Work Visa For Scotland
Do you want to work abroad in Scotland? Whether you’re moving there temporarily on a youth visa or you’re making a permanent move to Scotland, you’ll need to find a job soon after you arrive. Luckily, there are lots of jobs in Scotland for foreigners.
If you’re on a temporary visa, you may be concerned that no one will want to hire you, since you can’t commit to working for them for an extended period.
The standard interview question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” is surely going to pop up, right? Wrong! There are so many temporary jobs in Scotland that cater specifically for foreigners seeking temporary work within the country.
It’s one of the things which makes Scotland such a great place to move to as a temporary foreign worker.
Work-Life Balance in Scotland
One of the best aspects of working in Scotland is a stable work-life balance. As a full-time employee, you’re entitled to a minimum of 28 paid holiday days per year.
This time off gives you plenty of opportunities to explore Scotland and the rest of Europe. Many companies offer additional time off, depending on where you work. You can work, travel and enjoy a fantastic quality of life while working in Scotland.
You can hunt for a job in Scotland in several ways. Searching job advertising websites, going through temporary recruitment agencies, applying directly to companies you’d like to work for and inquiring about jobs on farms with accommodation are all possible options.
But before you start looking for work abroad in Scotland, there are a few legal things you should sort out, since you’ll be legally required to have them prior to being recruited by any business in the country.
What you need to work abroad in Scotland
Before you can work abroad in Scotland, you’ll need the following paperwork and documents. Of course, you can start looking and applying for jobs before you have any of the following. But be sure to have everything mentioned below as soon as you can to make your transition into the workplace much easier.
National Insurance Number for the UK
To legally work in Scotland, everyone needs a National Insurance Number (NIN). This is a number used by the government to properly document taxes and contributions.
To apply for a National Insurance number, call the National Insurance number application line. The only possible problem you’ll come across is that to get a National Insurance number card, you must have a UK address. So be sure you’re settled somewhere long enough for you to receive all your paperwork and permanent NIN card before you apply for them.
You can apply for jobs and even begin working without a National Insurance number, as long as you let your employer know you’ve applied for one.
To get your NIN and to open up a bank account as an EU citizen, you’re only required to show ID as proof of being able to work abroad in Scotland.
Conclusion
If you’re moving to Scotland from outside the EU, you’ll have to obtain a work visa as proof of being able to work abroad in Scotland before you can get your NIN. The easiest visa to get is a 24-month youth mobility visa, also known as a “working holiday visa” or “gap year visa”. See below for more information on how to get a working holiday visa.
