Seeing that the UK design industry is worth over 276 billion (Design Council estimate), it is normal for any professional designer to excitedly start their UK visa application with the hope of relocating to a country with a booming design industry.

With the promise of securing high-paying jobs, most international professional designers are planning to relocate to the UK. But is that all there is to it? Are there other things that professional designers should consider before relocating to the UK?

Before moving to the UK, professional designers need to know the best cities to move to, which career path they should follow (i.e. which design niche is in high demand and whether to freelance or work with a company).

Depending on what they choose, they need to secure a job offer from a UK employer in the city of preference. Once the job is secured and CoS issued, then they need to begin the UK visa application process.

This article is a step-by-step guide on key things professional designers must consider before relocating to the UK, visa requirements for designers and how to successfully apply for the right UK work visa for designers.

UK Visa Options for Creative Professionals in the Design Industry

As a professional designer, the first thing to consider in your relocation journey is which visa options are available to you and which of them is the best option for you. The visa options available are the Skilled Worker Visa, the Global Talent Visa and possibly, the Youth Mobility Scheme.

Skilled Worker Visa

To be eligible for the skilled worker visa, you need to secure a job role that is qualified for sponsorship. You may need to check the SOC code 2134 on the UK government’s official website to find the approved job roles.

SOC codes play a significant role in helping federal agencies group workers into job-related groups, workforce planning and management. If the job role you are applying for can be found in the list compiled by the Home Office, then you’re good to proceed.

The next step would be to secure a genuine job offer from a licenced UK employer who will assign you a unique Certificate of Sponsorship. The job must at a skill level of at least RQF Level 3 or above (A-level equivalent).

The salary threshold for a design role in the UK is 38,700 and above, hence, you must earn at the ‘going rate’ for the SOC code for design roles. Other requirements include English language proficiency equivalent to CEFR Level B1 (IELTS 4.0), financial support, and a clean criminal record.

Global Talent Visa

As a professional designer, you can apply for the global talent visa if you are a leader or a potential leader in cybersecurity, fintech, gaming and artificial intelligence or you have won an eligible award from one of the approved awarding bodies.

To get an endorsement, you need to apply to the Home Office which will now forward your application to Tech Nation for it to be reviewed. This can take up to five to eight weeks or for those that fast-tracked, it can take three weeks.

If you are endorsed by the appropriate body, you can bypass the endorsement stage and go directly to the visa application stage. You don’t need a job offer or sponsorship to get this visa, just to get an endorsement or win an eligible award.

Youth Mobility Scheme

As far as you are a citizen or passport holder of any of the eligible countries, you can apply for this scheme which allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.

The eligible countries include:

Australia         Japan                           Taiwan              Uruguay          The Republic of Korea

Canada          Hong Kong                   Iceland             San Marino                

India               New Zealand                Monaco           Andorra

UK Work Opportunities for International Professional Designers

Professional designers who are searching for work opportunities in the UK must explore the following job boards:

Dribbble          Creativepool   Design Jobs Board

Behance          Monster           Design Week

Indeed             CWJobs          CV-Library

LinkedIn         Adzuna            Flexjobs

TotalJobs        Reed                AIGA’s job board

Glassdoor        The Krop         Wellfound (formerly AngelList Talent)

Currently, in the UK job market, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly, technologically advanced, and bespoke designs across fashion, interior and graphic designs. Hence, designers are adviced to specialize in those areas.

It is also important to attend industry events, webinars and other networking functions to meet other professionals and stay abreast of design industry trends.

Things Designers Should Know Before Relocating to the UK

As exciting as it is to relocate to the UK, there are things you must know beforehand especially if it is your first time going to the UK. You must understand how the housing market works and if possible, find suitable accommodation before you move.

During your visa application, you will be required to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) which will allow you to use NHS services free of charge. When you enter the UK, apply for your National Insurance Number as it helps both employers know if you have the right to work in the UK and the government to track your NI contributions and tax payments.

Step-by-Step Guide to the UK Visa Application for Designers

Following the steps below will help you successfully apply for a Skilled Worker Visa after you have gotten a job offer from a UK-based licence employer.

First, you need to gather all documents relevant to your application which includes your passport, CoS, proof of English Language proficiency, medical test result, criminal record certificate, TB test (if applicable), bank statements, etc.

You will need to book a biometric appointment, and on your selected date, you will go to your chosen location to submit your fingerprints and photographs.

As much as possible, avoid submitting inaccurate or incomplete documents as that could tank your chances of getting your visa approved.