On 31 December 2020, at 11:00 PM, freedom of movement between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) will end. This document sets out further detail on how our new immigration system will operate. At the heart of it will be the Points-Based Immigration System.
In February 2020, we published our Policy Statement on the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System. This set out how we would fulfil our commitment to the British public to take back control of our borders by ending free movement and introducing a single, global immigration system. The Points-Based System will cater for the most highly skilled workers, skilled workers, students and a range of other specialist work routes including routes for global leaders in their field and innovators.
This document builds on the Policy Statement by providing more detail to applicants, employers and educational institutions on the draft requirements and conditions underpinning the key immigration routes in the Points-Based System. The routes described in this document cover the main economic migration routes for those wishing to apply to work or study or set up a business in the UK. It also sets out our generous provisions for visitors. It is intended to give time to prepare ahead of some of these new routes opening later this year, in advance of ending free movement for EU citizens on 31 December.
Unless otherwise stated, these routes will be open by January 2021. For all other routes, such as a family reunion, from January 2021 EU citizens (who do not qualify under EU Settlement Scheme or other routes protected by the Withdrawal Agreement) will need to apply and qualify for entry or stay on the same basis as non-EU citizens. It is worth noting that beyond the main work and study route, most of the immigration routes will have the same requirements as they do now for non-EU citizens. EU citizens will need to get a visa for all activities other than short-term visits.
The Immigration Bill continues its passage through Parliament and will provide the legal basis for ending freedom of movement on 31 December. We will confirm the final details for the Points-Based System later this year via guidance for applicants, Immigration Rules and secondary legislation. This will also illustrate how we are simplifying these Rules. We intend to share draft Immigration Rules with stakeholders shortly to ensure clarity and understanding.
The implementation of the Points-Based System will be phased, with further details published in due course. For those wishing to come to the UK before 1 January 2021, nonEU citizens will apply to come to the UK as they do now, and EU citizens will continue to exercise their rights under the terms of the transition arrangements which allow for the continuation of freedom of movement. EU citizens who arrive before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, and relevant family members, will be eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme. They have until 30 June 2021 to make an application under that scheme. More than 3.7 million applications have been made so far.
The Points-Based System will work in the interests of the whole of the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We will maintain the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements between the UK, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey) after the end of the transition period.
The Points-Based System will be a fair system because we will treat people from every part of the world equally. It will also reflect the careful consideration being given to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review produced by Wendy Williams.
We are determined to right the wrongs experienced by the Windrush generation. That is why we established the Windrush Compensation Scheme, and recently launched the Windrush Cross-Government Working Group, to continue to support those affected.
The Home Secretary has accepted all the findings of the Wendy Williams Windrush Lessons Learned Review. We will be updating Parliament on how we will implement the recommendations.
