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Tiers 2 and 5 and business visitors launch - what's new for migrants and visitors
27 November 2008
Find out what's new for migrants and visitors from 27 November 2008.
On this page:
- Changes to our immigration system
- Launch of points-based calculator for tier 2 and 5 migrants
- Launch of tier 2 applications
- Launch of tier 5 applications
- Launch of new business and special visitor rules
- Changes to the rules if you are waiting for the results of an English language test for some tier 1 categories
- Using an online bank account as evidence of maintenance
Changes to our immigration system
Find out which categories have now closed and which categories of the points-based system you may be able to apply under instead.
See How changes to our immigration system affect your application to work here for more information.
Launch of points-based calculator for tier 2 and 5 migrants
If you are applying under tier 2 or tier 5 of the points-based system, you can use our points-based calculator to work out how many points you might score.
Calculate your points using the points-based calculator.
Launch of tier 2 applications
If you are a skilled worker and have a job offer from a licensed sponsor, you can now apply under tier 2 of the points-based system. You must have a valid certificate of sponsorship and pass the points-based system to be able to apply.
There are four categories of tier 2:
- skilled workers (General);
- intra-company transfers;
- ministers of religion;
- sportsperson.
See sponsored skilled workers for more information about the requirements and applying.
Launch of tier 5 applications
If you are a temporary worker and have a job offer from a licensed sponsor, you can now apply under tier 5 of the points-based system. You must have a valid certificate of sponsorship and pass the points-based system to be able to apply.
There are five categories of tier 5 temporary workers:
- creative and sporting workers;
- charity workers;
- religious workers;
- government authorised exchange workers;
- international agreement workers.
The youth mobility scheme has different requirements.
See temporary workers for more information about the requirements and applying for both.
Launch of new business and special visitor rules
If you want to come to the United Kingdom for business see the business and special visitors section.
Changes to the rules if you are waiting for the results of an English language test for some tier 1 categories
If you have applied under the highly skilled worker or entrepreneur categories of tier 1 and are waiting for the results of an English language test, we will now hold the application open for an initial period of 10 days from the date of application. It used to be 10 weeks.
You should read the full policy in the highly skilled worker category for more information.
You should read the full policy in the entrepreneur category for more information.
Using an online bank account as evidence of maintenance
We have clarified the rules if you or your dependants are applying under tier 1, 2 and 5 on using online bank accounts to prove your maintenance (funds).
See the full policy guidance for each tier and category for more information, which you can find in Working in the UK.