Is there a foreign pilot ban in the UK?
 

I heard a rumor saying that companies cannot hire foreign pilots because some authority whose name I cannot recall banned it mostly due to local pilots not being able to find jobs. Can anyone verify this rumor for me?

Thanks,

Zeef

If you are legally allowed to work in the UK then they cannot prevent you from gaining employment as long as you have the correct qualifications.

Zeef,

The UK Border Agency enforces immigration law in the UK. They do not make the law, Parliament does that. Google search working in the UK and you'll find the UKBA website. There are four categories of people who can easily work in the UK in any sort of job they can find: UK citizens, EU citizens, EEA citizens and anyone who has been granted limited or permanent leave to remain under Tiers 1 through 5 of the UK Visa system. There are no rules within Tier 1 to 5 making any special allowances for pilots.

The rules are very similar in almost every country in the world. If there was a shortage of pilots eligible to work in the UK under the above categories, they would change the law to create a special category for foreign pilots, just as there is a special Tier for foreign doctors and nurses in the UK due to the shortage of UK medical professionals.

Hi Zeef,

If you are from an EU country there are no restrictions on your employment in the UK under the free movement of workers, moreover said company cannot be seen to be discriminating against non-national pilots.

If you are from a non –EU country, you would as already stated by Adios and AeroUK need to apply under the tier system, usually this would be under Tier 1 HSMP (Highly skilled migrant programme) however as I’m sure your aware at the moment securing employment in the profession is very difficult at the moment. Therefore unless you have secured employment or are willing to front the cash to support yourself whilst you look for work you’re up the creek without a paddle I’m afraid. Regardless you would still require a visa to enter the country and then only have a 6 months visitors visa issued initially. Securing work would be initially very difficult and you would be breaking the law if you began working under the visitor’s visa anyway, hence the HSMP Tier 1 requirement.