• What is the Points Based System?
• Do I need a sponsor?
• How do I apply?
• What do I need to make my application?
• What are my biometric details?
• What are visa application centres (VACs)?
• How are the points calculated?
• What supporting documents should I include with my application?
• How long will I be able to stay in the UK?
• Can I appeal if my application is refused?
• What is Administrative Review?
• Can my dependants join me in the UK?
• What do my dependants need to make an application?
• What supporting documents should my dependants include with their application?
• What fee will my dependants pay?
• What are public funds?
• Check your visa
• More advice and information

What is the Points Based System?

The Points Based System (PBS) is a system for managing migration for those wishing to enter the UK for work or study.

Tier 1 (General) Migrant of the Points Based System was launched for foreign nationals living in the UK on 29 February 2008 and replaced the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). On 30 June 2008 three additional sub-tiers were rolled-out and the programme was extended to include applicants resident overseas. The four sub-tiers are Tier 1 (General) Migrant, Tier 1 (Investor), Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 1 (Post-Study Work). Tier 2 for Skilled Workers and Tier 5 for Temporary Workers and the Youth Mobility Scheme were launched worldwide on 27 November 2008. See the companion leaflets in this series for the other PBS routes. The first stage of Tier 4 (General) Student and Tier 4 (Child) Student rolled-out on 31 March 2009.

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Do I need a sponsor?

You do not need a sponsor for Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) of the Points Based System.

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How do I apply?

First access the Self Assessment Points Calculator to see whether you have enough points to make a successful application. The tool will enable you to understand how you can score points and what documentary evidence you require. If you decide to make an application, you should complete application form VAF9 with your personal details. Depending on which country you are making your application from, you may be able to complete this online. You will also need to complete Appendix 4 using the points scoring information obtained from the Self Assessment Points Calculator. This is only available as a PDF document and must be completed manually and sent in with your supporting documents. Check our visa application centres overseas page to see if you need to apply through a visa application centre or the British mission in your country.

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What do I need to make my application?

• Your passport or travel document;
• The application forms VAF9 and Appendix 4 with all mandatory sections completed;
• The fee as published on the visa fees page on this website. This cannot be refunded and you must pay in local currency;
• Your biometric details (see below);
• A recent passport sized photograph
  Please note: photographs should measure 45mm x 35mm and be:
  • in colour taken against a white background;
  • clear and of good quality and not framed or backed;
  • printed on normal photographic paper;
  • full face and without sunglasses, hat or head covering (unless it is worn for cultural or religious reasons but the face must not be covered).
    (If the application is successful, the photographs provided will be reproduced on the visa vignette).
• All documents as specified in the Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) Guidance as stated in the Immigration Rules. If you do not submit relevant documents, your application is likely to be refused as we will be unable to award the relevant points.

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What are my biometric details?

Biometric details are scans of all 10 fingers and a full-face digital photograph. You will need to provide your biometric details in person. The whole procedure should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. Your visa application will not be processed until you have met this requirement. More information about biometrics is available on the Biometric data collection for visa applicants page on this website.

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What are visa application centres (VACs)?

In some countries we are working with commercial companies to run visa application centres. The VACs are in largely populated areas making it easier and more convenient for people to apply for a UK visa. Trained staff at each VAC deals with all visa enquiries and applications. They collect your biometric information along with the relevant fees and provide information on the application process, including whether or not you have included all the necessary documents. Entry clearance staff at the British mission will then consider your application and decide whether to issue or refuse your visa. VAC staff will have no say in this decision.

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How are the points calculated?

Points are awarded for what are called "Attributes", for which you need to score 75 points.  These are awarded as follows:

• You have been awarded a United Kingdom recognised bachelor or postgraduate degree; a United Kingdom postgraduate certificate in education; or a higher national diploma (HND) from a Scottish institution [20 points available].
• You studied for the award at a United Kingdom recognised or listed body; a Scottish publicly funded institution of further or higher education or acceptable private education institution (if your HND is from a Scottish institution); or hold a sponsor licence under Tier 4 of the Points Based System [20 points available].
• Your period of study and/or research were while you were in the United Kingdom with entry clearance, leave to enter or to leave to remain as a student or dependant of someone with leave in any category permitting the admittance of dependants [20 points available].
• Your application for entry clearance under Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) is made within 12 months of obtaining the eligible award [15 points available].

