Tier 1 (General)
Points calculator

As from 19 July 2010 Tier 1 (General) applicants need 100 points so you must score the following minimum points from each of the following three stages of attributes, English language ability and available funds.

Stage 1 of 3 - Personal Attributes

1. Your age at the time your application will be submitted to the Home Office?

The Young Person assessment is in recognition of the greater potential that young highly skilled individuals have to be active in the labour market for longer. This assessment involves, in addition to the standard points scoring criteria, the award of a variable age allowance of up to 20 points. This will apply only to applicants who have yet to reach the relevant birthday when their Tier 1 application is received by the government department.

2. Educational Qualifications

Qualifications have to be equivalent to the recognised British standard of Bachelor's, Master's or PhD to be awarded the respective points for each level of qualification. Points will only be awarded where original evidence is provided that the individual has completed the course successfully and been awarded, or are about to be awarded, the relevant academic or professional qualification from an accredited institution.

Professional qualifications (e.g. ACCA, MRCS etc.) can also score points if satisfactory evidence can be produced to show the qualification is equivalent to an applicable level British qualification. Please indicate if you hold any such qualification in the Additional Information at the end of this score sheet.

3a. Declared earnings from work

This is your gross earned income (before tax) over a period of 12 consecutive months within the 15 month period prior to the application being made. For this assessment this should be in the equivalent of pounds sterling (£). Currency conversion

If you have lived and worked in more than one country during the previous 15 months your previous earnings will be assessed using a government conversion rates for income earned in each country.

e.g. if you spent 4 months working in New Zealand and 8 months in United Kingdom, the NZ income will be uplifted by a factor of 2.3 and the UK income by a factor of 1

In order to reflect differences in income levels across the world, the level required to qualify varies depending on where you live and work. Applicants will have to provide original evidence that their earned income has been declared for tax purposes in the form of originals of tax returns, pay slips and/or bank statements, as appropriate.

3b. Country of work over previous 12 months

If you have lived and worked in more than one country during the previous 15 months your previous earnings will be assessed using a government conversion rates for income earned in each country. If this is relevant to you please add details on next page under 'Other Further Information & Comments'.

e.g. f you spent 4 months working in India and 8 months in United States, the Indian income will be uplifted by a factor of 5.3 and the US income by a factor of 1

4. UK qualifications or Previous UK work experience

You can claim 5 bonus points if you can meet one of the following criteria (please note you can only claim points for one of these (i.e. a maximum of 5 points is allowed under this category):

Either: You have been able to claim points from your earnings in the UK during the last 12 months;

Or: If you studied for a Bachelor's degree or above, for at least 12 months, and were awarded the degree from a recognized UK institution within the last 5 years.

In addition to scoring at least 80 points from the above you will also need to score a further 10 points for English language ability and 10 points for having sufficient funds available to support yourself and any dependants.

Stage 2 of 3 - Proficiency in English

There are three ways you may score the necessary 10 points for proof of knowledge of English language:

Either: Be a national of ‘a majority English speaking country’ so if you are a national of one of the following countries you are deemed to be able to be able to communicate in English at a suitable level:
Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Canada; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Ireland; Jamaica; New Zealand; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; United Kingdom; United States of America.

Or: It can also be satisfied if you are not a national of one of these countries but have a degree of at least UK bachelor degree level equivalent which was awarded from any of these countries (except Canada, as it is not assumed you have been necessarily been taught in English if you have taken a degree in Canada)

Or: You have a suitable English language qualification; many English qualifications may be acceptable (including IELTS, ESOL, TOEFL + others) but the qualification must be equivalent to an IELTS test with a pass mark of at least 6.5 www.ielts.org

Yes, I can meet one of the above
English Language requirements

Stage 3 of 3 - Maintenance Requirement

It will be necessary for you to be able to be able to prove that you can meet the current level of available funds to support yourself, and any dependants, on your arrival in the UK. You will not be allowed any use of UK public funds whilst in the United Kingdom with permission to stay under the Tier 1 scheme.

You will therefore have to show that you have had the minimum amount available to you for three months prior to the application being submitted (see below). The most practical way of showing this is to produce bank statements showing that the balance has not fallen below the applicable figure at any time during the three months leading up to the application.

Other possibilities are either building society passbook or passbooks covering a period of three months; a letter from your bank confirming the level of funds in your bank account and that they have been held in that account for at least three months; or a letter from a financial institution regulated by the Financial Services Authority confirming funds.

Maintenance requirement for In-Country Applications.

If you are already living in the UK under one of the following categories then (currently) you are allowed to apply for a Tier 1 from within the UK - this is known as an in-country application:
Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland; International Graduates Scheme (IGS);Post Study Work; innovator; postgraduate doctor or dentist; graduating student; student nurse; student re-sitting an exam; student writing up a thesis; work permit holder (except the Training and Work Experience Scheme)

The maintenance requirement for in-country applications is £800 for the main applicant and £1,600 for each dependant who will accompany you to the UK.

E.G. If you have a partner and a child then you will have to show that you have had a credit in your account(s) of £4,000 for the previous three months.

If the main applicant has been in country for 12 months or over then the figure will be £800 for main applicant and £533 for each dependant who will accompany you to the UK.

Maintenance requirements for Out-of-Country Applications

If you presently live outside the UK, or are here in a capacity that does not allow switching (see above), you will have to make the Tier 1 application via a British Diplomatic mission in your country of permanent residence. The maintenance requirement for these out-of-country applications is higher than those for in-country applications and is £2,800 for the main applicant and £1,600 for each dependant who will accompany you to the UK.

E.G. If you have a partner and a child then you will have to show that you have had a credit in your account(s) of the local equivalent of £5,600 for the previous three months.

Yes, I can meet the relevant
maintenance requirement

POINTS TOTAL

(minimum required: 100 points)