You can make a Business and Commercial work permit application if:

• you are an employer based in the United Kingdom; and
• you can employ an employee and have a genuine vacancy for an employee in the United Kingdom; and
• you are responsible for the post and the delivery of any project or piece of work; and
• the gross pay and conditions are what you would give a resident worker and meet the national minimum wage; and
• the employment meets the United Kingdom legislation and you have ensured that you and your employee have obtained any necessary registration or licensing; and
• the person is suitably qualified or experienced enough to do the job; and
• there are no suitably qualified or experienced resident workers available.
• If the potential employee owns a large share of the company this may affect your application for a work permit.

To qualify for a Business and Commercial work permit the post you want to fill must require the following qualifications:

• a United Kingdom degree level qualification; or
• a higher national diploma (HND) level qualification, which is relevant to the post on offer; or
• a HND level qualification, which is not relevant to the post on offer, plus one year of relevant full-time work experience at national/Scottish vocational qualification (N/SVQ) level three or above;

Or the job must need the following skills:

• three years full-time experience of using specialist skills gained through doing the type of job for which the permit is needed. This should be at N/SVQ level three or above.
• You can also apply under the Business and Commercial arrangements if your post is included in the shortage occupations list.