Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Right to workLatest NewsMigrant workersRecruitment & retentionImmigration

Applications for new work visa routes now open

by Ashleigh Webber 1 Dec 2020
by Ashleigh Webber 1 Dec 2020 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

Applications for the new work visa routes open today for eligible overseas workers who wish to work in the UK from 1 January 2021.

Workers from overseas – including the European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals – will now be able to apply online for the skilled worker visa, the intra-company transfer visa and global talent visa, among several other new entry routes that have been brought in under the UK’s new points-based immigration system.

Migrant workers

How will employers fare under the new immigration system?

Risk of foreign investors being deterred by new immigration rules

Dramatic fall in immigration could spark skills shortage

Provided they meet the criteria, they will get a decision within three weeks, the Home Office said.

To be eligible for the skilled worker visa, which replaces the Tier 2 route, workers will need to gain enough points. Points are awarded for a job offer at the appropriate skill level, knowledge of English and for reaching a minimum salary threshold – normally at least £25,600 per year, unless the ‘going rate’ for the job they have been offered is higher.

Applications cost between £610 and £1,408 depending on individuals’ circumstances and whether their job is on the shortage occupations list. They must also pay the immigration health surcharge (£624 per year) and have at least £1,270 available to support themselves.

Applicants will also need to prove their identity and provide the relevant documents via the online system. Those successful under the scheme will be granted a five-year visa, which can be extended.

Home secretary Priti Patel said: “This government promised to end free movement, to take back control of our borders and to introduce a new points-based immigration system. Today, we have delivered on that promise.

“This simple, effective and flexible system will ensure employers can recruit the skilled workers they need, whilst also encouraging employers to train and invest in the UK’s workforce.

“We are also opening routes for those who have an exceptional talent or show exceptional promise in the fields of engineering, science, tech or culture.”

The Home Office said the new system will encourage employers to focus on training the UK workforce, “especially those impacted by coronavirus”.

Earlier this year, a new health and care worker visa was launched. Workers who apply under this category will be exempt from paying the immigration health surcharge.

Immigration law experts have said the new system is more flexible than its predecessor, but it has been noted that employers will need to act as “pseudo immigration officers”.

  Workforce planning opportunities on Personnel Today

Browse more workforce planning jobs

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and part of the Personnel Today editorial team. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport.

previous post
How will employers fare under the new immigration system?
next post
Baroness Falkner named new EHRC chair

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Nurses leaving due to pressure and workplace culture

18 May 2022

How firms need to comply with sponsor licence...

16 May 2022

Fears over skills as visa application times double...

12 May 2022

How the Global Business Mobility visa will overhaul...

14 Apr 2022

Digital right-to-work checks: what should employers do to...

13 Apr 2022

The UK Expansion Worker route: a solution for...

8 Apr 2022

Immigration schemes need revision to tackle farming staff...

6 Apr 2022

Scale-up visas: How employers can hire international talent

16 Mar 2022

UK businesses join consortium to recruit Ukrainian refugees

14 Mar 2022

Jobs board launched for Ukrainians fleeing Russian invasion

11 Mar 2022
  • What it really means to be mentally fit PROMOTED | What is mental fitness...Read more
  • How music can help to ease anxiety at work PROMOTED | A lot has happened since March 2020, hasn’t it?...Read more
  • Why now is the time to plug the unhealthy gap PROMOTED | We’ve all heard the term ‘health is wealth’...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+