Overview

The Tier 2 visa (work permit) is the most common visa for foreign nationals wishing to come to the UK to live and work. Following the introduction of the Points Based Scheme (PBS) in 2008, all work permit applications were classed under Tier 2.

Several different types of work permit are available such as Tier 2 (General) and Tier 2 (Intra Company Transfer). This page focuses on Tier 2 (General) visas exclusively.

The scheme works upon the following basic conditions:

• An employer must be registered to sponsor and employ non-EU national

• An advert must be placed to advertise the role (subject to conditions)
  

• An employer must issue a certificate of sponsorship to the individual they wish to employ

• The company must make the Tier 2 application

• The Home Office will assess the application and grant a visa if it meets all the requirements

• The individual can then work exclusively for the company inside the UK

Tier 2 visas can be granted for any period of time between 6 months and 3 years. For many applicants it is the first step on the route to citizenship. Whilst you are limited to working for one employer, it does allow for valuable experience in the UK. Many applicants choose to find new positions and transfer their Tier 2 visas to new the company. Alternatively, many applicants choose to use the Tier 2 visa as a stepping-stone towards obtaining the Tier 1 (General) Visa.

Initial Tier 2 Visa

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Tier 2 Extension / Transfer or Switch to Tier 1

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ILR Application after 4 years and 11 months

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After a minimum of 12 months you can apply for Naturalisation 

Eligibility

Applicant's eligibility for a Tier 2 is via a points based assessment. Applicants are required to score a minimum of 50 points from the attributes section (sponsorship, qualifications, future earnings). Each applicant must also satisfy the English language and maintenance criteria.

Sponsorship

The points awarded for sponsorship are as follows:

Qualifications

The points available for qualifications are as follows:

**You can only claim points for one qualification

Future Earnings 

The following points are awarded for the salary on offer:

English Language Requirement

In addition to scoring the minimum level of 50 points, you must also satisfy the English language requirement. To do this you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be a national of a majority English-speaking country (see below).
• Have completed a degree qualification, which was fully taught in English and is recognised by UK NARIC.
• Have completed an English language test within the last 2 years that shows a high level of English. The most common test is the IELTS and applicants will need to obtain an overall score of at least 6.5

The following countries are considered to be majority English speaking:

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, UK and the USA.

Maintenance

All applicants are required to satisfy the maintenance criteria. Points will be awarded if:

• You have £800 in available funds, which have been in your bank account for three months before the date when you apply
  
• Your sponsor has an A rating and has confirmed in your certificate of sponsorship that it will maintain and accommodate you up to the end of your first month of employment in the UK if required
  
• You automatically score points for maintenance

If you are unsure about the maintenance funds you will need to show, please feel free to contact one of our consultants on 0203 178 2048.

Contact Us

The criteria and requirements for a Tier 2 vary from case to case. To get a free assessment on your eligibility or to check what requirements your application would be subject to please contact us.

First Migration and Tier 2 Visas

A vast number of Tier 2 visas are issued each year to meet the growing demand for skills and expertise in the UK economy. Each application is subject to strict conditions and regulations to ensure that only suitable applicants are approved. First Migration can help you secure your Tier 2 visa and guide you through the whole process with our experienced and OISC registered team. So what can you expect from us?

• A dedicated caseworker who will advise you on the exact documentation needed for your application.
• We offer sample letters and documents to ensure you get the right documents
• Feedback on all of your documents eligibility
• We complete the application form
• We write a covering letter both presenting and arguing why your case should be approved
• We represent your case to the Home Office and deal with all correspondence

In addition to this we also ensure:

• A no win, no fee application
• Online access to your account to check your status
• Text and email weekly updates
• Your application is covered by our service guarantee*