Point Based System
Tier 5
Youth mobility
This category will effectively replace the working holidaymaker scheme, the au-pair placement scheme and the British Universities North America Club (BUNAC), and will allow nationals aged 18-30 to come to the UK for up to 24 months. Participants will be limited to working for 12 months out of the 24 granted and will not be allowed to bring dependants or switch into any other category once in the UK.
The government will be looking to participating countries to agree to the terms of the scheme. There will be country-specific limits and some reciprocity for British nationals will be expected. Currently only applicant from Australia, Newzeland, Canada and Japan can participate in this scheme.
Each applicant will need to produce a valid certificate of sponsorship issued by their own government. The UK will expect overseas governments to pre-check potential applicants, making sure that they are aware of the terms of the scheme and the consequences of non-compliance.
Tier 5 also creates five sub-categories with their own criteria and sponsorship arrangements. The maximum period granted will be 24 months, switching will not be allowed and dependants will only be admitted if the main applicant is granted more than 12 months' leave.
The sub-categories are:
Creative and sporting
This covers people entering the country as sportspeople, entertainers or other creative artists for short periods of time. Sponsors could be record companies, promoters, tour managers, sports clubs, governing bodies etc. They will have to vouch that the entertainer or sportsperson is seeking entry to perform, tour, compete or take part in a specific event or series of events, that they provide no threat to the domestic labour market and there is no intention to do other work or remain in the UK. The maximum period of leave will be 12 months.
Voluntary
The sponsor must be a charity or non-charitable benevolent or philanthropic organisation as defined by legislation. Sponsors will need to vouch that the proposed work by the applicant is directly related to the purpose of the sponsoring organisation, the work is not subject to the national minimum wage and does not constitute a permanent position. The maximum period of leave will be 12 months.
Religious
The sponsor could be the synagogue, mosque or church and will cover religious workers in a non-pastoral role. The maximum period of leave will be 24 months.
Exchange
This sub-category will cover applicants coming through approved or accredited exchange or development programmes. The sponsor would be the organisation running the accredited scheme - for example, the British Council. The maximum period of leave will be 12 months.