Separate points are given for English language ability (10 points automatically awarded if you scored 75 points for the attributes above) and the availability of funds for maintenance (10 points).  You must produce evidence of the required funds in addition to reaching the pass mark for the Attributes.   Entry Clearance Officers will only award points for the sections where you have indicated that you wish to claim them and for which you have supplied the required supporting evidence. 

Points scoring - Attributes

 Qualification [20 points available]

• United Kingdom recognised degree at bachelor or postgraduate level – A United Kingdom recognised body is an institution granted degree awarding powers by a Royal Charter, Act of Parliament or the Privy Council.  Further information can be found on the website of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).
• United Kingdom postgraduate certificate or diploma – It is not necessary for the awarding body to be a United Kingdom recognised body.
• Higher national diploma (HND) from a Scottish institution – The qualification must be at HND level.  You must have studied at a Scottish institution.  We will use the address of the institution to confirm this.
• Qualifications not acceptable – Foundation degrees; honorary degrees; qualifications awarded in the United Kingdom by overseas awarding bodies, including overseas campuses of United Kingdom institutions; and professional and vocational qualifications.  

 Institution [20 points available]

• United Kingdom recognised or listed body – A recognised body is described above.  A listed body provides full courses that lead to the award of a degree by a United Kingdom recognised body. Further information can be found on the website of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). The bodies on the DIUS website are also set out in statutory instruments available on the website of the Office of Public Sector information (OPSI).
• Scottish institution – The institution does not have to be a recognised or listed body. However, you must have studied at a Scottish publicly funded institution of further or higher education, or at a Scottish bona fide private education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance. A ‘bona fide private education institution’ is defined in paragraph 6 of the Immigration Rules. The Scottish institution must be on the Register of Education and Training Providers list which is available on the website of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).
• Tier 4 sponsor licensing register – After the launch of Tier 4 during spring 2009 students will need to be sponsored by an institution that is on the sponsors licensing register.  Institutions can begin to register from summer 2008.  From summer 2008 Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) applicants can meet this requirement of the attributes points scoring section by providing details of an institution that is held on the Tier 4 sponsors licensing register.

 Immigration status in the United Kingdom during the period of study and/or research in the United Kingdom [20 points available]
You can claim 20 points if you can establish that the whole of your period of study and/or research in the United Kingdom was completed whilst you had leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as a:

• student (paragraphs 57 to 62 of the Immigration Rules);
• student nurse (paragraphs 63 to 69 of the Immigration Rules);
• student re-sitting an examination (paragraphs 69A to 69F of the Immigration Rules);
• student writing up a thesis (paragraphs 69G to 69L of the Immigration Rules); or
• dependant of someone with leave in any category that allows dependants to join them in the United Kingdom.
  

You do not need to have lived in the United Kingdom throughout the entire period of your study. For example, you may have undertaken periods of overseas study and/or research whilst obtaining your qualification.

 Date of award of qualification [15 points available]
You can claim 15 points if your qualification was obtained within 12 months immediately before your application for entry clearance under Tier 1 (Post-Study Work).  The date of your obtaining your qualification is the date you were first notified in writing, by the awarding institution, that they had awarded your qualification, NOT the date of graduation.  

Controls

 English language ability [10 points available]
There is no specific English language assessment under this category.  If you successfully achieved 75 points in the attributes section you will automatically satisfy the English language requirement.

 Maintenance (Funds) [10 points available]
Even if you have attained the pass mark of 75 in the Attributes section thereby satisfying the English language requirement, your application will be refused if you do not pass the Maintenance (Funds) requirement.

You must be able to support yourself for the entire duration of your stay in the UK without needing any help from public funds. In order to qualify under Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) you must be able to demonstrate that you have £2,800 for yourself and (where applicable) £1,600 for each dependant accompanying you and that you have held these amounts for a minimum period of 3 months immediately preceding and dated no more than 1 month prior to the date you submit your application.  The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period.

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What supporting documents should I include with my application?

