Tier two covers migration into the UK for skilled migrants who have a job offer. This tier is replacing the current UK work permit scheme. This tier is used to fill jobs where there are shortages in the labour market, i.e. engineering, information technology, education and nursing.  

If you are a migrant applying under tier two of the UK tier system you are required to get sponsorship from a potential employer. The sponsorship certificate you will receive details your job title and demonstrates that the salary offered to you is appropriate for the position you are being offered. An employer must then indicate that they have satisfied one of the following:

• Your potential employer has carried out a Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) which shows that the job could not be filled by an applicant from within the EU or the European Economic Area
• The job offer appears on the list of shortage occupations published by the Border and Immigration Agency
• The salary of the job is at least £40,000 a year
• You are part of an Intra-Company Transfer who has been working with an overseas branch of the employer for at least the last six months
• You are a religious worker
• You are a sportsperson seeking to establish him or herself in the UK

 
Tier two is aimed at medium to high skilled workers and makes applying for work within the UK easier than going via a work permit visa. This tier shares some of the same elements of tier one in the sense you have to obtain points based on a skills assessment; you also need to prove you are fluent in the English language.

Tier two also offers a potential route for permanent settlement in the UK; after working for five years within the UK you may become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain or Permanent Residence.

See Tier Three