The UK points-based immigration system is the primary method for evaluating applicants for a skilled worker visa in the UK. It is meant to be transparent and equitable to applicants globally and divides the criteria into a set of points one must achieve in order to come and work in the UK as a skilled worker. In this article, we will explore the system’s various components and simplify its intricate regulations.
Table of Contents
What is the UK Points-Based Immigration System for Skilled Workers?
The new point based system in UK was created to regulate and restrict the migration of individuals from outside the UK (other than Irish citizens) to fill skilled positions in the UK. The main skilled worker route, effective from 2025, will require applicants to achieve a minimum of 70 points from specified criteria. These criteria are divided into mandatory points and tradeable points.
- Mandatory points (50): These are mandatory and must be satisfied.
- Tradeable points (20): These points can be acquired through a combination of salary, qualifications, and being listed in a shortage occupation.
How is Eligibility Determined for Skilled Worker Visas under UK Points-Based Immigration System?
Eligibility for UK Skilled Worker Visas is assessed using a new points-based system where the applicant is required to achieve a minimum of 70 points from the mandatory requirements and tradeable criteria. In this case, having a job offer from an employer registered with the Home Office is a requisite, alongside the criteria of having a certain skill and salary level, and minimum salary as well as English skills requirement to be met.
1. Mandatory Points (Total: 50)
These criteria are non-negotiable:
(a) Employment Offer from an Approved UK Sponsor (20 points)
- A candidate needs to hold an employment offer from a UK employer that is licensed and approved by the Home Office (government) to issue sponsorship for foreign employees.
- The sponsor is subject to pay an Immigration Skills Charge (ISC – a fee paid by the sponsor on every migrant employee)
(b) Skill Level of the Job (20 points)
- The position must have a competency at least RQF Level 6 which is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree (the job, not the degree, must at least require that level of expertise).
- There are lists of Job Titles and Occupations and an employer is only entitled to select from the lists.
(c) English Language Proficiency (10 points)
- The The candidate is required to demonstrate their English language skills at a minimum of Level B1 CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
2. Tradeable Points (Total: 20)
These points are somewhat flexible. Applicants can combine salary and other attributes to reach the required 20 points.
Salary – The Core Component
- As of July 2025, the minimum threshold for most jobs is set at £41,700 per year, or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher.
- If the salary offered is less than the general minimum, there are options to trade points using other attributes.
Breakdown of Tradeable Point Options:
Here’s a simplified table showing how salary and other attributes can combine for 20 points:
| Option | Points | Minimum salary | Other requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 20 | £41,700+ or 100% going rate | No additional requirement |
| PhD (non-STEM) | 20 | £37,500+ (90% going rate) | Must be relevant to the job |
| STEM PhD | 20 | £33,400+ (80% going rate) | Must be directly relevant |
| Immigration Salary List job | 20 | £33,400+ (going rate) | Job must be on ISL (shortage roles) |
| New Entrant | 20 | £33,400+ (70% going rate) | Typically recent graduates or those switching from study |
| Health/Education job | 20 | £25,000+ (national pay scale) | Must meet national pay scale for listed roles |
- For some health and education roles, salary thresholds are lower, using specific national pay scales.
- For listed “shortage occupations” on the Immigration Salary List, lower salary thresholds and faster processing may apply.
- “New entrants” (those who are early in their career, typically under 26, or transitioning from educational pathways) are eligible for reduced thresholds.
PhD Qualifications
- For STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), possessing a relevant PhD may enable candidates to draw a salary above a set lower boundary, but below the main threshold.
- Sponsors must validate that the PhD has been used in relevant tasks at the job for which they are sponsoring the visa, therefore directly justifying the role.
Shortage Occupations & Listed Health/Education Jobs
- Positions on the ISL (previously the Shortage Occupation List) accrue 20 tradeable points towards a reduced salary threshold.
- Health/education roles follow national pay scales rather than the general salary threshold.
Case Study Examples
Example A: Salary below standard threshold, makes up points with other criteria
- Fariya is offered a job as a lab technician at £21,000. Going rate for her role is £18,200 (so her salary is above the going rate but below standard threshold).
- She scores points by holding a STEM PhD directly related to the role.
