Tier 1 (General)
United Kingdom experience
This page explains what proof of United Kingdom experience of work or study you may send to support your application to the highly skilled worker category (Tier 1 General) under the points-based system to work in the United Kingdom.
On this page
Full details of these requirements are in the immigration rules at paragraph 245B of part 6A, and Appendix A (Table 3) which you can find on the right side of this page. You must read the policy guidance before you apply under this category. You can download the guidance and application form from the Applying section.
Proof of your previous earnings made in the United Kingdom
There are no specific documentary requirements for claims for earnings made in the United Kingdom because the necessary documentation will have been sent to prove your earnings to score points in the attributes area.
Proof of your United Kingdom study experience
The specified document is:
- an original letter from the United Kingdom institution or United Kingdom based overseas institution at which you studied.
This must be an original letter, on the official headed paper of the awarding institution and bearing the official stamp of that institution. It must have been issued by an authorised official of that institution and must confirm:
- your name;
- the title of the qualification;
- the date of award of the qualification;
- confirmation, in order to obtain this qualification, you undertook a period of full-time study equivalent to at least one full academic year, or three consecutive academic terms; and
- start and end dates of the period of study in the United Kingdom.
If you are relying on the same qualification you used to score points for qualifications in the attributes area, you should already have sent the original certificate of award, or an original letter from the institution of study. This document will have confirmed your name and the title of the qualification. In these circumstances the letter only needs to include the remaining three requirements.
Additional documents needed for qualifications not found in the points-based calculator
If you cannot find details of your academic qualification on the points-based calculator, you must, in addition to the document listed above, send an original letter or certificate from UK NARIC confirming the equivalency of the level of your qualification.
If you cannot find details of your professional or vocational qualification on the points-based calculator, you should, in addition to the document listed above, submit an original letter from the appropriate United Kingdom professional body confirming that your qualification is equivalent to United Kingdom academic levels. This must clearly show:
- the name of the qualification, including the country and awarding body; and
- confirmation of the United Kingdom academic level to which this qualification is equivalent.
Terms explained
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UK NARIC
The UK National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) is the only official source of information on vocational, academic and professional qualifications awarded in more than 180 countries worldwide. A national agency managed on behalf of the UK government, it compares overseas qualifications with those in the UK, and provides information on qualifications and education systems outside the UK.