Basic Introduction

The last modifications made on the Highly Skilled Migrant Program were revealed on the 7th of November 2006.

A total of 75 points are now necessary to qualify for the HMSP, those points are added through 5 categories:

Educational qualifications (including MBA Provision);
UK work experience.
UK degree level or professional level qualification;
Points for age if you are under 32 years of age;
Previous Earnings;

With the HSMP, an employer willing to employ a professional from abroad doesn’t need to get a permit, which is a positive difference from the Work Permit Scheme. This program also offers an easier way to work in the Uk than with Innovators scheme or other business categories, as no thorough business plan or investment in the UK are expected.

1. Young Person Assessment - 5 points
Note that you are entitled to points if you are less than 32 years old, see bellow:

Age in years
- 27 or under - 20 points
- 28 or 29 - 10 points
- 30 or 31 - 5 points
- 32 and over - 0 points

2. Educational qualifications - 50 points (maximum), Except for MBA Provision (75 points)

- Bachelors degree - 30 points
- Masters degree - 35 points
- Doctoral degree - 50 points (maximum)
- Vocational or Professional Qualifications - Based on Equivalency to above UK Qualifications
- MBA recipients from one of 50 eligible schools will automatically receive 75 points.

3. Past Earnings - 45 points (maximum)
Those points are obtain in correlation with your earnings in the last 12 months, if you are a student the last 15 months before you started studying will be taken into consideration. The difference of average earning in the World is taken into account, so the applicants can calculate the number of points entitled by referring to the area of the World in which they live.

When you consider your income, you should know that we only mean earnings that have been declared to the appropriate authorities.

Country Code A Including Germany, France, Singapore, USA, Canada, Australia, Bermuda, Japan

£16,000 per annum = 5 Points
£18,000 per annum = 10 Points
£20,000 per annum = 15 Points
£23,000 per annum = 20 Points
£26,000 per annum = 25 Points
£29,000 per annum = 30 Points
£32,000 per annum = 35 Points
£35,000 per annum = 40 Points
£40,000 per annum = 45 Points

Country Code B Including Poland, Brazil, South Africa, Libya, Hungary, Chile, Mexico, Estonia, Turkey, Israel, South Korea

£7,000 per annum = 5 Points
£8,000 per annum = 10 Points
£9,000 per annum = 15 Points
£10,000 per annum = 20 Points
£11,500 per annum = 25 Points
£12,500 per annum = 30 Points
£14,000 per annum = 35 Points
£15,313 per annum = 40 Points
£17,500 per annum = 45 Points

Country Code C Including Jamaica, Russia, Iran, Morocco, Peru, Tunisia, Thailand, Algeria, Romania

£5,000 per annum = 5 Points
£5,600 per annum = 10 Points
£6,300 per annum = 15 Points
£7,200 per annum = 20 Points
£8,100 per annum = 25 Points
£9,100 per annum = 30 Points
£10,000 per annum = 35 Points
£11,000 per annum = 40 Points
£12,500 per annum = 45 Points

Country Code D Including China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Bangladesh

£3,000 per annum = 5 Points
£3,400 per annum = 10 Points
£3,800 per annum = 15 Points
£4,300 per annum = 20 Points
£4,900 per annum = 25 Points
£5,500 per annum = 30 Points
£6,000 per annum = 35 Points
£6,600 per annum = 40 Points
£7,500 per annum = 45 Points

Country Code E Including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda

£1,400 per annum = 5 Points
£1,600 per annum = 10 Points
£1,800 per annum = 15 Points
£2,000 per annum = 20 Points
£2,300 per annum = 25 Points
£2,550 per annum = 30 Points
£2,800 per annum = 35 Points
£3,100 per annum = 40 Points
£3,500 per annum = 45 Points

4. UK Experience - 5 Points (Maximum)
You are entitled to 5 points if:
You have gained enough in the UK to qualify for points in the earning category.
or
You have studied and graduated at Bachelors degree or higher in full time education in the UK or at a UK based overseas educational institution for at least one academic year.

5. English Language Ability
A bachelors degree taught in English is necessary (not a Masters degree or PhD).
or
You need to show evidence that you have pass an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) qualification at least at Band 6 less in the last two years.

Applications
After you have received the approbation for HSMP, you still might have to obtain entry clearance from your nearest British Embassy or High Commission. Your application will be processed by a central unit of Immigration staff in Sheffield (UK).

If your entry to the UK is granted this will be done for a period of 2 years, after those 2 years and if you can prove you have an employment; you can apply for an extension.

You can switch from a different scheme to the HSMP within the UK if you belong to a category expecting permanent residence or your permit already allow you to change employment. This could be a good opportunity for graduating students and/or doctors to apply for HSMP. But you should know that you will need to meet a few conditions:
- currently lawfully in the UK;
- and are not subject to enforcement action;
- do not have an appeal outstanding; and
- in the case of graduating students and doctors, that they have not been sponsored by their overseas government.

This Program has been active since 31st of October 2003. Each application must be accompany by the necessary and relevant documents to support the claim. Individuals who entered the UK under HSMP will be allowed to stay for 2 years, after this period they can ask for an extension of up to 3 years. After having spent 5 years in the UK, the Highly Skilled Migrant can apply for permanent residence. If you have belonged to a category leading to permanent residency, this time will taken into consideration.