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2021 UK Immigration System Workers
UK Immigration Proposals
Coming to work
36. As set out in the Policy Statement published on 19 February, anyone coming to the UK for work, including EU citizens, will need to demonstrate they meet a specific set of requirements for which they will score points. There is no overall cap on the number who can apply for this Skilled Worker route.
37. The applicant must meet the following mandatory criteria in addition to passing the relevant UK criminality checks:
the applicant must have an offer of a job from a licensed sponsor;
the job must be at or above the minimum skill level: RQF3 level or equivalent (Alevel or equivalent qualification). Workers will not need to hold a formal qualification. It is the skill level of the job they will be doing which is important.
the applicant must speak English to an acceptable standard.
Tradeable points
38. Meeting the mandatory criteria above will earn the applicant 50 points; they must obtain a further 20 "tradeable" points through a combination of points for their salary, a job in a shortage occupation or a relevant PhD.
39. If the applicant is paid the higher of the general salary threshold of £25,600 or the "going rate" for their particular job, they will get an extra 20 points.
40. There is scope to earn the required extra tradeable points if the applicant is paid less than the general threshold or the going rate, provided they are paid at least £20,480. That being the case, the applicant may earn points if they have a job offer in a specific shortage occupation (as recommended by the MAC) or a PhD qualification relevant to the job.
41. There are also different minimum salary rules for workers in certain health or education jobs, and for "new entrants" at the start of their career. The salary requirement for new entrants will be 30% lower than the rate for experienced workers in any occupation. However, the minimum of £20,480 must always be met.
42. We will retain the ability to widen the number of attributes that will score tradeable points to enable us to meet the needs of the economy. However, the mandatory requirements will not be tradeable.
43. In the table below we show how someone who has at least 80% or 90% of the relevant salary for their occupation (whether that is the £25,600 threshold or the going rate), and therefore scores 0 or 10 points for salary, could make up the points elsewhere by scoring points for another attribute, for instance, working in a shortage occupation or having a relevant PhD.
Table 1: Tradeable points
Non-tradeable points (mandatory) – 50 required
Characteristic Points
Offer of a job by an approved sponsor 20
Job at an appropriate skill level 20
English language skills at level B1 (intermediate) 10
Tradeable points (may only score from one entry from each of the two sections below) – 20 required
Salary4:
General salary threshold Going rate Points
Salary of at least £20,480 At least 80% of the going rate for the profession (70% if a new entrant). 0
Salary of at least £23,040 At least 90% of the going rate for the profession. 10
Salary of at least £25,600 At least the going rate for the profession. 20
Salary of at least £20,480 Listed health/education job and meets the relevant national pay scale 20
Education qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job 10
Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job 20
Job in a shortage occupation (as designated by the MAC) 20
Applicant is a new entrant to the labour market (as designated by the MAC) 20
The following case studies further illustrate how tradeable points can be applied.
Case study: General salary threshold is applied
Freya wants to come to the UK to undertake skilled work and has been offered a job as a lab technician for a salary of £21,000. She meets all the mandatory criteria under the Points-Based System, scoring 50 points.
The going rate for lab technicians is £18,200 and Freya's salary is more than this. However, she does not score 20 points for her salary as it is below the general threshold of £25,600. As Freya's salary offer is £21,000, she does not score any points for her salary. It is still above the minimum of £20,480, so she can still score 20 tradeable points elsewhere to be eligible for a visa.
In this instance Freya does get the 20 extra points by having a relevant STEM PhD in biochemistry.
The table below has been personalised to show how Freya has accumulated the requisite 70 points.
Salary of £20,480 – £23,039.99 0
Grand Total: 70
Case study: 'Going rate' salary threshold for the profession is applied
Richard wants to come to the UK to work and has been offered a job as a mechanical engineer for a salary of £26,750. He meets all the mandatory criteria under the PointsBased System, scoring 50 points.
Richard's salary is higher than the £25,600 general salary threshold; however, it is below the £33,400 going rate for mechanical engineers, so he does not score 20 points for his salary. Richard's salary is just above 80% of the going rate for his occupation, therefore while he scores no points from his salary, he is eligible to score 20 tradeable points elsewhere to be eligible for a visa. In this instance Richard scores the 20 extra points by having a job offer in a shortage occupation.
The table below is personalised to show how Richard has accumulated the requisite 70 points.
Salary of at least 80% of the going rate 0
Case study: National pay scale is applied
Louis wants to come to the UK to work and has been offered a job as a qualified primary school teacher in Wales for a salary of £24,906. He meets all the mandatory criteria under the Points-Based System, scoring 50 points.
