Points-Based System

Since 1 January 2021, the UK has operated a points-based immigration system that prioritises skills and talent over where a person comes from, following the end of free movement between the UK and the EU. Applicants must demonstrate they meet the relevant criteria and score the number of points required for the visa category they are applying under.

For the Skilled Worker visa — the main route for sponsored work in the UK — the applicant must be awarded all 50 mandatory points, made up of 20 points for sponsorship by a Home Office-licensed employer for an eligible job, 20 points for a job at the appropriate skill level, and 10 points for meeting the English language requirement. A further 20 'tradeable' points must then be scored through options such as an appropriate salary, a shortage occupation, or a relevant PhD.

Not every route requires a job offer: the Global Talent visa allows the most highly skilled applicants — recognised leaders and future leaders in science, humanities, engineering, the arts and digital technology — to come to the UK without a sponsor, with top scientists and researchers benefiting from a fast-track endorsement process. Other routes within the points-based system include the Student visa and, previously, the Skilled Worker visa's predecessor, the Tier 2 (General) work visa.