A ‘new entrant’ is someone who is a new entrant to the labour market and so are near the start of their career. They must meet certain criteria to be classed as a new entrant by UKVI.
An applicant who is making their first Skilled Worker visa application or entering the UK for the first time is not automatically a new entrant.
To be classed as a new entrant, one of the below criteria must be met:
- The applicant is under the age of 26 on the date that they submit their online visa application;
- The applicant is sponsored for a post-doctoral position in one of a limited number of occupations;
- The applicant is working towards a recognised professional qualification in a UK-regulated profession;
- The applicant is working towards full registration or chartered status with the relevant professional body for the job they are sponsored for;
- The applicant is switching from a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa; or
- The applicant’s most recent UK visa was under Tier 4 (General) or the Student visa which expired up to two years before making this application and completed a Bachelor, Masters, PGCE or PHD in the UK. Unless they are a PhD student, they must have completed (or be applying no more than 3 months before they are expected to complete) their course; or
- The applicant’s most recent UK visa was a Graduate visa which expired up to two years before making this application.
