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UK Immigration Eligibility

How many points you must score

You will need at least 95 points to be able to apply, which must include 10 points for English language and 10 points for maintenance (funds).

How many points you must score for your attributes

You must score a total of at least 75 points for age, qualifications, experience and earnings known as attributes. The points available are:

Attributes Points available
Age 5 - 20
Qualifications 30 - 50
Previous earnings 5 - 45
United Kingdom experience
  • You must score 10 points for English language skills or your application will be refused.
  • You must score 10 points for maintenance (funds) or your application will be refused.

Age

The points awarded for an initial application as a highly skilled worker

You can score up to 20 points for your age if you are under 32 years old on the date of your application. The points awarded are:

Under 28 years old - 20
28 or 29 years old - 10
30 or 31 years old - 5

Qualification

The points awarded for qualifications

The points awarded for qualifications are:

Qualifications Points
Phd 50
Master's 35
Bachelor's 30

  • A Master in Business Administration (MBA) is not a separate category under the points-based system, so you cannot rely solely on an MBA qualification to meet the requirements of the highly skilled worker category.
  • However, you may be able to use your MBA to score points as a master's qualification as detailed below.
  • Points are only awarded for one qualification.
  • Points are only awarded for a qualification which is assessed and recognised by the National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) to meet or exceed the recognised standard of a bachelor's or master's degree or a PhD in the United Kingdom.

  • Points are awarded for vocational and professional qualifications that are deemed by UK NARIC or the appropriate United Kingdom professional body to be the same as a PhD, master's degree or bachelor's degree

Earnings

The points awarded for previous earnings

You can score up to 45 points for your earnings. The points awarded for salaried employment or self-employed earnings are:

Previous earnings Points
£16,000 - £17,000 5
£18,000 - £19,999 10
£20,000 - £22,999 15
£23,000 - £25,999 20
£26,000 - £28,999 25
£29,000 - £31,999 30
£32,000 - £34,999 35
£35,000 - £39,999 40
£40,000 + 45
  • Earnings must be made up of 12 consecutive months and must fall within the 15 months before your application.
  • Your gross salary before tax will be assessed. This also applies if you are self-employed and draw a salary from your business.

UK Experience

The points awarded for United Kingdom experience

In your initial application, you can score five points for United Kingdom experience if:

  • you have successfully scored points under previous earnings and those earnings were made in the United Kingdom; or
  • you have been in full-time study in the United Kingdom for at least one full academic year, and have been awarded a qualification at bachelor's degree level or above. The qualification should have been awarded within the last five years.

How previous earnings are assessed

Your earnings must be:

  • earned in the United Kingdom; and
  • at least £16,000.

You should note that:

  • points for United Kingdom experience will only be awarded for either qualifications obtained in the United Kingdom or previous earnings in the United Kingdom but not both;
  • previous earnings are not taken into account in awarding points for United Kingdom experience if you were in breach of the immigration laws when you earned the money.

English

You must have a minimum level of English language and score 10 points in this section, or your application will be refused.

How points are awarded for English language

English is the official language of the United Kingdom. The ability to speak English to a competent level improves your potential to succeed in the United Kingdom labour market and helps you integrate into the United Kingdom. So you must have a good knowledge of English.

There are three ways that you can score points for English language. You can:

  • be a national of a majority English speaking country; or
  • pass an English language test on our list of approved English language tests; or
  • hold a degree assessed by UK NARIC as being taught in English and is equivalent to a United Kingdom bachelor's degree or above.

Maintenance (Funds)

What is maintenance (funds)?

You must be able to support yourself for the entire length of your stay in the United Kingdom without needing to rely on public funds. If you cannot you could face financial hardship as you do not have access to most state benefits.

You must show that you have enough funds in personal savings to support yourself.

The points awarded for maintenance (funds) if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom

You must score 10 points for maintenance (funds). These will be awarded if you are applying to a British overseas entry clearance post for permission to come to the United Kingdom (known as 'entry clearance') and have £2,800 in available funds.

You must have the £2,800 in your account for at least three months before you apply, and be able to send documents that show the money has been there for three months.

You must prove your maintenance (funds) by sending the specifed evidence to support your application, or your application will be refused.