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CATEGORIES OF MIGRANT MOST RELEVANT FOR EMPLOYERS

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    SKILLED WORKER WITH A JOB OFFER    

This category replaced the old Work Permits scheme. The employer must be a licensed sponsor (Please see the section on Sponsorship Licensing on Page 1). Appointed officers of the company (who could be us as your legal representatives) will assess the entitlement of an individual employee. The officer of the company would award a Certificate of Sponsorship based on an assessment of specified criteria including age, qualifications, future earnings. We, as legal representatives, can assist you with your application for a sponsorship licence and advise and assist you with the workings of the Sponsorship Management System, as appointed officers (Key Contact, Level 1 or Level 2 Users)

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    GLOBAL BUSINESS MOBILITY (SENIOR OR SPECIALIST WORKER) - formerly ICT    

This category enables a multinational employer to transfer to the UK skilled employees who have been employed at their overseas base for at least twelve months. The UK branch must be licensed and on the Sponsorship Register. (Please see the section on Sponsorship Licensing). There must be a direct link between the UK entity and the overseas entity by common ownership or control

 

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    GLOBAL BUSINESS MOBILITY (EXPANSION WORKER) - formerly the "Sole Rep" route

This category enables a multinational employer to send a representative of an overseas business to the UK as:

• a representative of an overseas business planning to set up either a UK branch or subsidiary 

• an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation posted on a long-term assignment to the UK can still use the SOLE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN OVERSEAS BUSINESS provisions

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   GLOBAL BUSINESS MOBILITY (SECONDMENT WORKER) - this is a new category introduced on 11.4.22

This is for overseas companies with high value contracts in the UK seeking to send an employee on temporary assignments to the UK

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 GLOBAL BUSINESS MOBILITY (SERVICE SUPPLIER) - this replaces T5 International Agreement (Contractual Service Suppliers and Independent Professionals)

This is for workers or self-employed people working within certain sectors under international agreements such as GATs or the EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement) seeking to provide services on temporary assignments for between 6 months and 12 months.

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    T2 - SPORTS PEOPLE    

Internationally established Sports People can be sponsored under the Points Based System with the relevant club or organisation acting as the licensed sponsor (Please see the section on Sponsorship Licensing).

 

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    T2 - MINISTERS OF RELIGION    

Ministers of Religion performing a pastoral role can be sponsored by the relevant religious organisation acting as the licenced sponsor (Please see the section on Sponsorship Licensing).

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    T5 - YOUTH MOBILITY    

This PBS category replaced the former Working Holiday Maker scheme and young people from specified non-visa countries with reciprocal arrangements with the UK, where the home country acts as the "sponsor", may come for a period of two years to experience life in Britain as they undertake some work incidental to their stay. 

 

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    T5 - TEMPORARY WORKERS    

Interns, religious workers performing a non-pastoral role, internationally established sports people and certain other workers under international arrangements seeking entry in a temporary capacity can apply under these PBS provisions. 

 

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    STUDENTS    

Students are entitled to work certain limited number of hours during term time and full time during vacations. If the student is in the United Kingdom under the Immigration Rules or as the bearer of a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) under the Points Based System the employer need not be licensed to sponsor a student employee but will have record keeping duties to ensure compliance with illegal working laws. 

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    TALENTED INDIVIDUALS  

   

Former “Tier 1 categories” listed below and other talented individuals may provide a source of highly skilled workers without the need for sponsorship registration on the part of the employer. 

EUSS permission holders

Investors

Global Talent

High Potential Individual (from 30.5.22) 

Graduate Route – Post Study Work route since Summer 2021

Scale-up route ("part-sponsored" route from 22.8.22) 

BN(O) Hong Kong visa holders

Health and Care visa holders (within Skilled Worker)

Frontier workers

Turkish workers visa holders

Dependents of many categories