The free movement ends now for the European nationals to the UK. For EU nationals not having EUSS status in hand, short-stay visits are still possible but for work and studies, one must apply now for a visa or residence permit. The EU nationals like non-EU nationals will have to apply this through the “Points Based Immigration System”. Since the visa and legal systems will be different now, here we will discuss information about the UK’s point-based immigration system for EU, EEA, and Swiss residents. In other words, a UK visa for EU citizens is available now under the points-based immigration system.
The UK quit the EU on 31 January 2020 and 31 Dec 2020 was the last day of free movement between the UK and the European Union. On the very first day of 2021, the UK implemented a point-based immigration program that prioritizes skills and talent over where a person comes from. If you were not resident in the UK by 31 December 20, and do not have rights under the EUSS agreement, you would be required to fulfill the specific needs to study or work in the UK from 1 January 2021.
What EU visitors are still allowed visa-free entry to the UK?
No doubt many reasons still allow you to travel to the UK without a visa from an EU country. To visit the UK, first of all, you will also be required to pass relevant checks, including criminality checks. You can continue to visit the UK for up to 6 months without applying for a visa and may participate in a wide range of actions, including:
- tourism,
- visiting family and friends,
- temporary study,
- business-related incidents, for example, events and conferences.
Irish residents’ status carries on to be secured as part of Common Travel Area arrangements. Therefore Irish citizens do not need permission to immigrate to the UK (except in very few conditions), and as a result, are not eligible to apply under the new points-based immigration system.
Applying for an EU Settlement Scheme or a Visa?
You should not apply for a visa under the points-based immigration system if you are an EEA, EU, or Swiss citizen and were living in the UK on or before 31 Dec 2020. You and your dependents should instead submit your application to the EU Settlement Scheme if you have not secured your EUSS status. The general dates for applying to this program have come to an end.
Application via the Points-based immigration system
First of all, you should start your application on the GOV UK website. You will need to show that you can fulfill the requirements and score the number of points needed for the visa you are going to apply for. First of all, you will need to verify your identity. There are two ways to verify your identity:
- One is online via the UK immigration “ID Check” app.
- In the second option, you will need to visit a Visa Application Center.
Secondly, when you apply through the Points-based immigration system you will need to deposit an application fee. If you immigrate to the UK for more than six months you may have to deposit the Immigration Health Surcharge as well. Which provides you access to the UK’s National Health Service(NHS).
Thirdly, what is the processing time of the visa application? The processing time of your application depends on your visa type going to apply and the service available. When you apply, you must receive confirmation that you have been successful before your travel to the UK. Most importantly, you should use the same document when you travel to the UK that you used at the application time as if you use your biometric passport to apply you will be required to travel using this.
UK work visa requirements for EU nationals
You should apply for a visa under the points-based immigration system if you are an EEA, EU, or Swiss citizen and want to work there. Following are the eligibility requirements you need to fulfill:
- You will need to have a valid job offer
- the should be at the required skill level
- the employer should be from a Home Office-registered sponsor
- Your salary should be at least £26,500 in routine or the average salary in the country in the related job category
- Your language (English) speaking is at the international level B1 (on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Points scoring information
The general points-based system works as under:
Candidates have to score 70 points to get a skilled work visa. 50 points must be scored by every visa application which is also called non-tradable points by:
- having a valid job offer from a UKBA licensed and approved sponsor= 20 points
- having the job at the appropriate skill level= 20 points
- English language proficiency at B1 level= 10 points
Work visa types under the Points-based immigration system for EU nationals
The candidate can apply for the Health and Care visa to immigrate to the UK with his family if he:
- has a job offer from the NHS, employers, owners, and companies work for NHS and social care sector, his job is in an eligible health occupation
- can speak (understand) English well.
- fulfills the needs of the Skilled Worker route.
For this particular visa stream, there is a speedy pathway entry, with less application cost and dedicated support through the application procedure. When you fulfill the eligibility needs for the Health and Care visa, you have the exemption to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. The frontier Health and Care workers who are not capable of applying for the Health and Care visa will have to deposit the Immigration Health Surcharge and could benefit from a reimbursement program where they will be repaid.
As the name implies the Global Talent visa is for highly international skilled workers. It provides the opportunity for the most highly talented workers to immigrate to the UK without a job offer. The Global Talent visa caters to acknowledged international leaders, and the leaders of coming times in science, humanities, engineering, the arts including (fashion designing and architecture and film), and digital technology, with individuals’ special abilities enriching the UK’s knowledge, economy, and society. researchers and scientists with high skills benefit from a fast endorsement procedure as part of a speedy pathway STEM scheme.
f you are a Global Talent Visa holder, you can:
- Become an employee, self-employed, and a director of a company;
- Change or terminate your work without informing the Home Office;
- A trip abroad and return to the UK;
- Bring your partner and children as your dependents to the UK;
- Get “Permanent Residency” so-called indefinite leave to remain after living in the UK for 3 to 5 years.
3- Other work visa tracks and specialist occupations
Alternate work visa tracks are also available for working in the UK, for example, start-up and Innovator visas. In addition, more visa pathways are available for further skilled occupations, including ministers of religion, sportsmen, and creatives.
Study in the UK Student visa
1- If you are 18 years of age and over
You will need to meet the following requirements to be eligible for a student visa in the UK:
- You need to show that you can understand English (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) at a certain level required by the university or college,
- You have sufficient financial funds to bear all expenses in the UK,
- You have been offered a place on a course by the Home office’s licensed Student sponsor.
2- If you are between 4 and 17 years of age
Children between the 4-17 age who want to get an education at an independent school will apply through a Child Student visa.
A Graduate visa is for students who have completed a degree at the undergraduate level or above in the UK. They will be able to apply for a graduate visa to, live and work or to search for a job for a maximum time of 24 months (36 months for Ph.D. students ) after completing their studies.
This visa category is open from 1 July 2021 to foreign students who were sponsored by a Home-office-licensed Student sponsor. If you have started your studies in the 2020-2021 academic year in the UK, you will be able to participate in this route even if you began your degree online in your home country due to due to travel restrictions. A candidate who started their studies at the end of 2020 will now have time until 21 June 2021 to enter the UK (updated from 6 April 2021) to be eligible for the Graduate route.