You should include originals of all documents specified.  They must be on the official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation and must have been issued by an authorised official of that organisation.  You should also provide a copy of each document. Where a document is not in English or Welsh, the original must be accompanied by a fully certified translation by a professional translator.  This translation must include details of the translator’s credentials and confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original document.  It must also be dated and include the original signature of the translator.  If you do not provide the specified documents, we will not contact you to ask for them.  Therefore, if you fail to send the correct documents we may refuse the application.

You should provide full contact details for each document supplied.  You should also provide any information/explanation of the documentation submitted, that may assist us in our consideration.

Attributes
You must provide the specified documents as follows:

• original certificate of award; and
• original letter from the academic institution where you studied;
• where you are not able to submit your original certificate of award because it has not yet been issued, you may still submit your application provided the letter from the academic institution includes extra information explaining your situation; and
• original passport/s or travel document/s containing the relevant grant/s of leave in the United Kingdom for the period during which you studied and/or conducted research for your eligible qualification in the UK.

 Original certificate of award
This should clearly show:

• your name;
• title of the qualification; and
• name of the awarding body.

 Original letter from the academic institution where you studied
This letter must be on the official letter-headed paper of the United Kingdom institution where you studied bearing the official stamp of that institution.  It must have been issued by an authorised official of that institution and must confirm:

• your name;
• title of the qualification;
• start and end dates of your period/s of study and/or research for this qualification at the United Kingdom institution; and
• date of award (as defined above).

If the qualification is a postgraduate diploma or certificate the letter must also include:

• confirmation that the qualification is equivalent to, or above the level of, a United Kingdom bachelor degree.

If the qualification is an HND, the letter must also include:

• confirmation that the qualification is at HND level and was studied at a Scottish institution.

 Extra information in original letter from the academic institution where you studied
If you are unable to provide a certificate of award (for example if the application is made before your graduation) the letter must also include:

• details of the body awarding the qualification; and
• confirmation that the certificate of the award has not yet been issued.

 Original passport/s or travel document/s containing the relevant grant/s of leave in the United Kingdom for the period during which you studied and/or conducted research for your eligible qualification in the United Kingdom
You must send your original passport/s or travel document/s.  We will check your immigration status in the United Kingdom throughout the whole period of your study and/or research in the UK.  We will cross-check the evidence provided in the application with your relevant passport or travel document.  This will enable us to establish that you were in the United Kingdom as a student, student nurse, student re-sitting an examination, student writing up a thesis or as a dependant of someone with leave in any category that allows dependants to join them in the United Kingdom.  We will not award any points if you have not sent us the relevant passport/s or travel documents and we are unable to establish your status during the period of study and/or research in the United Kingdom.  In this case we will refuse your application.  

Controls

 English language ability
There is no need to send any additional documents to establish that you have the required level of English language.

 Maintenance (Funds)
Evidence must be in the form of cash funds.  Other accounts or financial instruments such as shares, bonds, pension funds, etc., regardless of notice period are not acceptable.  If you wish to rely on a joint account as evidence of available funds, you must be named on the account along with one or more other named individual.

You should provide one or more of the following:

• personal bank or building society statements covering a period of 3 months, dated no more than 1 month prior to the date you submit your application.  The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period;
• building society/savings account pass book/s covering a period of 3 months, dated no more than 1 month prior to the date you submit your application.  The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period;
• letter from your bank confirming level of funds and that they have been held in the bank account for at least 3 months, ending with a date no more than 1 month prior to the date you submit your application.  The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period.  This must be an original document, on the official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation;
• letter from a financial institution regulated by the home regulator (official regulatory body for the country in which the institution operates and the funds are located) confirming funds.

Personal bank or building society statements
These should clearly show:

• your name;
• your account number;
• the date of the statement (dated no more than 1 month prior to the date you submit your application);
  
• the financial institution’s name and logo;
• transactions covering a three month period;
• that there are sufficient funds present in the account (the balance must always be at least £2,800).  The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period.

Ad hoc bank statements printed on the bank's letterhead are admissible as evidence (this excludes mini-statements from cash points). If you wish to submit electronic bank statements from an online account these must contain all of the details listed above.  In addition, you will need to provide a supporting letter from your bank, on company headed paper confirming the authenticity of the statements provided. This must be dated no more than 1 month prior to the date of the application.  Alternatively an electronic bank statement bearing the official stamp of the bank in question will be accepted.  The stamp should appear on every page of the statement.  Statements which simply show the balance in the account on a particular day are not sufficient.

