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Points-based immigration Skilled Worker Route – Government’s Guide for Employers

Points-based immigration Skilled Worker Route – Government’s Guide for Employers

On 1st December 2020, the Government launched a number of immigration routes under the UK’s new points-based immigration system, including the Skilled Worker route.

Applicants for the new routes can now start to apply under the points-based system. EEA nationals that arrive in the UK before 31 December 2020 remain eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme.

Under the new Skilled Worker route, anyone coming to the UK to work will need to demonstrate that they have a job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor at the required skill level – RQF 3 or above (A Level and equivalent). Anyone you hire from outside the UK needs to speak English to the required standard and their job is required to meet the applicable minimum salary threshold.

Alongside the Skilled Worker visa, a number of other routes have opened from 1st December.  These include:-

  • Global Talent visa for people who can show they have exceptional talent or exceptional promise in the fields of science, engineering, humanities, medicine, digital technology or arts and culture
  • Innovator visa for a person seeking to establish a business in the UK based on an innovative, viable and scalable business idea
  • Start-up visa for a person seeking to establish a business in the UK for the first time
  • the Intra-company Transfer visa, which is for established workers who are being transferred by the business they work for to do a skilled role in the UK

 Guidance for employers

Following the launch of the Government’s employers marketing campaign it has created a number of shareable materials for us to promote awareness and understanding of the changes among our members and networks. These are brought together in the employers campaign partner pack, including key links, the new podcast, social media, web assets and guidance. A link to the pack is provided here:

Guidance for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens 

The Government recognises that the end of free movement and the introduction of a points-based immigration system is a big change for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and it has therefore launched a multi-channel communications campaign in all EU and EEA countries (and Switzerland), directing individuals to GOV.UK/MovingToTheUK where translated information is available across 24 EU languages. It has also created a suite of introductory guides for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens planning to enter the UK from 1 January 2021, as well as application guidance.  These and additional materials can be found in the EU citizens campaign partner pack, a link to which is provided here:

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK on or before 31 December 2020 should not apply through the points-based immigration system. They should apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and have until 30 June 2021 to make an application.  Over 4.2 million have already applied and others have until 30 June 2021 to do so.