Once a Work Permit has been granted, the original document must be sent to the candidate so that they have it in their possession before they enter the UK. They will need to apply to Entry Clearance at their local British Embassy or Consulate for a visa before travelling.

Because candidates on work permits of greater than 6 months duration are able to obtain free medical treatment from the National Health Service, applications for longer than 6 months will often be subject to the candidate passing a medical examination. While visas for under 6 months can sometimes be issued within 24 or 48 hours, it will usually take at least 10 working days to process a visa for more than 6 months.