UK Points Based Immigration System

As the UK government website suggests, the UK reveals a new immigration system which will “treat EU (European Union) and non-EU citizens equally”. Under this system, people who come to the UK for work will be eligible for a visa if they meet a specific set of requirements that will earn them points (based on their value). This system came into force in January 2021 ending the freedom of movement rule with the EU.

As pointed in the government of UK website, “The points-based system will provide simple, effective and flexible arrangements for UK employers to recruit skilled workers from around the world through several different immigration routes.”

If you plan to apply for a visa, you will need a total of 70 points. Now let us see how this system works and what these specifications (which constitute these points) are.

How does the points-based system work?

As the govt. says, to get a visa, applicants must have the following:

• A job offer from a “Home Office Licensed Sponsor” (employer)
• The job offer should have a required skill level Regulated Qualifications Framework RQF 3 or above (A-Level and equivalent)
• Speak English to the required standard

An applicant would gain 50 points for the above requirements. To gain an extra 20 points, the applicant will require a job offer of at least £25,600.

Besides the skilled worker route, some of the other immigration routes are:

Global Talent Route

This will be open to EU and non-EU citizens on the same basis implying that highly skilled people having the required points can work in the UK.

Graduate Route (Unsponsored Route)

This route applies to international students who have completed their master’s or MSc in the UK from summer 2021. Under this, students can remain in the UK to work for two years after their studies at any skill level.

To attract global talent and contribute to the economic growth in the UK, international students who have completed their PhDs from summer 2021 can stay in the UK for three years after their study.

Intra-Company Transfer

This route is for people working in multinational organisations to move to the UK temporarily. The company should meet the ICT sponsorship requirements to transfer any key business personnel in roles skilled to RQF 6 (graduate level equivalent) and a required minimum salary threshold (subject to the requirements from the main skilled worker route).

Start-up and Innovator

Open to both EU and Non- EU citizens, the government of UK attracts “entrepreneurial talent and innovative, scalable business ideas to the UK” by extending a Start-up and Innovator route. This will be available for Start-ups based on innovative ideas with the Innovator having industry experience and funding of at least £50,000.

Health and Care Visa

A part of the skilled work route, this allows those individuals to come to the UK who belong to the health occupations (a job from an offer from the NHS), social care sector or organisations providing service to the NHS.

Creative Route

This route facilitates the entry of applicants belonging to the creative industry to come to the UK for short-term engagements for up to 12 months. This requires the applicants to have a job offer and their employment sponsored by a UK employer licensed by the Home Office.

Sporting Routes

As the name suggests, this route allows international sportspersons, who have a confirmed job offer and their employment sponsored by a UK employer licensed by the Home Office, to come to the UK.

Are you hungry for more information regarding your plans to study in the UK? Our study abroad consultants are there to assist you!

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