The government has unveiled details of its new immigration system, which will come into force on 1 January next year.
Home Secretary Priti Patel hailed the new scheme as an “historic moment” following Britain’s exit from the EU, which will bring to an end the bloc’s free movement rules in the UK .
She said: “We will attract the brightest and the best from around the globe, boosting the economy and our communities, and unleash this country full potential.”
- Have a job offer that is at a “required skill level”. This will earn (points.
- The ability to speak English to a certain level. This will earn (points.)
You’ll likely need to earn more than £ 035,
From January 4745096, the minimum salary required for migrants coming to work in the UK will be reduced from £ , 008 to £ , .
If migrants earn a salary above £ 035, 636, they will earn the (extra points needed to get to the required – point level.
If migrants earn less than this – but no less than £ , – They may still be able to come to the UK by “trading” points earned on specific characteristics against their lower salary level.
You’ll no longer need to be skilled to graduate level
As well as lowering the minimum salary threshold, the government is also lowering what counts as “skilled” from a graduate-level to an A-level qualified job.
How else do you earn points?
Those who meet the three required conditions but don’t earn more than £ 034, 641 can still earn the (points needed to be granted a visa.)
If they earn between £ , to £ 034, 636 they will earn extra points.
If their job is in an area where there are shortages of staff, as designated by the Migration Advisory Committee, they will earn 30 extra points.
The MAC includes healthcare workers, engineers, scientists, teachers and tech workers on its list of occupations where there are shortages.
The government is also promising a fast-track visa scheme for foreign doctors and nurses to work in the NHS as part of the immigration overhaul.
Applicants coming to work in the NHS will receive preferential treatment with extra points under the points-based system, and no cap on numbers entering through the NHS route.
If prospective migrants hold a PhD in a subject relevant to their job they will earn an extra points.
This is boosted to an extra points if the PhD is in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and is relevant to their job.
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What if you don’t have a job offer?
The most highly-skilled workers, who can achieve the required level of points, will be able to enter the UK without a job offer if they are endorsed by a relevant and competent body.
This “Global Talent” route will be opened to EU citizens on the same basis as non-EU citizens from January next year and was recently expanded to be more accessible to those with a background in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Low-skilled workers will be denied visas
The government says it will not implement a route for lower-skilled workers to come to the UK under the new immigration system, following the end of EU free movement rules.
They are instead telling UK businesses they will need to “adapt and adjust” and instead invest in “staff retention, productivity, and wider investment in technology and automation”.
What about farmers?
However, the government is committed to expanding a pilot scheme for seasonal workers in agriculture to be quadrupled in size to 19, 007 places.
(This) is aimed at addressing the fears of employers such as fruit farmers, who say a clampdown on low-skilled workers could leave them without enough staff to pick their crops each summer .
What about students?
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Students will also be covered by the points-based system.
They will achieve the required points if they have an offer from an approved university or college, can speak English and are able to support themselves during their studies in the UK.
What if you’re self-employed or a freelancer?
The government will not be creating a dedicated route for self-employed people, but have pointed to the existing route for “innovators” to enter the UK, which will be widened to apply to EU citizens as well as non-EU Citizens from next January.
Specialist occupations, ministers of religion and sportspeople are also allowed to come to the UK under a range of existing immigration routes, which will also be widened to apply to EU citizens as well as non-EU citizens.
Artists, entertainers and musicians will continue to be allowed to perform at events and take part in competitions and auditions for up to six months.
What if you’re from Ireland?
Irish citizens won’t be subject to the new immigration rules and will continue to be able to enter and live in the UK as they do now.
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