Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what the age limit for new entrants under the points-based immigration system will be.

The Government set out its plans for the UK’s future points-based immigration system in the Policy Statement published on 19 February. The definition of new entrants will be based on the advice provided by the Migration Advisory Committee in its most recent report, which includes retaining the current upper age of 26 but also allowing new entrants to qualify in other ways, for example if they are taking up a postdoctoral position.

The salary requirement for new entrants will be set 30% lower than the rate for experienced workers in any occupation, but must still meet the minimum salary threshold of £20,480. New entrants will be able to extend their stay and settle in the UK, just as others in the Skilled Worker route, but their sponsors must increase their pay to the level required for experienced workers.

The Policy Statement indicated our intention to remove the resident labour market test. An impact assessment will be published to accompany the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill