UK Visas for Highly Skilled Migrants
Several different types of visas are available to people who want to live and work in the United Kingdom (UK). One of these is the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, an immigration system designed for individuals with exceptional talent and skills in one or more occupations listed on the National Occupational Classification (NOC) list. The program’s main objective is to attract highly skilled workers who can contribute their talents to the UK economy and workforce and boost their economy and competitiveness globally.
Why the UK introduced HSM programmes
The UK introduced the Highly Skilled Migration Programme in 2002 to attract highly skilled migrants. The programme was designed to address skills shortages and encourage innovation in industries where there is a lack of skilled labour. The programme also supports small and medium-sized enterprises by providing a route to recruit talent from overseas without going through the lengthy work permit application process. HSM programmes have been revised three times since their introduction with changes including;
- Providing greater flexibility to applicants on criteria such as language fluency, education levels, earnings, number of previous applications made, length of time spent in the country and industry sector experience
- Introducing more significant support for employers sponsoring HSM candidates so that they can make informed decisions about their investment
- Ensuring unused places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis rather than an auction.
Types of Highly Skilled Migrant Visa Route
There are several visa routes for Highly Skilled migrants. Tier 1 Highly Skilled Migrant Visas are no longer available to new applicants, but there are new visa options for highly skilled migrants in the UK. The highly skilled migrant routes include;
- Skilled Worker visa: For migrants with a job offer from a licensed sponsor or graduate of a UK higher education institution.
- Global business mobility visa: For senior or specialist migrant workers working for an overseas organization in the UK.
- Innovator visa and UK start-up visa: These visas have been introduced for investors and entrepreneurs looking to establish businesses in the UK.
- The scale-up visa: Allows companies to temporarily bring over their employees when expanding their UK workforce. It also applies to multinational corporations establishing a presence in the UK.
- High potential individual visa: These visas provide the opportunity for international students from eligible universities in the UK who wish to work.
The CGM App is for expats, sponsoring companies and business immigration advisors. Feel free to contact us on 0300 000 000 or send us an email if you have any questions.
To become eligible for a visa under the highly skilled visa route, skilled migrants must score enough points and meet the eligibility requirements. Examples include; salary, how qualified their skills are for specific jobs, and endorsements.
What is a UK Skilled Worker Visa
A UK visa is issued to skilled foreign workers looking to enter the UK for work. The skilled worker visa entitles individuals to live and work in the United Kingdom for up to 5 years with the possibility of applying for permanent residence. A person can be eligible for this visa if offered employment in the UK. Alternatively, people may qualify if they transfer to a new job or set up their own business. To be considered highly skilled, an applicant must meet specific requirements, such as a degree-level qualification or equivalent experience or qualifications.
The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme is a points-based system that assesses your skills, qualifications and work experience. Points are awarded based on different factors such as age, qualifications, salary and level of English language skills. You may be eligible for this visa if you have been offered a skilled job in the UK if you can meet the required points threshold.
What is considered a Highly Skilled Workers?
A “highly skilled worker” is generally considered to have a high education, training, or experience in a specific field and is in high demand in the labour market. The definition of a highly skilled worker can vary depending on the country or region, but many countries have programs to attract and retain highly skilled workers.
In the European Union (EU) context, the EU Blue Card is a residence permit issued to non-EU citizens who are highly skilled workers. The EU Blue Card allows the holder to live and work in any EU member state except Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, which have opted out of the program.
To be eligible for an EU Blue Card, an applicant must have a valid job offer from an EU employer and meet specific salary requirements. The salary threshold is generally set at a level that is at least 1.5 times the average gross salary in the host country.
The United Kingdom has a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa for highly skilled workers. It is intended for people in science, engineering, medicine, digital technology, and the arts. Applicant must be endorsed by the relevant professional body and meet high salary requirements.
The Entry and residence procedure for highly skilled workers will depend on the country and the specific program. In general, however, the process involves submitting an application to the immigration and naturalisation service, providing documentation to prove the applicant’s qualifications and experience, and meeting the income requirements.
Family members of highly skilled workers are often also eligible to live and work in the country, but the application procedure may differ slightly.
The CGM App is for expats, sponsoring companies and business immigration advisors. Feel free to contact us on 0300 000 000 or send us an email if you have any questions.
As an additional point, an EU Blue Card holder can apply for permanent residence after living in the EU country for three years and have a right to permanent residence after five years. It’s worth noting that some countries might have a fast-track procedure for highly skilled workers or have different salary requirements for different fields or levels of experience. For further details, it is recommended to check the specific immigration and naturalisation service website or contact them directly.
Points-based system from January 2021
The UK’s immigration system is set to undergo changes starting from 1 January 2021, affecting EU/EFTA citizens who will now have to apply for the same visas as non-EU nationals. These changes will likely introduce a points-based system that applicants must score a minimum number of points from the eligibility criteria list to be considered. The minimum salary requirement will be set at £25,600, with the option for a reduced requirement of £20,480 in certain skill shortage sectors if the applicant meets the minimum number of points through other means.
Applicants must score at least 70 points, awarded for factors such as having a job offer by an approved sponsor, working at the appropriate skill level, and meeting minimum English language requirements. Other factors can be traded off against each other, such as salary being below £23,040 if the job offer is a shortage occupation or the applicant holds a relevant Ph.D. degree. Despite these changes, the UK remains committed to attracting highly skilled individuals to contribute to its economy and society.
