Right to Work

You may need a visa to come to the UK to work

UK employers have a legal obligation to check the eligibility to work of all individuals they employ. You will need to show proof of your right to work in the UK before you can be employed.


Who is eligible to work in the UK?

You automatically have the right to work in the UK if you are:

  • a British or Irish citizen

  • an European Economic Area (EEA) citizen who worked in the UK before 31st Dec 2020

  • a Swiss national who worked in the UK before 31st Dec 2020 


EEA countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.


Citizens advice has further reseources on determining if you have the right to work and the documentation required to prove your right to work.


What if I don't have the right to work in the UK?

If one of the criteria above does not apply, or you’re not from one of the countries listed, you may still be able to work in the UK. However, you will need to obtain a visa before finding employment in the UK.

Applying for a Visa

We strongly recommend that you consult the Apply for a UK visa section of the Home Office website to determine your suitability for a UK visa.


For all Visa applications you will need sponsorship from the employer before you can apply to work in the UK.


The Graphics Union is not an employer and will not be able to sponsor visa applications.


The British Film Commission has further advice on visas and sponsorship.


Working as a Trainee / Assistant

If you are applying for a more junior position (trainee, assistant) it is also unlikely that the production will sponsor your application as there is a significant time and monetary expense to all visa applications for both you and the employer.


Please consider this before applying for positions. We do not recommend applying for positions until you have confirmed your right to work.