The United Kingdom's Tier 1 visa immigration scheme is part of the points based system. Tier 1 is designed to attract top talent from outside the European Union who can contribute the most to the UK economy.

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent):

This route is for those who are internationally recognised as world leaders or potential world-leading talent in the fields of science and the arts and who wish to work in the UK. Applicants must be internationally recognised as world leaders in their field.

Entry clearance or leave to remain under this route will be subject to the following conditions:

• no recourse to public funds (which means the migrant will not be able a) to claim most benefits paid by the state);
• registration with the police, if this is required by paragraph 326 of the b) Immigration Rules, and
• no employment as a doctor or dentist in training or as a professional c) sportsperson (including as a sports coach).

All applicants wanting to travel to the United Kingdom under Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) of the points based system will need prior entry clearance.

Applicants wanting to extend their leave while in the UK should make their application before their current permission to stay expires. UKBA encourages applications to be made at least a month before leave runs out but if the application is made very early it could result in a shortfall in time should the migrant subsequently make an application for settlement.

Tier 1 (General):

The Tier 1 (General) category allows highly skilled people to look for work or self-employment opportunities in the UK. Tier 1 (General) migrants can seek employment in the UK without a sponsor, and can take up self-employment and business opportunities here.

This category is now closed to applicants who are outside the UK.

You do not need to apply under the points-based system if:

• you are an EEA or Swiss national;
• you are a British overseas territories citizen, unless you are from one of the sovereign base areas in Cyprus;
• you are a Commonwealth citizen with permission to enter or stay in the UK because at least one of your grandparents was born here; or
• you have no conditions or time limit attached to your stay.

If your husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner (or one of your parents, if you are under 18) has permission to stay in the UK under Tier 1 (General), you can apply as a dependant.

You can apply to extend your stay in the UK under Tier 1 (General) if you are already in the UK with permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') in one of the following immigration categories:

• highly skilled migrant
• writer, composer or artist
• self-employed lawyer
• Tier 1 (General)
• Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP), if you are eligible to switch into Tier 1 (General).

If you are not in one of the categories above, you cannot apply to Tier 1 (General).

Your total points score must be at least 95 points if you currently have permission to stay in the UK as:

• a Tier 1 (General) migrant under the Immigration Rules in place before 19 July 2010;
• a highly skilled migrant;
• a writer, composer or artist; or
• a self-employed lawyer.

If you are in any other eligible category, your total points score must be at least 100 points (unless you are covered by the HSMP Forum judicial review judgment.

Your total score must include 10 points for English language skills and 10 points for maintenance (funds).

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur):

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) is for non-European migrants who want to invest in the UK by setting up or taking over, and being actively involved in the running of, 1 or more businesses in the UK. At least £200,000 of disposable capital held in a regulated financial institution is required.

Third country nationals who would like to start a business in the UK will find this Entrepreneur visa to meet their needs if they can meet the criteria.

You can apply under the entrepreneur category now if you are:

• In the United Kingdom and want to make an initial application as an entrepreneur;
• Already in the United Kingdom as an entrepreneur and want to extend your permission to stay within your existing category;
• Already in the United Kingdom as a business person or innovator and want to extend your permission to stay in the entrepreneur category;
• Applying for permission to enter the United Kingdom (known as 'entry clearance') under the entrepreneur category.

Tier 1 (Investor):

The investor category is designed to allow high net worth individuals make a substantial financial investment in the UK. You do not need a job offer to apply under the investor category. When you apply, you are awarded points based on your ability to invest £1,000,000 in the UK.

You must score 75 points for access to £1,000,000 that is disposable and in a financial institution, or £2,000,000 in personal assets and £1,000,000 in a loan, which are known as attributes.

You can apply under the investor category now if you are:

• In the United Kingdom and want to make an initial application for the investor category;
• Already in the United Kingdom under the former investor category and want to extend your permission to stay within the tier 1 investor category;
• Already in the United Kingdom in the tier 1 investor category and want to extend your permission to stay in your existing category;
• Applying from outside the United Kingdom for permission to enter (known as 'entry clearance') in the investor category.

Tier 1 (Post-study work):

The Tier 1 (Post-study work) category allows the UK to retain the most able international graduates who have studied there. It also enhances the UK's overall offer to international students.

During their permission to stay in the UK, post-study workers can look for work without needing to have a sponsor.

You should apply if you are a not a national of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and want to enter or stay in the United Kingdom to work in the post-study worker category.

You should fill in the application form if you are:

• in the United Kingdom with permission to stay under the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (SEGS), International Graduates Scheme (IGS) or Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme (FT:WISS); or
• in the United Kingdom as a student (this includes students, student nurses, students resitting examinations and students writing up a thesis) and want to switch into the post-study worker category.

If you are a dependant of a main applicant, you should complete the separate dependant application form.

You do not have to apply under the points-based system if:

• you are an EEA or Swiss national;
• you are a British overseas territories citizen, unless you are from one of the sovereign base areas in Cyprus;
• you are a Commonwealth citizen with permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom because at least one of your grandparents was born here;
• your spouse or civil partner, unmarried or same-sex partner, or (if you are under 18) one of your parents has permission to stay in the United Kingdom under the post-study worker category of the points-based system; or
• you have no conditions or time limit attached to your stay.