Building society/Savings Account pass books
These should clearly show:

• your name;
• your account number;
• the financial institution’s name and logo;
• transactions covering the three month period, ending with a date no more than 1 month prior to the date you submit your application;
• that there are sufficient funds present in the account (the balance must always be at least £2,800).  The balance should not fall below the required minimum at any time during the 3 month period.

Letters from a bank or regulated financial institution
These should clearly show:

• your name;
• your account number;
• the date of the letter;
• the financial institution’s name and logo;
• the amount of funds held in your account;
• that the funds have been in bank for at least 3 months, ending with a date no more than 1 month prior to the date you submit your application.  The balance should not fall below £2,800 at any time during the 3 month period.

Letters which state simply the balance in the account on a particular day are not sufficient.

Additional documentary evidence required for sponsored students
If you had permission to be in the UK in the last 12 months as a student, student nurse, student re-sitting an examination or postgraduate doctor or dentist, you may have been sponsored by a Government or international scholarship agency.  If you are currently sponsored by one of those or that sponsorship ended within the past 12 months of this application being made, you must provide us with your sponsor’s unconditional consent in writing giving you permission to re-enter the UK.  Without this we will refuse your application.  The evidence must be original, on the official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation and bear its official stamp.  It must have been issued by an authorised official of that organisation.  If you have received private sponsorship, for example from an employer or relative we do not need the sponsor’s consent.

For more advice on sponsored students, see chapter 3, section 3 of the Immigration Directorate Instructions on the UK Border Agency website.

We will refuse your application if we find that any documents are false.

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How long will I be able to stay in the UK?

The visa will be issued for a maximum period of two years.

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Can I appeal if my application is refused?

Outside the UK a refusal of entry clearance under PBS does not attract a full right of appeal. You can appeal only on one or more of the following grounds referred to in Section 84(1)(b) and (c) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002:

• that the decision is unlawful by virtue of Section 19B of the Race Relations Act 1976 (c.74) (discrimination by public authorities), and/or
• that the decision is unlawful under Section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c.42) (public authority not to act contrary to Human Rights Convention) as being incompatible with the appellant's Convention rights.

However, all applicants can apply for an Administrative Review, which is a mechanism for reviewing refusal decisions.

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What is Administrative Review?

If we refuse an application for entry clearance and you think that an error has been made, you can ask us to check our decision. This is known as an Administrative Review.

The Administrative Review is free of charge. You must ask for an Administrative Review within 28 days from the date you receive the refusal notice (GV51). You will receive the following documents with the the Refusal Notice:

 Administrative Review Request Notice 

 PBS Administrative Review Request Notice guidance notes

You must complete this in full and send it directly to the address stated on the Request Notice.

You must not send any additional documents such as passport/travel document or supporting documents with the Administrative Review Request Notice. If the refusal is subsequently overturned, you will be asked to send in your passport/travel document. You may request only one Administrative Review per refusal decision. Any further review requests for the same refusal decision will not be accepted and will be returned to you.

The Administrative Review will be completed within 28 days and you will be notified of the result in writing. The result of the Review may be sent from a different Post to where the original decision was made, to ensure that the Review is independent.

If you are already in the United Kingdom you cannot apply for an Administrative Review.

For more information about this you should refer to the Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) Guidance.

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Can my dependants join me in the UK?

Your husband, wife, civil partner or eligible partner and children under 18 can join you as your dependants in the UK if:

• they have a visa for this purpose and
• you can support them without any help from public funds.  You need £1,600 for each dependant joining you within 12 months of your arrival in the UK and £533 thereafter.

Partners (married, unmarried, same sex) must intend to live together and the relationship must be subsisting.  They must be maintained and accommodated without needing any help from public funds.  Your partner must not intend to stay beyond any period of leave granted to you.

If your dependent child is working full-time or earning enough money to support himself/herself, it is unlikely that he/she will qualify for entry to the UK as a dependant.  Dependent children must also be able to demonstrate that they have not formed their own independent family, are unmarried and not leading an independent life.  If a dependent child has previously been married or formed a civil partnership, or lived in a relationship that is similar to marriage or civil partnership, he/she will usually be considered to have formed an independent family and will not be eligible to enter the UK as the dependant of his/her parents. Although dependent children may seek employment whilst in the UK they must remain financially dependent on their parent to qualify as dependants.

