Non-European Nationals Moving to UK

You may choose to come to the UK to live and work because you are looking to explore new horizons or you have been offered work with a UK company. If you are moving to the UK and you are a European national you should not face too many limitations; for more details see European Nationals moving to UK. If you are moving to the UK to live and work and you are not a European national, you will need to apply for a work permit. There are six different kinds of UK work permit to account for the different reasons people have for working in the UK. These include the business permit and the student / internship permit. Currently UK work permits all cost £190 and should be processed within three weeks of your application. If you wish to apply for a UK work permit, or are in the process of completing your application but require assistance, contact the Border and Immigration Agency on 0114 207 4074.

If your application for a work permit is granted you will be entitled to work in the UK. You will usually be required to pay taxes and National Insurance contributions. These payments enable you to build up entitlement to certain state benefits, including the State Pension. For details of the State Pension see The Basic State Pension. If you are only intending to work in the UK for a short time, you should ask your employer, or a financial advisor from the country where you are usually a resident, whether your contributions in the UK count towards benefits or a pension in your usual country of residence.

If you are intending to live and work in the UK for some time then the National Insurance contributions you make will entitle you to claim certain state benefits, including a State Pension. If you return to your home country at a later date, you may still be entitled to a UK State Pension on retirement based on your UK National Insurance record. If you wish to retire in the UK, you should ensure that you have claimed any pension you are entitled to claim from your home country.
You may be entitled to some state benefits even if you have not been working, depending on your individual circumstances: call the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00 for assistance. For details of the benefits offered by the state see State Benefits. However, generally you are expected to support yourself when you move to the UK, whether by working and earning a wage, by earning money through self-employment or by living off your savings.