Louis must now score a further 20 points to be eligible for the Skilled Worker route. His salary is below the general threshold of £25,600 but, as primary school teachers are a listed education job and Louis' salary meets the national pay scale in Wales (and is above £20,480), he still scores 20 points for his salary, meeting the total requirement of 70 points.
The table below has been personalised to show how Louis has accumulated the requisite 70 points.
Listed health/education job and meets the relevant national pay scale 20
Case study: New entrant discount is applied
Evie is 26 years old and is in the UK, having studied a veterinary science degree at a UK university and begun her career here under the Graduate route. She wants to carry on working in the UK and has been offered a job as a veterinarian with a starting salary of £22,900. She meets all the mandatory criteria under the Points-Based System, scoring 50 points.
Evie must now score a further 20 points to be eligible to switch into the Skilled Worker route. She does not score any points for her salary, but it is above the minimum of £20,480. As Evie is switching from the Graduate route, she scores 20 points as a new entrant to the labour market. Her salary is below the usual minimum 80% of the £32,500 going rate for her chosen profession, but it is higher than the 70% of the going rate required for new entrants.
The table below has been personalised to show how Evie has accumulated the requisite 70 points.
Salary of at least £20,480 and at least 70% of the going rate for the profession 0
Applicant is a new entrant to the labour market 20
44. Individuals of all nationalities (except British and Irish) who have a confirmed job offer, and whose employment will be sponsored by a UK employer who is Home Office licensed, to work in specified occupations (at RQF3 or equivalent and above).
Table 2: Skilled Worker conditions and requirements
Requirements Conditions and restrictions
English language Yes Capped No
Application fee Yes Switching – routes (in country) Yes
Immigration Skills Charge Yes Route to settlement Yes
Immigration Health Surcharge (subject to specific exemptions) Yes Dependants Yes
Biometrics Yes Access to funds No
Maintenance* Yes Supplementary work Yes
* Applicants are exempt from the requirement if they have a fully 'A-rated' sponsor who can provide the maintenance cost if they need it. Sponsors must confirm this on the Certificate of Sponsorship. An A-rating is awarded when employers are first granted a sponsor licence on the basis that they have systems in place to be able to meet their sponsor duties. Employers will not be granted a licence if they are not able to achieve an A-rating.
Sponsorship – confirmed job offer with a licensed sponsor
Salary thresholds – a salary at or above the general threshold £25,600 or the going rate, whichever is higher. May be reduced through tradeable points or being a new entrant to the labour market.
Skills threshold (RQF 3 and equivalent and above)
The Going Rate
45. These rates are based on the 25th percentile of earnings in the UK data drawn from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) which is updated annually by the Office for National Statistics, normally at the end of October. The current rates for each profession can be found in Annex E. These rates (and any discounts to them from scoring tradeable points elsewhere) do not absolve sponsors of their obligations under the National Minimum Wage Regulations, even if the stated going rate is lower. Skilled workers are entitled to the same minimum rates as other UK workers.
46. It is worth noting that the salary thresholds for some occupations may change between now and the new route being launched. The Rules and guidance will be based on the latest available appropriate data at the time they are published.
Public sector occupations
47. On the advice of the MAC, national pay scales will be used to determine the going rate for 24 health / education public service occupations. The list can be found in table 28 (Annex E). The £25,600 general salary threshold will not be applied for this group; however, the minimum salary floor will be £20,480. This group will not have access to tradeable points as they will not need other points to offset the £25,600 threshold. We do not consider it appropriate for sponsors to be offering salaries at less than the national pay scales for these occupations.
48. There is one temporary exception to the minimum salary floor for nurses and midwives who can be paid a lower salary for up to the first eight months in the UK, before they achieve their full UK registration as a nurse or midwife. After eight months, the nurse or midwife would need to be paid according to the national pay scales for a newly registered nurse or midwife.
Pro-rating salaries for part time workers
49. The going rate ensures fair pay compared with resident workers and aims to prevent migrant workers being used as a source of cheap labour. As under the existing system, going rates for individual occupations can be pro-rated depending on the applicant's working pattern, as long as the total applicable general salary threshold (£25,600, £23,040 or £20,480) is met. The general threshold is a measure of the economic contribution an applicant will make to the UK. It applies regardless of the number of hours worked and will not be pro-rated.
