Tier 2 Sponsorship

WORKING IN THE UK: CAN YOU APPLY FOR UK TIER 2?

This section explains the requirements that you must meet if you want to come to or remain in the UK as a skilled worker sponsored under Tier 2 (General) of our (‘Tier 2 PBS’) points-based system. To be able to apply for UKVI Tier 2, you must score a total of 70 points and meet all the other requirements of the UK Immigration Rules. If you are already in the UK in a different UK immigration category, you can find out about switching to Tier 2 sponsorship below (eg switching from Tier 2 ICT to Tier 2).

Points for your attributes - You must score 50 points for having a Tier 2 (General) certificate of sponsorship (‘COS’), and for being paid an appropriate salary. These are known as your 'attributes'. Points are available for your attributes as follows:

A. There are 30 Attribute Points available (the Certificate of Sponsorship or COS section explains how you can score these points) if you are assigned a certificate of sponsorship, because: the job has an annual salary of £150,000 or more; the job is on the shortage occupation list; your sponsor has completed a resident labour market test (or an exemption applies); or you want to extend your stay and continue working in the same job for the same UK employer.

B. Appropriate salary and allowances: 20 Attribute Points available (the appropriate salary and allowances section explains how you can score these points).
Points for your English language ability - You must score 10 points for English language ability. The English language section for Tier 2 work permit sponsorship applications explains how you can score these points.
Points for maintenance (funds) - You must score 10 points for maintenance (funds). The Maintenance section for Tier 2 sponsorship applications explains how you can score these points.

Additional requirement for students - You may need to meet an additional requirement if you are in the UK as a Tier 4 student, or in one of the student categories under the Immigration Rules that were in place before March 2009. (For more information, see the students with financial sponsorship section of the Tier 2 information.

More information:
Other requirements (general grounds for refusal) - Even if you meet the requirements described above, we may refuse your application for other reasons (such as your previous UK immigration history) .
Can I switch over to Tier 2 (General)? If you currently have permission to stay in the UK under any of the following immigration categories, you can apply to switch over into Tier 2 (General) from inside the UK:

If you are not in any of these categories, you must leave the UK and make your Tier 2 (General) application from abroad. If you are switching to Tier 2 from Tier 4 or the former categories of student, student nurse, student re-sitting an examination or student union sabbatical officer, you must have current permission to stay in the UK and, during that permission to stay, you must have lawfully obtained a UK degree, postgraduate certificate in education or professional graduate diploma of education. You must have obtained one of the named qualifications. They do not include, for example, vocational qualifications at degree level which are not degrees. If you are a PhD student, you do not need to have completed your course, but you must have completed at least 12 months' study towards it in the UK.
Switching from a post-study category - You can be assigned a certificate of sponsorship and score 30 points if you are switching from:

If you are switching from student, student re-sitting an examination, student nurse or student union sabbatical officer, you must have current permission to stay in that category.

If you do not meet these requirements, you will need to claim points for UK sponsorship in another way (such as through a resident labour market test).
Certificate of sponsorship (COS) - This subsection explains how many points you can score for sponsorship if you are applying to enter or remain in the UK as a skilled worker sponsored under Tier 2 (General) of the points-based system. You must read the Tier 2 policy guidance before you apply. The guidance is based on Part 6A of the Immigration Rules. You can score 30 points for having a Tier 2 (General) certificate of sponsorship (COS) from a licensed Tier 2 sponsor. When assigning your certificate, your sponsor will indicate whether they are assigning it because: the job has an annual salary of £150,000 or more; or the job is on the shortage occupation list; or your sponsor has completed a resident labour market test (or an exemption applies); or if you are already here under Tier 2 (General) and you are applying extend your stay, you will working for the same sponsor in the same job.

If you are currently in the UK under Tier 2 (General) in a job that is on the shortage occupation list, but the job is no longer on the list, you can still apply for an extension or to switch into doing the same job for another employer. The job will automatically qualify as meeting the skill level for Tier 2. But if you are switching to a new UKVI licensed employer, they must carry out a resident labour market test before they can sponsor you.

Appropriate salary and allowances - This subsection explains how many points you can score for appropriate salary and allowances if you are applying to enter or remain in the UK under Tier 2 (General) of the points-based system. You must read the Tier 2 guidance before you apply. The Tier 2 policy guidance is based on Part 6A of the Immigration Rules. The points available for appropriate salary and allowances are:

A. Annual salary and allowances before tax (gross) of £20,000 or more: 20 points available.

B. Annual salary and allowances before tax (gross) under £20,000, and you have or last had permission to stay in the UK as: a Tier 2 (General) migrant under the Immigration Rules in place before 6 April 2011; a Jewish agency employee; member of the operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline; a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order; a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation; or a work permit holder -  20 points available

C. Under £20,000, and you are not in one of the categories listed above - 0 points available.

Your sponsor will confirm your salary details on your certificate of sponsorship. You do not need to send any other evidence of your salary.

