shortage Occupation List with the Immigration Salary List (ISL).