Tier 5 - Temporary Workers and Youth Mobility Schemes
Tier 5 of the Points Based System comprises the temporary workers and Youth Mobility Scheme categories which allow people to travel to the UK to satisfy primarily non economic objectives.
The following existing immigration routes were removed when the Tier 5 - Temporary Worker Tier was introduced:
Some Work Permits in the creative and sporting sector
Exchange teachers and language assistants
General Agreement on Trades in Services (GATS)
International Association for the Exchange ofStudents of Technical Experience (IAESTE)
International Fire Fighter Fellowship Programme
EU Leonardo da Vinci Programme
Rudolf Steiner
Medical Training Initiative
Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES)
China Graduate Work Experience Programme
Vander Elst
Non-pastoral religious workers
Visiting religious workers
Voluntary workers
Overseas Domestic Workers (in Diplomatic Households)
Overseas Government Employees
Tier 5 - Temporary Workers comprises the following sub-categories:
Creative and Sporting
For those who currently come to the UK under the work permit system to work or perform as sportspeople, entertainers or creative artists for up to 12 months.
Charity workers
For migrants coming to work temporarily in the UK as voluntary workers for a charity.
This should be purely for voluntary activity, not for the purpose of paid employment.
Religious
For migrants coming to work temporarily in the UK either as a religious worker in a non-pastoral role, where the duties include performing religious rites but not preaching to a congregation, or as a visiting religious worker.
Government Authorised Exchange
For migrants coming through approved schemes aimed at sharing knowledge, experience and best practice. This is not about filling job vacancies or providing a route for unskilled labour.
International Agreement
For migrants who are coming to the UK under contract to provide a service that is covered under international law, including GATS, similar bilateral agreements, employees of overseas governments and international organisations, and the provision for private servants in diplomatic households.
The Youth Mobility Scheme operates on the principle of balances. Sponsored young people from participating countries will be allowed to come and experience life in the UK for up to 24 months, while young UK nationals enjoy similar opportunities in participating countries. Such young people will be free to do whatever work they like during their stay in the UK (except for setting up in business and professional sport, or work as a doctor in training).
Six existing youth mobility type provisions will be abolished when the points Youth Mobility Scheme is introduced:
Working Holidaymaker Scheme
Au Pair rules for the entry of non-EEA nationals
BUNAC Scheme concession
Gap Year entrants concession
Japan: Youth Exchange Scheme concession
Research assistants to Members of Parliament concession
Countries are eligible for the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme where they meet the qualifying criteria. These relate to:
- level of immigration risk,
- returns arrangements, and
- reciprocal opportunities for UK nationals.
Each year, a list of the countries that qualify for the Scheme is published, together with the number of places on the Scheme allocated to each country. These allocations are based on the individual country’s level of immigration risk and the numbers of UK nationals entering that country under its reciprocal youth mobility arrangements.
To protect its use as a temporary entry provision, switching from Tier 5 Youth Mobility into other PBS categories or into visitor status is not permitted.
