Sectors Based Scheme
Can I employ someone from outside the European Economic Area under the Sectors Based Scheme?
This section explains how you can employ a worker from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) under the Sectors Based Scheme (SBS).
The SBS is closed to new applications for workers from outside the EEA. We will still accept extension and change of employment applications for workers from outside the EEA providing the worker has been employed under the SBS for less than 12 months. If the worker you want to employ has already been in the United Kingdom under the SBS for 12 months you will not be eligible for an extension or change of employment.
The SBS application process consists of two stages. The first stage involves the employer applying for a letter of approval to employ a named individual under the SBS. Once we have issued a letter of approval, the worker must apply to extend their permission to stay in the United Kingdom.
Once a worker from outside the EEA has been in the United Kingdom for 12 months under the SBS they will be expected to return to his/her home country.
Terms explained
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European Economic Area
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.
Contact
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Work permits customer contact centre
0114 207 4074
Customer Contact Centre, UK Border Agency, PO Box 3468, Sheffield, S3 8WA