Example B: Listed Education Job
- Kiara is offered a primary teacher role at £24,906, below standard threshold but meets the national pay scale, thus qualifies.
Example C: New Entrant Discount
- George has a starting salary below standard, but qualifies as a new entrant having studied in the UK, meeting minimum 70% of the going rate.
Additional Eligibility Criteria, Requirements & Other Aspects
In addition to the main points system, there are a number of additional criteria to consider:
(a) Age Requirement
(b) Certificate of Sponsorship
- Must possess a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) specific to the vacancy being applied for and all requisite information has to be included.
(c) Genuineness
- The Home Office reserves the right to reject applications considered to be for sham, fabrications, or of jobs created exclusively for the purpose of immigration.
(d) Financial Maintenance
- There should be a balance of at least £1,270 for 28 days prior to the application (unless employer certifies maintenance); ensures the applicant can support themselves in the UK.
(e) Criminal Record Certificate
- If the role is in specific sectors (like health, social care, education), the applicant must provide a criminal record certificate for countries they were present in for 12+ months in the past 10 years.
(f) Tuberculosis Certificate
(g) Immigration Health Surcharge
- During their stay in the UK, applicants pay a health fee surcharge that provides access to the NHS services.
(h) Immigration Skills Charge (paid by employer)
- With the exception of a small number of specific cases, the employer pays the immigration skills charge sponsorship fee per employee hired.
(i) Dependants
- Their spouse, civil partner, or a child under 18 can apply separately for Visa as dependants. Dependants are generally permitted to work.
(j) Switching Visa Routes
- Most applicants are allowed to switch between eligible visa categories while in the UK, though those in short-term visa categories, including visitors or seasonal workers, are usually unable to switch directly into the skilled worker route.
(k) Settlement (ILR)
- Applicants may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain ILR (also known as Permanent Residency or Settlement) after five years on the skilled worker route, provided that ongoing requirements and salary thresholds are continuously met.
(l) Supplementary Work
- Skilled workers may take supplementary work (part-time), but only in specific circumstances and subject to limits.
(m) No Access to Public Funds
- Skilled workers are generally unable to access public benefits or funds while in the UK, except after settlement.
The Points Allocation System: A Step-by-Step Applicant’s Work Flow
Let’s walk through a hypothetical applicant’s journey:
- Get a Job Offer
- From a legitimate UK employer approved by the Home Office.
- Employer gives Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Job Must Be Sufficiently Skilled
- Job aligns with RQF Level 6 (degree level).
- Prove English Ability
- Through nationality, education, test, or prior approval.
- Check Salary
- If at or above £41,700 (or the occupation’s “going rate”), 20 points awarded.
- If salary lower, check for alternative tradeable characteristics (PhD, STEM, shortage occupation).
- Calculate Points
- 50 mandatory points (job offer, skill level, English).
- 20 tradeable points (salary, PhD, shortage occupation, health/education, new entrant).
- Minimum total needed: 70 points.
- Prepare Additional Documents
- Maintenance funds, criminal record certificate (if required), TB test (if required).
- Apply
- Submit all documents online, pay the relevant fees and surcharges.
- Wait for application processing.
Important Key Points to Remember
- Salary Calculation: Only the first 48hrs/week are considered – overtime is ignored for eligibility.
- Genuineness of Job: Fabricating or exaggerating a job for immigration purposes risks refusal and bans.
- National Minimum Wage: Salary offered must always exceed minimum wage.
- PhDs: Only relevant academic PhDs count, not professional doctorates.
- Role Classification: The occupation code must truly reflect the job’s responsibilities; misclassification is grounds for refusal.
Recent Changes (2025) to UK’s Points-Based Immigration System
- Higher Salary Threshold: Increasing wage levels in the UK has resulted in higher thresholds as of July 2025.
- Skill Level: Only jobs at RQF Level 6 or above are eligible for new applications; medium-skilled roles have been phased out except for certain health/education categories under transitional arrangements.
- Shortage Occupations: The “Shortage Occupation List” is replaced by the “Immigration Salary List,” with updated eligible roles.
- No Annual Cap: There is now no cap on the number of skilled worker visas granted every year.