Eligibility for PhD points
50. Applicants will only be able to score points for having a PhD relevant to the job. Sponsors will need to decide and be able to justify whether an applicant's PhD is relevant to the job they are sponsoring them for and to advise whether it is a STEM PhD. We will withhold points if the sponsor's explanation is clearly not credible. Points can only be awarded for academic PhDs.
51. In addition, applicants will only be able to score points for having a PhD when working in certain occupations. A list of occupations which will, and will not, be able to claim PhD points will be kept under review. For the initial launch of the route, the list will cover:
all occupations in the top skill level of the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code system.5
a small number of additional STEM jobs, such as lab technicians, which do not appear in the top skill level, but which involve research or technical knowledge and where we believe a relevant PhD would be an advantage.
52. The relevant occupations are listed in Annex B.
Points requirements in further applications by individuals
53. Those who enter the Skilled Worker route will need to make a new application if they (a) change employer; (b) change jobs (to another SOC code); or (c) need to extend their stay. Existing Tier 2 (General) migrants who need to do any of the above will also need to make such an application under the Skilled Worker route once the Tier 2 (General) route closes. The points table will apply to these further applications.
54. If the migrant has changed their employer and/or their job, there will be a reassessment of whether their new post meets the required skill and salary level. PAYE records for all skilled workers will be regularly checked to confirm they are being paid the correct salary.
55. Applicants who scored points for English language at the required level in an earlier application will score those points automatically in a subsequent application. They will not need to submit their qualification certificates again, but if their job has changed, we will assess whether their qualification is relevant to their new job.
New entrants
56. New entrants to the UK labour market are currently entitled to come to the UK on a lower salary than their more experienced counterparts are required to earn. They currently benefit from this reduced salary threshold for three years. Migrants will be defined as new entrants under the Points-Based System if they meet one of the following requirements:
a) They are switching from the Student or Graduate route to the Skilled Worker route;
b) They are under the age of 26 on the date of their application; or
c) They are working towards recognised professional qualifications or moving directly into postdoctoral positions.
57. Requirement c) is an addition to the existing new entrant requirements list and will be introduced for the Points-Based System on the recommendation of the MAC. While postdoctoral positions are easily identified, we will use the following tests to identify those "working towards recognised professional qualifications":
The salary reduction for professional qualifications should only be available where the job offer is in a regulated profession or protected job title.
"Working towards professional qualifications" should mean working towards full registration or chartered status with the relevant professional body.
This definition will also include those who have switched from the Graduate route into the Skilled Worker route.
58. We will impose a floor on the reduced salary threshold for new entrants. The discount to the going rate for new entrants will be 30%, but the floor will mean that no migrant can come if they earn less than £20,480. We will apply a 20% reduction to the general threshold, rather than a 30% reduction, as we do not consider skilled workers should be sponsored at a salary of less than £20,480. Applying a 30% reduction to the general threshold would mean, in many cases, the applicant would be paid less than the National Living Wage.
Highly skilled workers
59. Beyond January 2021 and in line with the recommendations from the MAC, we will create a broader unsponsored route within the Points-Based System to run alongside the employer-led system. This will allow a smaller number of the most highly skilled workers to come to the UK without a job offer. This route will not open on 1 January 2021 and we are exploring proposals for this additional route with stakeholders over the coming year. Our starting point is that this route would be capped and would be carefully monitored during the implementation phase. Further details will be shared in due course.
Skilled Work: Health and Care Visa
60. The Government welcomes the vital contributions which doctors, nurses and other health professionals from overseas make to the National Health Service (NHS) and wider Health and Care Sector. The Health and Care Visa is part of the Skilled Worker route. It will ensure individuals working in eligible health occupations with a job offer from the NHS, social care sector or employers and organisations which provide services to the NHS, who have good working English, are incentivised to come to the UK.
61. There will be fast-track entry, with reduced application fees and dedicated support regarding the application process, for eligible individuals to come to the UK with their families. Those who are eligible to apply for the Health and Care Visa, and their dependents, will also be exempt from having to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. Frontline workers in the health and social care sector who are not eligible for the new Health and Care Visa will pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, but will benefit from a reimbursement scheme. Further detail will follow in due course.
62. Individuals of all nationalities who have a confirmed job offer, in one of the defined health professions, for a skilled role within the NHS, the social care sector or for NHS commissioned service providers.
63. The full list of professions, defined by Standard Occupational Classification codes, which would currently qualify for the Health and Care Visa can be found in Annex D. This list reflects the current skills threshold. The list of professions will be updated in line with the launch of the new Skilled Worker route and the expanded skills threshold later this year.
