All you need to know about UK's new visa system

Under the new system, visa applicants will be given points on the basis of their suitability.

Say, if a migrant speaks English (a mandatory requirement), they get 10 points, BBC reported. Similarly, having a job offer in the UK or having a job at an "appropriate skill level"—both mandatory requirements—each fetches 20 points.

Migrants reportedly need 70 points to work in the UK.

With this new system, the UK hopes to tap into a skilled labor market.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said, "We will attract the brightest and the best from around the globe, boosting the economy and our communities, and unleash this country's full potential."

She said, with this system, the UK is "ending free movement" and "taking back control of our borders."

This new system is a direct response to the 2016 referendum favoring Brexit—viewed as a call to end UK's reliance on cheap migrant labor and reduce migration levels.

The points-based visa system is effective from January 1, 2021.

The UK Home Office said, "It will give top priority to those with the highest skills and the greatest talents, including scientists, engineers, and academics."

Reportedly, there will be no specific route for low-skilled workers under the new system. This is in line with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's manifesto commitment in the December 2019 General Elections.

The UK government urged employers to "adapt and adjust" to the new system.

The government said employers should instead focus on investing in staff retention, productivity, technology, and automation.

BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said, "People wanting to come to the UK from outside the EU will find rules are being relaxed, such as scrapping the cap on skilled workers or the drop in minimum salary."

Shaw added, "But for EU migrants who are used to moving freely between Britain and the continent, the new regime will be something of a shock."

A Global Talent Scheme will help highly-skilled EU scientists and researchers come to the UK without job offers.

EU citizens living in the UK by December 31, 2020, can also apply to settle in the nation through the EU Settlement Scheme until June 2021.

The Seasonal Workers Pilot will also be expanded for the 2020 harvest to address labor concerns in the agricultural sector.