Introduction

The Points Based System (PBS) of immigration was introduced in the UK in 2008. It has five tiers, or main categories, though Tier 3 has not been implemented. They are:

In spite of the name, the points that are awarded for meeting a requirement are insignificant for most tiers. An applicant either meets all requirements and accrues the relevant number of points, or fails to meet one requirement and is awarded no points.

It was called the Points Based System because it was originally supposed to have been based on the Australian immigration system, which allows applicants to add together points for different requirements in order to show they should be granted immigration permission.

  • Tier 1 for entrepreneurs, investors and people with exceptional talent – this tier does not require a sponsor
  • Tier 2 for employees, sponsored by an employer with a Tier 2 sponsor licence
  • Tier 4 for students, Students' Union sabbatical officers and postgraduate doctors and dentists, sponsored by an education provider with a Tier 4 sponsor licence
  • Tier 5 for temporary workers and short-term exchange schemes, sponsored by a Tier 5 sponsor

Tier 1
Entrepreneurs, investors

Tier 2
Skilled employees

PBS

Tier 4
Students

Tier 5
Temporary workers

All other immigration categories are outside the PBS. These include visitors, short-term students, family members, refugees and other schemes for workers, for example UK ancestry and the Turkish Association Agreement.

In this section, we include examples of immigration documents wherever possible. The format and wording of these documents can change but these give some idea of what you will see when registering or enrolling students.

Introduction quiz

Which immigration category is probably most appropriate for each of these individuals? Give it a go! We'll consider each category in more detail later.

(Click incorrect answers to remove them.)

  • Points Based System
  • Family members
  • EEA nationals
  • Exempt from immigration control
  • Refugees
  • Visitors
  • Settled status
Diplomat
Person with indefinite leave to remain
Asylum seeker
Japanese national aged 25 looking for a job
Slovak student
Student's spouse or civil partner
Entrepreneur
Orchestral musician
Employee
Child visiting family

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