Understanding the different tiers of UK visas and for which tier you should apply involves many different levels. Which tier you fall under and the conditions you must meet when submitting your application will depend on why you need a visa.
UK Tier 1 Visa
High-value immigrants in the UK are granted Tier 1 visas. There are five subcategories of those who are regarded as high-value migrants:
- People with exceptional talent who are well-known on a global scale in the arts or sciences
- Those who plan to make a significant financial investment in the UK are known as investors.
- An entrepreneur in the UK is a person who plans to launch, acquire, or participate in a business.
- Graduate Entrepreneurs: Non-European high school graduates in the UK who are acknowledged to possess entrepreneurial abilities
- General – Highly skilled workers fall under this category.
A minimum of 95 points must be earned by candidates for a Tier 1 visa. 75 of those 95 must be drawn from primary characteristics. You will receive the maximum 20 points for this factor if you are under 28 years old and applying for a Tier 1 visa. You won’t get any points for this category if you’re 32 or older.
You will score 30 points if you have a bachelor’s degree. You receive 35 points for master’s degrees, and 50 points for doctorates.
When applying for a Tier 1 visa, earnings are a key factor. You won’t receive any points if your earnings are less than £20,000. The maximum number of points is 45, it is earned by those who have earned £40,000 or more.
Last but not least, you will automatically receive ten points if you are from a nation where English is the official language. If not, you must achieve a 6.5 overall on the four parts of the English language exam.
UK Tier 2 Visa
Tier 2 Visas are for professionals in in-demand professions. The various groups that make up tier 2 include the following:
- Minister of Religion: A minister, missionary, or priest who has accepted a position in the UK that is based on their religious beliefs.
- Those who accepted a skilled job offer that no one in the UK could fill in general
- Intra-Company Transfer: A person who is moved from their current company to its UK branch.
- Coaches and athletes with international renown are considered sportspersons.
- A total of 70 points are required for those applying for Tier 2 visas. These points must include 10 for maintenance and 10 from the English requirement.
Education receives the following number of points. Ph.D. holders receive 15 points, followed by those with master’s and bachelor’s degrees (10 points each), the NVQ3 (5 points), and those without any of these degrees (0 points).
They then take into account your expected earnings and award you points in accordance with that. You will receive five points if your anticipated annual income is between £17,000 and £19,999. You will receive ten points when your income is between £20,000 and £21,999. You will receive 15 points for income between £22,000 and £23,999, and 20 points for income over £24,000.
Finally, they check to see if you have a sponsorship certificate. You will receive 30 points if you are an internal transfer or have a job offer that passes the Resident Labor Market Test. You receive 50 points if you’ve been offered a job in a field where there is a shortage.
UK Tier 3 Visa
Currently, Tier 3 visas are not granted. However, they had previously been employed for low-skilled workers during times of labor shortages.
UK Tier 4 Visa
Adult students can apply for Tier 4 visas. You must be at least 16 years old and intend to pursue studies that meet or exceed the National Qualification Framework. Tier 4 includes all academic programs.
UK Visa Tier 5
Temporary employees will submit a Tier 5 visa application. The following are the subcategories for Tier 5 visas:
- People traveling to the UK to perform charitable work are known as charity workers.
- Religious Workers: Those moving to the UK to serve in a ministry
- Athletes, artists, and entertainers working seasonally in the UK in the creative and sporting industries
- Exchange Permitted By The Government – Those traveling to the UK as part of a government program to spread knowledge and experience
- International Agreement – Individuals who will perform contract work in accordance with international law
- Young people who want to experience life in the UK can do so through the Youth Mobility Scheme (they must be from participating countries)
The applicant for a temporary work visa must receive 40 points. A Certificate of Sponsorship must account for the majority of their score—30 points—and the remaining 10 points are for maintenance.
50 points are required for a member of the youth mobility program. They will score 10 points for being financially self-sufficient, ten points if they are between the ages of 18 and 30, and thirty points for their nationality.
A student requesting a Tier 4 student visa must receive 40 points. They must receive 30 of their total points for registering for classes full-time. A full-time student spends at least 15 hours per week in the classroom. The final ten points are related to upkeep.
UK labor shortages in certain occupations
If you’re accepting a job on the UK’s Shortage Occupation List and moving there for work, you can apply for a specific Tier 2 visa. Numerous professions are in need of workers in all four of the UK’s countries.
In the UK, there is a need for healthcare professionals. The professions include paramedics, psychologists, social workers, medical professionals, and physical therapists. These are the most widespread professions, though there are a number of other healthcare occupations on the shortage list.
Engineers are needed in every nation in the UK. The shortage list includes engineers in the mechanical, civil, and chemical fields. If you plan to move to the UK after working in a particular industry, you should see if your line of work is listed on their National Shortage Occupation List.
You can apply for a skilled workers visa if it is. There are many different career paths listed on the list, so it’s critical to determine whether you would be eligible for that kind of visa.
The Top Jobs in the UK and Their Salaries
The most sought-after professions in the UK are those in the medical field and various engineering fields. Look at the top ten professions in the UK:
- Jobs in healthcare, £36,497
- Production and Process Engineers: £27,534 Engineering Technicians: £23,026 Design Development Engineers: $25,691
- Civil engineers make £30,450 Planning and Quality Control Engineers make £28,627
- £31 787 for electrical engineers
- Professional Engineers: £40,000
- Chemical engineers make £41,256.
- £50,000 for mechanical engineers