Tier 1 Visa (General) Overview
Please note: This scheme officially ended on 6 April 2011. The UK Border Agency has stopped processing applications for Tier 1 (General) for people outside of the UK. If you need to obtain an extension to an existing Tier 1 (General) visa, please fill out a Tier 1 General Extension assessment form.
Skilled migration plays an important part in the United Kingdom's effort to keep its economy globally competitive. As part of the UK's points based immigration system, Tier 1 (General) allows highly skilled individuals residing legally in the UK to receive a visa which allows them to remain in the UK without any kind of sponsorship from an employer. Highly skilled individuals include doctors, scientists, engineers, MBAs, and other educated workers. If you can speak English, have earned at least the equivalent of a bachelors degree, and can show that you have earned a relatively good income in the past, Tier 1 (General) is the right scheme for you.
Since 2002, the UK has been actively encouraging skilled migrants to immigrate to the country -- first through the HSMP and then through its Tier 1 (General) visa for general highly skilled migrants. Tier 1 (General) replaced the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) on 30 June 2008. However, a recent cap was imposed on skilled immigration which particularly affects Tier 1 (General). In April 2011, the UK Government will impose a permanent cap on skilled immigration and will replace Tier 1 (General) with a new 'exceptional talent' visa. In the meantime, the UK Government has stopped taking applications for Tier 1 (General) visas from applicants outside of the UK. Until Tier 1 (General) is replaced in April 2011, only applicants currently legally residing within the UK can apply under Tier 1 (General).
For those who can apply, Tier 1 (General) is very similar to the previous HSMP, save for the notable exception of the removal of the MBA provision which allowed those with MBAs from a list of specific universities to claim an automatic 75 points. English language requirements are also more stringent. You can use our Tier 1 General Highly Skilled Migrants points calculator to assess your chances of being granted a Tier 1 visa under this sub-category.
Specific Criteria
The following tables show the amount of points a you can score for specific criteria. A score of 75 must be attained.
Qualifications
| Bachelor's | Master's | PhD |
|---|---|---|
| 30 points | 35 points | 50 points |
Previous Earnings
Like the previous HSMP, points for previous earnings are calculated by converting non-sterling currency to Sterling (British Pounds), then the Sterling figure is converted to points, taking into account the relative difference in the level of earnings between countries. The difference is converted using an 'uplift ratio' that is applied top the entered amount. Different countries have different uplift ratios depending on factors such as GDP per capita, etc. Please use our Tier 1 (General) points calculator to assess your income.
| In pounds per year | Points scored |
|---|---|
| £25,000 - £29,999 | 5 |
| £30,000 - £34,999 | 15 |
| £35,000 - £39,999 | 20 |
| £40,000 - £49,999 | 25 |
| £50,000 - £54,999 | 30 |
| £55,000 - £64,999 | 35 |
| £65,000 - £74,999 | 40 |
| £75,000 - £149,999 | 45 |
| £150,00+ | 80 |
Age
The younger you are, the more points you can score. You can score a maximum amount of 20 points if you are under 30 years of age.| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | 20 |
| 30 to 34 | 10 |
| 35 to 39 | 5 |
| 40 or over | 0 |
UK Experience
| Previous Earnings or Qualifications gained in the UK | 5 points |
English Language Ability
To apply for a Tier 1 visa, you must show that you are proficient in English by proving one of the following:
- That you have passed a test in English equivalent to level C1 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for Language Learning (equivalent to a grade C or better at GCSE or an approximate overall band score of 6.5 on an IELTS exam)
- That you come from a country where English is the majority language. This includes Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the USA.
- That you have taken a degree taught in English from a list of select countries, verified by using the National Academic Recognition Information Centre data. The countries include Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the UK, the USA. Note: Canada is NOT included in this list.
- If your degree was earned in another country, information provided by UK NARIC can verify if the English-taught degree is acceptable enough to satisfy the English language requirement.
Successful proof of one of these criteria will earn you the required 10 points for the English language requirement.
Maintenance
You will be required to score ten points by proving that you can support yourself and any dependants.
| Tier 1 Visa Maintenance Funds | |
|---|---|
| Applying from within the UK | Proof of £800 in a bank account at all times for three months prior to application |
| Applying from outside the UK | Proof of £2800 in a bank account at all times for three months prior to application |
Evidence showing this information can take the form of bank statements and must be original, on the official letter-headed paper or stationary of the organization, and bearing the official stamp of that organization. The statements must show your name, account number, date of the statement, the bank's name and logo, and transactions covering the three month period.
It can also take the form of an official letter from the bank, stating your name, account number, date, financial institution's name and logo, the funds currently in the your account, and that the required funds have been in the bank for at least 3 months and the balance has never gone below the threshold detailed in the table above. It is important that this information is explicitly stated in the letter.
Extensions
If you wish to extend your stay in the UK under the General Highly Skilled Migrant sub-category, you will be required to score 75 points under the current points system in place at the time of your extension for further leave to remain, with a few small differences in how the 75 points are scored. However, the English language requirement (if you hold an HSMP visa granted after the 05 December 2006 changes came into effect) will be waived, and extra points for experience working in the UK can be achieved if you could not previously score these points. However, you must have earned at least 16,000 GBP during the 12 month Past Earnings assessment period. See our Tier 1 visa General Highly Skilled Migrants extensions page for more information.
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