UK Visa Bureau   »   UK Visas and Immigration   »   Tier 1 Skilled Visa   »  Tier 1 (General) Skilled Migration Basic Requirements

Tier 1 (General) Basic Requirements

Similar to the former HSMP visa class, Tier 1 applicants must score 95 points on the skilled migrant points test. 

While there are no specific requirements for age, education level or other factors, it is impossible to score 95 points without:

• Educational qualifications; 
• Earning requirements;
• Available settlement funds; AND
• English language ability.

 Do you qualify for Tier 1 (General) Skilled Migration?  Take the online assessment to find out.  

Educational Qualifications

Tier 1 migration applicants are required to have AT LEAST a Master's degree in order to meet the 95 points required to make an application.

 Find out if you qualify.  

Earning Requirements and Available Settlement Funds

All Tier 1 applicants are required to have earned at least the equivalent of UK £20,000 from the 12 months they are claiming in order to make an application.

As well as meeting the earnings requirement, applicants will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds readily available to help them settle in the UK.  However, should you have any dependents also applying with you, they must all demonstrate that they have sufficient funds available when migrating with you.

 Take the online assessment to see if you can apply for Tier 1 (General) Skilled Migration.  

English Language Ability

Applicants who do not have a degree taught in English must sit and pass the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and score at least 6.5 on each of the 4 components. IELTS measures the ability to communicate in English across all four language skills - listening, reading, writing and speaking - for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.

Applicants from some countries where English is the official language are exempt from having to sit the IELTS.

In either case, applicants who can demonstrate their English language ability will score 10 points towards their Tier 1 application.

 Take the online UK Skilled Immigration Visa assessment.