Introduction

As of January 2021, the United Kingdom is introducing a new points-based immigration system that will affect anyone who wants to come to the country for work or study. With the end of free movement of people under the EU, the new system aims to be more flexible and give weight to skills and talent rather than nationality.

The new scheme is designed to attract the "brightest and the best" from around the world and to ensure that firms can hire the staff they need. It enables skilled workers to enter the country without a job offer, while students will be allowed to stay for up to two years after their studies end to find work. This article will explore the new UK visa system and how it affects those who want to work or study in the country.

How does the new visa system work?

Under the new visa system, anyone who wants to come to the UK to work or study needs to score a certain number of points. For example, skilled workers need to score 70 points, while students need to score 50 points. Points are awarded based on factors such as job offers, qualifications, and language skills.

The system allows those with certain skills in demand, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, to enter the UK without a job offer. These are known as "global talent" visas, and they are intended to attract the best and brightest from around the world. Those with a job offer will need to meet a minimum salary threshold of ￡25,600 and have a knowledge of English. Those with a PhD in a subject relevant to their job will be able to come to the UK on a lower salary threshold of ￡23,040.

What about students?

The new visa system allows students to stay in the UK for up to two years after their studies end to find work. This is an increase from the previous system, which only allowed students to stay for four months. Students will need to score 50 points in order to qualify, with points awarded based on factors such as course level, institution, and language skills.

Students who want to extend their stay in the UK after the two-year period will need to switch to a new visa category, such as the skilled worker visa. The government has announced that it plans to introduce a graduate route in 2021, which will allow international students to stay in the UK for two years after graduating, even if they do not have a job offer.

What about EU citizens?

Following the end of the Brexit transition period, EU citizens will no longer be able to freely enter and work in the UK. However, EU citizens who were already living in the UK before December 31, 2020, can apply for settled or pre-settled status. Settled status means that an EU citizen can stay in the UK indefinitely, while pre-settled status means that they can stay for up to five years and then apply for settled status.

EU citizens who arrive in the UK after December 31, 2020, will need to apply for a visa under the new points-based system. They will need to meet the same requirements as non-EU citizens, but will not require a visa for visits up to six months.

Conclusion

The new UK visa system aims to attract the best and brightest from around the world while making it easier for firms to hire the staff they need. The system takes into account skills, qualifications, and language ability rather than nationality, and offers more opportunities for students to stay in the UK after their studies. While the end of free movement of people from the EU may make it harder for some to enter the UK, the new system is designed to be more flexible and better suited to the needs of both individuals and businesses.