UK Work Visas for Canadian Citizens & Residents

Some long-term UK visas may require the intended employer grant a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ (CoS) to the applicant. CoS’s are an electronic record, with a unique number that the applicants use for the visa application on the application form.

Furthermore, it should be noted that long-term visas allow dependent family members (i.e. a spouse or your dependent children) to join you in the UK.

Skilled Worker Visa

This visa permits holders to live or stay in the UK, and work in a qualifying role with an approved employer/sponsor. The visa lasts for up to 5 years before a UK visa renewal is required. To get this visa, you have to have a confirmed, valid job offer that is approved by the British government. The role must also be in an eligible occupation, and you’ll need to be paid a minimum salary specific to the type of work you’ll be doing.

Health and Care Worker

This is a visa reserved for medical professionals who would like to work an eligible job with the National Health Service, an National Health service supplier, or within adult social care. This visa allows 5 years in the UK before renewing. To get this visa, you need a valid job offer and there’s a minimum salary which will depend on the type of job you’ll be doing.

Intra-company – Transfer or Graduate Trainee

These UK visas are reserved for people who are being transferred from overseas, therefore allowing you to live, stay and work at your employer’s UK branch at the UK offices. The intra-company visa is reserved for recent graduate trainees who are being transferred as part of a programme for managerial or specialist roles.

The Minister of Religion visa (T2)

This UK visa is reserved for Canadians who work within the faith community, such as ministers, members of an order, missionaries, etc that hold a valid job offer. This visa grants you just over 3 years in the UK.

Short-term work visas permit entry authorization to the UK on a temporary basis. Depending upon the visa and immigration status,  applicants can get between 6 months – 12 months to work in their job in the UK.

Creative and Sporting

For people working within the creative industry professionals including paid actors, dancers, musicians or elite athletes with valid work offers to come and work in the UK for up to 12 months.

Seasonal Worker

This is a temporary visa for people to come to the UK in order to do varied work on farms or drive heavy goods vehicles to transport food for a period of up to 6 months. For this UK work visa, applicants need to be 18 years or over and have a valid ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ from a UK sponsor licence.

Graduate Visa

This temporary UK work visa grants holders the chance to work in the UK for up to 2 years after completing an educational course in the UK, or up to 3 years for a Ph.D. or other doctoral qualification.

The completed course must be either a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or another eligible course. A graduate visa must be applied for before the student visa expires. This visa has the possibility of extension/renewal and requires a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ from a UK sponsor licence.

Innovator visa

This work visa is for people who want to work in the UK in order to establish and run an innovative business. To be eligible, the business has to be deemed unique and truly stand out from the market. The visa applicant must be 18 or older and it permits you to stay for 3 years, before the ability to renew.

UK Ancestry visa

This work visa is reserved for people who can prove they have at least one grandparent that was born in the UK. Applicants must be 17 years or older and intend to work while in the UK. Holders of this visa may stay in the UK for up to five years on this visa, before the ability to renew.

Youth Mobility Visa

 The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is available for young people aged 18 – 30 who wish to live, work and travel in the UK for up to two years.

A full list of all work visas available in the UK can be found on the UK government website.

After determining which UK work visa fits your specific needs and circumstances, you will then be able to apply for it online via the UK government visa page.

Typically, the earliest that a Canadian citizen can complete the online application form is 3 months before the job in the UK is due to start. One can browse job boards for recognized workplaces to try and get a job offer in the first instance from Canada.

Depending on the visa category, each has a list of required documents needed for the application and proof of identification that applications are required to provide.

After a Canadian citizen applies online for their UK visa from Canada they must wait around 3 weeks for a decision.

Each visa type requires different documents. In general, you can expect to submit documents such as the following:

• Certificate of the sponsorship reference number, which will be provided by your employer
• Proof of personal savings, like bank statements, showing you can financially support yourself in the UK
• A valid Canadian passport, with at least one blank page, or travel document that shows your identity and nationality
• Any  expired but valid passports/travel documents to show your travel history
• Tuberculosis test results (if applicable)

All documents need to be submitted in English or Welsh. Some Canadian citizens may have documents in French, so they must be translated by an approved translator first.