Can you get a UK work permit from Morocco?
Yes. Moroccan citizens can come to the UK to work on a Skilled Worker visa. The UK has no separate “work permit”: for most jobs, the Skilled Worker visa is the work permit.
You need a job offer from a UK employer that is licensed to sponsor visas. The rules are the same wherever you apply from. These are the things that are different for Morocco:
| TB test | Yes |
|---|---|
| Prove your English | Yes, level B2 |
| Police certificate | Only for some health, education and care jobs |
| Visa application centre | Yes, in Morocco |
Do you need a TB test?
Yes, in most cases. Morocco is on the GOV.UK list of countries where you need a tuberculosis (TB) test. You need one if all of these are true:
- you’re coming to the UK for 6 months or more
- you’ve lived in Morocco (or another listed country) for 6 months or more
- you were living there within the last 6 months
The test is a chest x-ray at a clinic approved by the Home Office. If you don’t have TB you get a certificate. It’s valid for 6 months from the date of your x-ray, so time it before you apply.
Find an approved TB clinic in Morocco on GOV.UK.
Do you need to prove your English?
Yes. You need English at level B2 (upper intermediate). Morocco is not on the list of countries whose citizens are exempt. You can usually prove it with:
- an approved English test (a Secure English Language Test, or SELT)
- a degree taught in English (if it’s not from a UK institution, Ecctis must confirm it)
- a UK school qualification, such as a GCSE or A level, that you started before you turned 18
All the ways to prove your English.
Do you need a police certificate?
Only for some jobs. You need a criminal record certificate if you’re applying from outside the UK for one of 69 jobs in health, education or social care. You need one from each country where you’ve lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, since you turned 18.
GOV.UK’s guide to overseas police checks has no section for Morocco. Read the general guidance.
Where do you prove your identity?
After you apply online, you prove your identity. Depending on your passport, you either scan it with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or give your fingerprints and photo at a visa application centre. Morocco has UK visa application centres. Book or find a centre in Morocco.
How much does it cost?
The fees are the same wherever you apply from, and they are set in pounds.
| Visa fee, up to 3 years | £819 |
|---|---|
| Visa fee, more than 3 years | £1,618 |
| Healthcare surcharge | usually £1,035 a year |
| Savings to show (if needed) | £1,270 |
For example, a 3-year visa costs £819 plus £3,105 for the healthcare surcharge: £3,924. Your partner and children pay too if they come with you. The fee is lower (£628) if your job is on the Immigration Salary List. All the fees.
How long does it take?
You’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks after you’ve applied online and proved your identity. Your visa can last up to 5 years, and you can extend it.
How to apply from Morocco
- Find a job with a UK employer on the licensed sponsor list. Check the job’s SOC code is eligible.
- Get your certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer.
- Get your TB test certificate at an approved clinic in Morocco.
- Prove your English at level B2.
- If your job needs one, get a police certificate from each country you’ve lived in.
- Apply online on GOV.UK: apply from outside the UK. Pay the fee and the healthcare surcharge.
- Prove your identity with the ID Check app or at a visa application centre in Morocco.
Not sure the Skilled Worker visa is right for you? Compare all UK work visas.
Questions
Can Moroccan citizens get a UK work permit?
Yes. The UK work permit for most jobs is the Skilled Worker visa. You need a job offer from a UK employer that is licensed to sponsor visas, a certificate of sponsorship, a salary that meets the rules and English at level B2.
Do I need a TB test to work in the UK from Morocco?
Yes, if you have lived in Morocco for 6 months or more and are coming to the UK for 6 months or more. You must use a clinic approved by the Home Office. The certificate lasts 6 months.
How much does a UK work visa cost from Morocco?
The Skilled Worker visa fee from outside the UK is £819 for up to 3 years or £1,618 for longer. You also pay the healthcare surcharge, usually £1,035 a year. A 3-year visa costs £3,924 in total. Lower fees apply to jobs on the Immigration Salary List.
How long does a UK work visa take from Morocco?
You usually get a decision within 3 weeks after you prove your identity and give your documents.
Other countries
IndiaPakistanNigeriaUSASouth AfricaKenyaUAEBangladeshPhilippinesGhanaNepalSri LankaZimbabweCanadaAustraliaUgandaEgyptCameroonZambiaMalawiJamaicaEthiopiaMalaysiaVietnam
Sources
- Skilled Worker visa (GOV.UK, updated 14 September 2026)
- Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants (GOV.UK, updated 7 January 2015)
- Skilled Worker visa: knowledge of English (GOV.UK, updated 31 October 2024)
- Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (GOV.UK, updated 31 January 2025)
- Find a UK visa application centre (GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2024)
Compiled by SWC Editorial Team from the sources above. An information summary, not immigration advice.