Workers from overseas - Getting into Scotland

In general, if you live in the European Economic Area (the European Union and Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) you have the automatic right to move to Scotland to live and work.

However, if you are a Bulgarian or Romanian national you will need to get official permission to work before starting a job in Scotland. You will need to apply for an Accession Worker Card before you can work legally in the UK. Visit the ‘Scotland is the Place’ website for more information.

And, if you are from one of the new member states - the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, or Slovenia – and you plan to work in the UK for more than a month you must register with the Worker Registration Scheme. You can get an application form on the Border and Immigration Agency website at: http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/

For more information about finding work in Scotland and the UK visit EURES, the European Job Mobility Portal website at: http://ec.europa.eu/eures

If you live outside the EU - a new, simpler, points based immigration system is being introduced in the UK during 2008 and 2009. There will be five tiers or types of entry; from Tier One for the ‘Highly Skilled’ to Tier Five for ‘Temporary Workers and Youth Mobility’ (this includes cultural exchange students and people on working holidays).

When you apply you will be given a score based on points allocated for different factors, including your age, qualification level, fluency in English and work experience.

First of all you need to check how the new immigration rules apply to you. The best online sources of information about immigration rules, visas and work permits are: 

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/ - Border and Immigration Agency
http://www.scotlandistheplace.co.uk – Scotland is the Place (see the section ‘Move to Scotland’ and the Relocation Advisory Service)

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/ - UK Visas