Are you an Overseas Teacher

There are many ways that you can gain legal entry to the UK in a work capacity. Listed below are the various options depending on your personal circumstances.


Working Holiday Visa
If you are a Commonwealth citizen (countries from the Commonwealth are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe) under the age of 28 you can obtain a working holiday visa (unless you are an EU citizen or have an ancestry visa).

Dual Nationality
If you have an EU passport you are automatically allowed to work in the UK. Countries belonging to the EU are France, Germany, Finland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium and The Republic of Ireland.

Right of Abode
If you have a parent born in the UK, you will be able to obtain a 'right to abode' status. You will have to present original birth certificates to the British High Commission in your home country to gain this type of visa.

Partriality/UK Ancestry
If you have British grandparents you are entitled to claim patriality and therefore have the right to work in the UK. You will have to present original birth / death / marriage certificates to the British High Commission in your home country to gain this type of visa.

Spouses
If you are married to a British National or EU passport holder then you are entitled to work in the UK. You must contact the British High Commission in your home country to have your passport stamped too.

Work Permits
This is the most common type of visa that teachers have in order to work in the UK. The school will obtain a work permit for you. This will then be sent to you before you leave your home country. Those that travel with their spouse or siblings must take this work permit to the nearest British High Commission in your home country and obtain Dependency Visas for those coming to the UK with you.

Qualifications;
The National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UKNARIC) is managed by ECCTIS Ltd under contract to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES)

The Purposes of the UK NARIC are:

  • To give information and advice on the comparability of overseas qualifications with those from the UK
  • To promote British qualifications overseas

We inform and advise:

  • UK Higher and Further Education Institutions
  • Individuals seeking comparability information on international and UK qualifications.
  • Organisations receiving or advising international students including:
  • Professional bodies
  • Businesses
  • Recruitment agencies
  • Embassies
  • British Council offices
  • Refugee councils
  • Government departments

In this way we help to promote individual progress towards:

  • Further study in the UK
  • Registration with professional bodies
  • Employment in the UK

The UK NARIC also undertakes individual research projects for specific purposes.