Highly Skilled Migrants New Work Visas in 2023
The new work visas for highly skilled migrants in the UK for 2022 are available. It is a scheme designed to help employers fill skills gaps and recruit staff from overseas. These new visa categories for highly skilled workers who would like to work and live in the UK include;
- Scale up visa
- High Potential Individual (HPI) visa
- Global business mobility visa scheme
Scale up visa
On 22nd August 2022, the scale-up visa was introduced, which is meant to facilitate hiring skilled workers from around the world by UK businesses experiencing rapid growth. A scale-up worker visa allows eligible foreign nationals to work in the UK for at least six months for a fast-developing UK business (also known as a ‘scale-up business’). To be eligible for this visa, an applicant must have a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship (Cos) issued by a prospective employer or sponsor.
High Potential Individual (HPI) visa
This visa route was opened on 30th May 2022. The high-potential individual visa is for foreign nationals who wish to work or seek work in the UK. The HPI visa holder can enter the UK without a job offer but must have an overseas degree level qualification gained in the last five years from an eligible university (Must be amongst the Global University List).
Requirements
- Must be above 18 years old
- Must have sufficient funds to support self
- Must meet the English language requirements
- Must have a degree-level qualification from an eligible university within the last five years
Global business mobility visa scheme 2022
This visa grants entry to foreign individuals who wants to set up a branch of their overseas business in the UK. The global mobility visa is granted to senior managers or specialist employees and is branched into five visa categories. They include;
- Secondment Worker visa
- Service Supplier visa
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa replacing the Intra-Company Transfer Visa (ICT)
- The Graduate Trainee visa has replaced the Intra-Company Transfer Graduate Visa.
- UK Expansion Worker visa has replaced Sole Representative of an Overseas Business Visa.
Global talent visas
The Global Talent visa aims to attract exceptional individuals from foreign countries who are already leaders or show the potential to lead in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology. To qualify for this visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be 18 years old or above.
- Receive endorsement from a recognized endorsing organization as a leader or potential leader in their field.
Conditions For UK highly skilled migrant visa
A highly skilled migrant visa allows an individual with exceptional skills or qualifications and a good knowledge of the English language to live and work in the UK. To apply for a visa, the applicant needs to have a sponsor who is resident in the UK who will support their application. The job role also has to be able to meet the salary level requirement. They must also be sponsored by the employer for whom they are going to work if they are employed; or self-employed if they intend to set up a business venture in the UK.
The CGM App is for expats, sponsoring companies and business immigration advisors. Feel free to contact us on 0300 000 000 or send us an email if you have any questions.
As a highly skilled migrant visa holder, you can:
- Study in the UK
- Bring dependants (spouse, partner and children
- Freely travel outside the UK and return
- Work as a volunteer
- Apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) once they meet the eligibility criteria.
Note; Global Business Mobility Visa holders are not eligible to settle and must switch to another type of visa to be able to apply.
Cannot;
apply for public funds
apply for State Pension
change jobs or employers without the Home Office’s permission
How to apply for visas under the highly skilled migrants scheme
To apply for any of the visas under the highly skilled migrant scheme, the application processes are quite different. However, here are a few steps you will need to follow;
- Check if you meet all the requirements for the visa you wish to apply for.
- Collect evidence and documents required for your application.
- Get a valid Certificate Of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer or an endorsement letter.
- Submit your application online
- Ensure you pay the application fees and immigration health surcharge ( If applicable)
- Apply through Home Office e-Channel or by post at least three months before the date you plan to travel with or without dependents (if applicable).
- You can also submit an electronic application in advance using Premium Services through e-Channel (for certain immigration purposes only).
UK highly skilled migrant visas to ILR
UK highly skilled migrant visas to ILR refer to the entry and residence procedure for individuals who are considered highly skilled and wish to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. The immigration and naturalisation service is responsible for processing these applications and assessing eligibility. Family members of the applicant can also apply for residence through the same procedure. To be eligible for this visa, the applicant must have a valid UK employer and a job meeting the salary threshold requirements set by the UK government’s migration policy. The job must also be considered eligible under the labour market. In addition, the applicant must have a monthly gross income that meets the income requirements set by the UK government.
This visa is also open to European Union (EU) member states and EU Blue Cardholder applicants, such as scientific researchers, who wish to work and live in the UK. The application procedure for this visa involves submitting an employee contract and salary details to the immigration and naturalisation service. A fast-track procedure is also available for graduates and those who have been offered an appointment with a UK employer. It is worth noting that a higher income requirement applies to these applicants.
The CGM App is for expats, sponsoring companies and business immigration advisors. Feel free to contact us on 0300 000 000 or send us an email if you have any questions.
In addition to the above, individuals who wish to travel and work voluntarily in the UK may also apply for this visa. However, further details on the income requirements and other eligibility criteria can be found on the immigration and naturalisation service’s website.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme has been an important part of the UK’s visa system for highly skilled individuals for many years. While the programme is no longer accepting new applications, it has been replaced by other visa categories under the points based immigration system. Overseas workers looking to apply for a visa to work in the UK must now meet the requirements of the relevant visa category, which may include having a job offer and meeting specific salary thresholds. UK visa applications come with fees that vary depending on the type of visa and the services required. It is important for applicants to understand the immigration rules and seek advice from immigration services if necessary to ensure a smooth and successful application process. Despite the changes to the visa system, the UK remains committed to attracting highly skilled individuals to contribute to its economy and society.
How can we help
CGM App is an end-to-end immigration app, designed to make the immigration and global mobility process more seamless and compliant, specifically for expats, sponsoring companies, and immigration consultants globally.
Visit cgmpartners.org.uk/register for more information.
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