If you are interested in applying for a Tier 1 (General) visa (previously HSMP), use our Tier 1 visa points calculator to see how many points you might score.
Age
Applicants will be awarded points depending on their age (as below). No points are awarded if the applicant is over 34 years of age under any circumstances.
If an applicant is applying for a Tier 1 (General) Highly Skilled visa, the applicant will receive a different number of points for their age, depending on their circumstances. The three different circumstances are:
- the applicant does not currently hold either a previous Tier 1 (General) visa that is due for extension, or a HSMP visa that is due for extension under the Tier 1 (General) rules;
- the applicant currently has a Tier 1 (General) visa that is due for extension; or
- the applicant currently holds a HSMP visa that is due for extension under the Tier 1 (General) rules.
|
Age at the date of application |
|
|
A new application for Tier 1 (General), where the applicant does not currently hold a HSMP or a Tier 1 (General) visa |
Points |
| Under 28 years of age | 20 |
| 28 or 29 years of age | 10 |
| 30 or 31 years of age | 5 |
| An application for an extension of a HSMP visa, under the Tier 1 (General) rules | Points |
| Under 30 years of age | 20 |
| 30 or 31 years of age | 10 |
| 32 or 33 years of age | 5 |
| An application for an extension of a Tier 1 (General) visa, under the Tier 1 (General) rules | Points |
| Under 31 years of age | 20 |
| 31 or 32 years of age | 10 |
| 33 or 34 years of age | 5 |
Qualifications
Applicants can claim points for the educational qualifications which are considered equivalent to UK standards. Points are awarded according to the level of the qualification obtained and are as follows:
| Qualification | Points |
| Bachelor's Degree or equivalent | 30 |
| Master's Degree or equivalent | 35 |
| PhD | 50 |
Qualifications gained in the UK
In addition to these points, applicants may be eligible for a further 5 points where they can show proof of a qualification gained whilst in the United Kingdom. The qualification must be at the level of a UK degree. The course undertaken would have to be a full time course, lasting at least one full academic year.
Note that if 5 points are gained in the earnings section, for UK earnings, then the applicant cannot claim an additional 5 points for UK education experience.
English language
The Language requirement requires a pass mark of ten and skilled migrants applying in this category must be able to demonstrate one of the following:
- The applicant has passed a test in the English equivalent to level C1 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for Language Learning (equivalent to a grade C or above at GCSE level);
- The applicant comes from a majority English speaking country (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, USA);
- The applicant has obtained an academic qualification (not a professional or vocational qualification) that is equivalent to either a UK Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD level qualification, from an educational establishment in a majority English speaking country (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, UK, USA); or
- Have completed a degree taught in English, in any country in the world.