English language - This subsection explains how you can score points for your English language ability when you apply under Tier 2 (General) of the points-based system. You must read the Tier 2 policy guidance before you apply. The guidance is based on Part 6A of the Immigration Rules. You must score 10 points for English language. You can score points if you: are 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 that was taught in English and is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree.
You will meet the English language requirement automatically and score points without having to send further evidence if: you have previously been given permission to stay under Tier 1 (General) or Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), or as a businessperson, a work permit holder, a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation, a member of the operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline, or a Jewish agency employee; you were given permission to stay under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) after 7 November 2006; you were given permission to stay in the past under Tier 2, have already given us evidence that you meet the Tier 2 English language requirement, and are applying to extend your stay; you are applying because you have changed jobs, and you have already given us evidence that you meet the Tier 2 English language requirement; or you are applying because you have changed jobs, and you have been given permission to stay in the past as a minister of religion on or after 23 August 2004.

If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country - We will award you 10 points for English language if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country listed below:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

The Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Jamaica

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

United States of America

 

 

If you have passed or are taking an English language test - You must have 10 points for English language. These will be awarded if you pass a test, at the appropriate level, which is on our list of approved English language tests. Only test certificates from providers on this list will be accepted.

For applications under Tier 2 (General), the minimum appropriate level is level B1 of the Common European Framework for Reference (CEFR). For applications under Tier 2 (Intra company transfer or ‘ICT’) or Tier 2 (Sportsperson), the minimum appropriate level is level A1 of the CEFR.

If you have a disability (for example, hearing difficulties), you are not exempt from the English language requirement. You should contact a test provider for details of the support that you can receive while you take the test.

If you have a degree taught in English - We will award you 10 points for English language if you have a degree which is the same as a UK bachelor's degree and which was taught or researched in English to a particular level. The qualification must: be recognised by National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the UK (UK NARIC) as equivalent to at least a UK bachelor's degree; and must also have been taught in English.

We assume that a degree taken in a majority English speaking country listed below will have been taught in English (nb Canada is not on this list):

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

The Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Ireland

Jamaica

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

the UK

the United States of America

 

If the degree was taken in another country, we assess your qualification using the points-based calculator which contains information on whether overseas qualifications are the same as a UK bachelor's level or higher provided by UK NARIC. You can score points if the points-based calculator confirms that: your degree is the same level as a UK bachelor's degree; and also the degree was taught to a competent standard of English equivalent to level C1 on the Common European Framework for Reference (CEFR).

Checking qualifications - You should check your qualification by using the points-based calculator. If you cannot find your qualification, you can contact UK NARIC and ask them to confirm the level of your qualification in a letter. But they can only confirm your qualification is the same as a UK bachelor's degree level or above, and not that the degree was taught in English. If you cannot find your qualification on the points-based calculator, you must send a letter with your application from your university confirming your degree was taught in English.

[Note: The UK National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) is the only official source of information on vocational, academic and professional qualifications awarded in more than 180 countries worldwide. A national agency managed on behalf of the UK government, it compares overseas qualifications with those in the UK, and provides information on qualifications and education systems outside the UK].

Maintenance (funds) - This sub section explains how you can score points for your maintenance (funds) when you are applying under Tier 2 (General) of the points-based system. You must read the Tier 2 policy guidance before you apply. The guidance is based on Part 6A of the Immigration Rules. You will need to support yourself for the entire length of your stay in the UK, otherwise you may face financial difficulties. You will not have access to most state benefits (public funds) during your stay. You must score 10 points for maintenance (funds).

You will also automatically score 10 points for maintenance if you are currently in the UK in one of the following immigration categories: any UKVI Tier 2 category; UK work permit holder; Jewish agency employee; member of the operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline; minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order; representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation
Alternatively, you will score 10 points if you can provide evidence that:

If you want to use savings in a joint account as evidence of available funds, you must be named on the account with one or more other people. If the funds are in a currency other than pounds sterling, we will calculate their value based on the exchange rate published on the OANDA website on the date of your application. Your savings must be in the form of cash funds held in an account (including a savings account or current account where notice must be given). Other accounts or financial instruments such as shares, bonds and pension funds are not acceptable. If you earned any money during a time when you were in breach of the UK's immigration laws, we will not include this money as evidence of your funds.

Students with financial sponsorship - This subsection describes the additional requirement that you may need to meet when you make an initial application under Tier 2 (General), if you have recently been receiving financial sponsorship as a student in the UK.

Your UK financial sponsor must give their unconditional consent for you to re-enter or remain in the UK. If they do not give unconditional consent, or give their consent for a limited time, we will refuse your application. The consent must be given in writing, on the organisation's official letter-headed paper or stationery. It must bear the organisation's official stamp, and must have been issued by an authorised official of the organisation.

You must meet this additional requirement if a government or an international scholarship agency has given you financial sponsorship, which has wholly covered your course fees and living costs, to study in the UK during the past 12 months: under Tier 4 (General) of the points-based system; or as a student, student nurse, student re-sitting an examination, student writing up a thesis, postgraduate doctor or dentist, an overseas qualified nurse or midwife or a student sabbatical officer.

You do not need to provide your UK financial sponsor's consent if you have received private financial sponsorship during your studies (from an employer or a relative, for example).

Refer a Friend