Appendix 1: Summary of changes to skilled worker and other visa schemes

Applicability

Non-EEA/Swiss nationals

All migrant workers

Lower skilled or low salary

No general visa category for jobs with lower skill/salary levels. Demand to be met from the resident labour force and supply of workers from EU.

New points-based immigration system

No general visa category for jobs with lower skill/salary level. Alongside the availability of resident workers with unrestricted work rights, employers are advised to invest in staff retention, productivity, and technology.

Skilled workers

“Tier 2 (General)” visa for graduate level jobs (RQF level 6) or above.

Allows a maximum of six years’ stay in the UK (potential to acquire permanent permission to stay after five years, subject to eligibility criteria including a salary threshold of £35,800).

“Skilled Worker” visa for school leaver level jobs (RQF level 3) or above.

Allows unlimited length of stay in the UK (potential to acquire permanent permission to stay after five years, subject to a salary threshold of £25,600).

An annual limit of 20,700 new visas available (subject to exemptions), broken down into monthly allocations. Priority given to shortage occupation list and higher-salary jobs.

Eligibility criteria include:

Resident labour market test: available for vacancies that the employer has already advertised to the resident labour market, or which are on the shortage occupation list or have a salary over £159,600.

Sponsorship: the visa applicant must have a confirmed job offer from an employer licensed by the Home Office to sponsor migrant workers.

Salary: For most workers the salary must be at least £30,000 per year or the ‘going rate’ for the job if higher.

No annual limit on number of visas available.

Eligibility criteria include:

Genuine vacancy requirement: resident labour market test requirement abolished in favour of a requirement to demonstrate a ‘genuine’ vacancy.

Sponsorship: unchanged from Tier 2 (General)

Salary requirement: For most workers the salary must be at least £25,600 or the ‘going rate’ for the job if higher. Applicants with a job offer with a lower salary (minimum £20,480) may still be eligible for a visa if they have other points-scoring attributes (e.g. a PhD level qualification or are filling a shortage occupation) against their lower salary.

English language and available maintenance funds requirements: The applicant must have intermediate knowledge of English (CEFR level B1) and available maintenance funds (£945).

Sponsorship and visa fees and charges: the employer must pay the fees for obtaining a licence to sponsor migrant workers and the Immigration Skills Charge. The employer/worker must pay the visa application fee and associated visa processing costs, and the Immigration Health Surcharge.

English language and maintenance funds requirements: As per Tier 2 (General); maintenance funds requirement increased to £1,270.

Sponsorship and visa fees and charges: same as Tier 2 (General).

Other relevant visa routes:

Tier 5—Seasonal worker pilot

For people coming to take up a job offer as a seasonal worker on fruit and vegetable farms. Allows up to six months’ stay in the UK. Originally ‘capped’ at 2,500 places, and increased to 10,000 places for 2020.

Other relevant visa routes:

Seasonal Worker visa: details to be confirmed.

Post-Study work visa

For international graduates who began studies in the UK in 2020/21

Will enable international graduates who began studies in the UK in 2020/21 to stay in the UK after graduation and work at any skill level and ‘switch’ into the Skilled Worker visa route if they secure eligible employment in the UK.