Points Based System
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Who does the system apply to?
The points-based system covers prospective UK employers of foreign workers and migrants who require leave under the Immigration Rules to work in the UK. This system specifies various immigration routes for UK employers to recruit migrant workers. Migrants who score sufficient points under the relevant immigration requirements will be granted entry clearance.
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How the system works
Under the points-based system, most migrants must pass a points assessment before they can get permission to work in the UK.
Each of the system’s four current tiers has different requirements – the number of points the migrant needs and the way the points are awarded will depend on the tier they are applying under.
The role of the sponsor
Migrants in any tier except Tier 1 must be sponsored before they can apply to the UK. If a UK organisation wants to sponsor a migrant under Tier 2, Tier 4 or Tier 5 (temporary workers), they must apply to us for a sponsor license.
Under Tier 2 and Tier 5 (temporary workers), the sponsor must be an employer based in the UK. Under Tier 4, the sponsor must be an education provider.
Migrants who want to come to the UK under Tier 5 (youth mobility scheme) do not need to be sponsored by a UK employer.
You can find out more about sponsorship duties and how to become a licensed sponsor on the sponsoring workers pages.
What are the tiers?
The points-based system consists of five tiers. These are:
- Tier 1– for highly skilled workers, such as scientists and entrepreneurs
- Tier 2– for skilled workers with a job offer, such as teachers and nurses
- Tier 4– for students
- Tier 5– for temporary workers, such as musicians coming to play in a concert, and participants in the youth mobility scheme.
- Tier 3 is currently suspended.