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Highly skilled workers

A highly skilled migrant reviewing their application

Who should apply?

This page explains who is able to apply under the highly skilled worker category (Tier 1 General) of our points-based system to work in the United Kingdom.

On this page:

  • What category of person should apply?
  • Who does not need to apply under the points-based system?
  • How nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia should apply
  • How Bulgarian and Romanian nationals should apply

What category of person should apply?


You should apply if you are a not a national of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and want to enter or stay in the United Kingdom to work in the highly skilled worker category.

You should apply if you are:

  • in the United Kingdom with permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') in an immigration category that allows you to switch into the highly skilled worker category;
  • already in the United Kingdom under highly skilled worker category and want to extend your permission to stay within your existing category;
  • already in the United Kingdom under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme and want to extend your permission to stay; or
  • applying from outside the United Kingdom for permission to enter (known as 'entry clearance') in the highly skilled worker category.

Go to our visa services website, which you can find on the right of this page, if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom. There you can find out if you need to complete any other application information in your country.

If you are a dependant of a main applicant, you should complete the separate dependant application form.

Who does not need to apply under the points-based system?

You do not have to apply under the points-based system if:

  • you are an EEA or Swiss national;
  • you are a British overseas territories citizen, unless you are from one of the sovereign base areas in Cyprus;
  • you are a Commonwealth citizen with permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom because at least one of your grandparents was born here;
  • your spouse or civil partner, unmarried or same-sex partner, or (if you are under 18) one of your parents has permission to stay in the United Kingdom under the highly skilled worker category of the points-based system (although you should apply as a dependant); or
  • you have no conditions or time limit attached to your stay.

How nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia should apply

If you are a national of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia you will need to register under the Worker Registration Scheme when you take work in the United Kingdom, unless you are exempt. You should read the Worker Registration Scheme section for details.

How Bulgarian and Romanian nationals should apply

If you are a national of Bulgaria or Romania you must not work until we have given you permission, unless you are exempt. You should read the section for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals for details.

Terms explained

  • British overseas territories citizen

    You will be a British overseas territories citizen if you are connected with a British overseas territory because you or your parents were born, registered or naturalised in that British overseas territory. If you were born before 1 January 1983, you may gain the citizenship through your grandparents. (See British overseas territory.)

  • European Economic Area

    Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.

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