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What do my dependants need to make an application?

Your dependants will need entry clearance but will not themselves be entering the UK under the Points Based System. They will need to satisfy similar conditions to those in Paragraphs 194-199 of the Immigration Rules which can be found on the UK Border Agency website. They will need to make their application using form VAF10 either online or on paper depending upon the facilities available in the country in which they are applying. They will also need the following:

• their passport or travel document;
• a recent passport sized photograph (if the application is successful, the photographs provided will be reproduced on the visa vignette)
  please note - photographs should measure 45mm x 35mm and be:
  • in colour taken against a white background;
  • clear and of good quality and not framed or backed;
  • printed on normal photographic paper;
  • full face and without sunglasses, hat or other head covering (unless it is worn for cultural or religious reasons but the face must not be covered)
• the visa fee. This cannot be refunded and they must normally pay it in the local currency of the country where they are applying;
• their biometric details;
• supporting documents relevant to their application.

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What supporting documents should my dependants include with their application?

Your dependants should include all the documents necessary to show that they qualify for entry to the UK as your dependant. If they do not, we may refuse their application.

As a guide, your dependants should include:

• evidence of their relationship to you;
• evidence that there is £1600 (or £533 if you have been in the UK for more than 12 months) for each dependant, in your or their personal bank account for maintenance, and that the money has been there for at least 3 months prior to the date they make their application; and
• a copy of the pages from your passport/travel document showing your permission to stay, if you are already in the UK.

We will refuse their application/s if we find that any documents are false.

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What fee will my dependants pay?

They will pay the same fee as you.

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What are public funds?

Under the Immigration Rules, if you want to travel to the UK, you must be able to support yourself and any dependants without claiming certain benefits.

You can find more information about public funds in the Immigration Rules on the UK Border Agency website.

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Check your visa

Please check your visa when you get it. You should make sure that:

• your personal details are correct
• it correctly states the purpose for which you want to come to the UK, and
• it is valid for the date on which you want to travel. (You can ask for it to be post-dated up to three months if you do not plan to travel immediately).

If you think there is anything wrong with your visa, contact the visa application centre or visa section immediately.

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More advice and information

Please read other guidance on this website. The full list is accessible through links on the left hand side of this page.

Full information about the Points Based System is available on the UK Border Agency website.

If you are outside the UK please contact your nearest visa application centre (VAC) or where no VAC is in operation, your nearest British mission where there is a visa section.

Where can I get immigration advice?

If you need help with your application or advice about the UK’s Immigration Rules and requirements, you should seek advice from a qualified immigration adviser.  In the UK these are immigration advisers regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC – www.oisc.gov.uk) or legally qualified professionals regulated by designated professional bodies.  The Law Societies of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Institute of Legal Executives can provide a list of Law Firms who can advise on immigration matters.  Their websites are:

Law Society of England and Wales

Law Society of Scotland

Law Society of Northern Ireland

Institute of Legal Executives

For more advice and information about extending your stay once you are in the UK:

The UK Border Agency
Croydon Public Caller Unit
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon CR9 2BY
Phone: (+44) (0)870 606 7766 (general enquiries)
Phone: (+44) (0)870 241 0645 (application forms)
Email: indpublicenquiries@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

For advice on bringing personal belongings and goods into the UK contact:

HM Revenue & Customs
Dorset House
Stamford Street
London SE1 9PY
Phone: (+44) (0)845 010 9000
Website: www.hmrc.gov.uk

Drugs warning
Anyone found smuggling drugs into the UK will face serious penalties. Drug traffickers may try to bribe travellers. If you are travelling to the UK, avoid any involvement with drugs.

False documents
It is better to explain why you do not have a document than to submit a false document with an application. Applicants will be automatically refused and may be banned from coming to the UK for 10 years if they use a false document, lie or withhold relevant information.  They may also be banned if they have breached immigration laws in the UK.

Travellers to the UK who produce a false travel document or passport to the UK immigration authorities for themselves and/or their children are committing an offence. People found guilty of this offence face up to two years in prison or a fine (or both).

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