Summary Table: Points Allocation for Skilled Worker Visas (2025)
| Characteristic | Points | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Approved job offer | 20 | Must be from an approved sponsor |
| Skill level (RQF 6+) | 20 | Role must be at graduate-level skill |
| English language (CEFR B1) | 10 | Via test, nationality, or degree |
| Salary (standard threshold) | 20 | £41,700 or occupation’s going rate |
| Salary (90% going rate, PhD) | 10 | £37,500+ and relevant PhD |
| Salary (80% going rate, STEM PhD) | 20 | £33,400+ and relevant STEM PhD |
| Shortage occupation/ISL | 20 | £33,400+ and job must be on ISL |
| Health/education role (national scale) | 20 | £25,000+ and meets listed criteria |
| New entrant | 20 | £33,400+ and 70% of going rate (recent grad) |
Through the comprehension and adherence to each detail outlined above, both prospective skilled migrants and employers in the UK can comfortably work their way through the new UK points-based visa system and optimize the likelihood of a successful visa outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What if I fail to meet the minimum of 70 points?
Your visa application will be refused. You may reapply after enhancing your prospects, for example, obtaining a better-paying job or relevant higher qualifications.
Q. Does my degree need to be from the UK?
No, but the employment position must be at the appropriate skill level and the degree was claimed for points must be relevant and recognized.
Q. With Skilled Worker Visa, can I bring my family to UK?
Yes. Spouses, partners, and children under 18 are considered dependents and can apply to accompany you through separate applications.
Q. Can points be “traded” between salary and other characteristics?
Yes. Salaries that are lower than industry standards may be compensated for by possessing a PhD (especially in STEM fields), the position being a listed shortage occupation, or if the person is considered a new entrant.
Q. Does the UK Points-based system apply equally to all nationalities?
Yes. The UK Points-based system for immigration is universal and applies the same to EU and non-EU nationals.
Q. How do “new entrant” salary rules work in the points-based visa system?
New entrants, which are primarily individuals under the age of 26, as well as recent graduates, are eligible for the new salary “70% of the going rate” threshold. This reduces the minimum salary requirement to £33,400, which opens a skilled visa much earlier for them.
Q. Can dependants of a skilled worker apply to work in the UK?
Dependants, such as spouses and children under 18, are permitted to apply to accompany a skilled worker to the UK, and are generally permitted to work freely while in the country.
Q. Are there any exemptions from English language testing?
Yes, applicants coming from a majority English speaking countries and those who have a degree taught in English, or have previously enrolled in UK immigration programs, may qualify for the English language exemption.
Q. Can I switch visa categories within the UK under the new points-based system?
Yes, the majority of visa holders are permitted to change to another eligible visa type while in the UK, as long as the appropriate criteria and evidence is met alongside appropriate sponsorship.
Q. What is supplementary employment and is it allowed on a skilled worker visa?
Supplementary employment comprises secondary positions that fall outside of the primary, sponsored role and is permitted under certain conditions like low paying positions, a short and limited duration, and no disruption to the primary employment.
Q. How does the UK points-based system assess English language proficiency?
The English language requirement is assessed as CEFR B1 for English with secure tests, approved qualifications, or even a degree taught in English from an English speaking county.
Disclaimer:
UK Visa Consultant is affiliated with regulated immigration professionals with years of hands-on experience in successful UK visa applications. We closely monitor UKVI/Home Office updates and use only official guidance and sources. The information provided in this blog is subject to change depending on UK immigration laws and policies. It is recommended to stay updated regarding such changes and confirm the details through an official source before proceeding further. Our priority is unwavering accuracy and user trust. Here’s how you can maximize your success:
- Always rely on updates from the UK Government, the Home Office, and regulated immigration advisors.
- Keep up with the latest changes (e.g., digital eVisas, new sponsor requirements, post-Brexit rules).
- If in doubt, consult directly with an accredited UK immigration solicitor or OISC advisor.
- Ensure documentation, financials, and employment/education offers are fully compliant.
- Avoid scams and unregulated agents—your application’s credibility is paramount.
- Our consultants undergo regular professional development, maintain GDPR-compliant data handling, and provide transparent, ethical advice.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.