64. Although eligible applicants will benefit from reduced fees and an exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge, both of which will extend to immediate family members, the main applicant must also meet requirements of the Skilled Worker route, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds.
65. The UK wants to attract the very best and brightest talent from around the world. On 20 February 2020 we launched the Global Talent route, under the current system for non-EU citizens, to improve the UK's attractiveness to highly skilled individuals with specialist skills. The route reformed and replaced Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) and is designed to attract recognised global leaders, and the leaders of tomorrow in science, humanities, engineering, the arts (including film, fashion design and architecture) and digital technology, enriching the UK's knowledge, economy and society. Top scientists and researchers are able to benefit from a quicker endorsement process as part of a fast track STEM scheme.
66. The Government has announced it will set up a cross-departmental unit called the Office for Talent. This will make it easier for leading global scientists, researchers and innovators to come and live and work in the UK.
67. Applicants must be endorsed by a recognised UK body, as approved by the Home Office. Individuals can apply to one of the following endorsing bodies who will verify their expertise before they can apply for a visa:
The Royal Society, for science and medicine;
The Royal Academy of Engineering, for engineering;
The British Academy, for humanities;
UK Research and Innovation, for science and research;
Tech Nation, for digital technology;
Arts Council England, for arts and culture.
68. Once endorsed, subject to criminality and immigration checks, migrants are given a highly flexible permission, enabling them to work for employers or be self-employed; change jobs without informing the Home Office; travel abroad and return to the UK for research purposes; and bring dependants with them. There is no limit on the number of eligible individuals who can use the route.
69. This route will be open to both EU and non-EU citizens.
70. Individuals internationally recognised at both the highest level and as leaders in their particular field, or who have demonstrated promise and are likely to become leaders in their particular area.
Fast-track Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics scheme
71. Science and research are at the heart of our modern Industrial Strategy. To facilitate access for top scientists and researchers, who will significantly enhance the intellectual and knowledge base of the UK, a fast-track endorsement process is available to EU and non-EU citizens. To benefit from this offer, individuals must be:
in receipt of a named award or fellowship;
in a senior academic position, such as a Professor or Associate Professor, within an eligible Higher Education Institution, research organisation or institute; and
part of a publicly funded research team which is in receipt of prestigious funding or awards.
Table 3: Global Talent conditions and requirements
English language No Capped No
Immigration Skills Charge No Route to settlement Yes
Immigration Health Surcharge Yes Dependants Yes
Biometrics Yes Access to public funds No
Maintenance No Supplementary work Yes
Endorsement from a recognised UK body approved by the Home Office (see paragraph 68)
Endorsement fee (included in application fee)
Flexible grant periods (up to 5 years)
This is primarily a work route. Applicants can study certain disciplines but to do so must obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.
Start-up and Innovator
72. The Start-up and Innovator routes are designed to attract entrepreneurial talent and innovative, scalable business ideas to the UK. Launched in March 2019 under the current system for non-EU citizens, both routes are for individuals looking to set up an innovative UK business. Start-up is for those setting up an innovative business for the first time, whilst Innovator is for those with industry experience and at least £50,000 funding. Individuals require support from an Endorsing Body, before applying, which must have assessed the business idea as being innovative, viable and scalable. The routes are not capped, and the UK Government has been actively promoting the routes to attract talented entrepreneurs.
73. The Start-up and Innovator routes enhance the UK's visa offer to leading international business talent and maintain our position as a top destination for innovation and entrepreneurs. In the future, we will continue to expand coverage of the existing routes to more sectors and businesses.
74. These routes will be open to both EU and non-EU citizens.
75. Applicants can be individuals or teams. The Start-up route is for those setting up a business for the first time, who need to work to support themselves while developing their business ideas. The Innovator route is for those with industry experience and at least £50,000 funding, who can dedicate their working time to their business ventures, or those moving from Start-up who are progressing their business.
76. Each applicant for Start-up and Innovator must have the support of an approved Endorsing Body. Endorsing Bodies are either Higher Education Providers or business organisations who have a track record of supporting UK based entrepreneurs and the support of a Government Department. Endorsing Bodies assess each application to ensure it is innovative, viable and scalable, and are responsible for monitoring the progress of the businesses they endorse.
77. To deliver and ensure an improved service to users the Home Office has partnered with some of the UK's leading business development experts. It is they, rather than the Home Office, who assess applicants' business ideas.
Table 4: Start-up conditions and requirements
Immigration Skills Charge No Route to settlement No
Maintenance Yes Supplementary work Yes
Table 5: Innovator conditions and requirements
Maintenance Yes Supplementary work No