The most common type of work permit applications fall within the "main scheme". There are jobs which require prior advertising and those where this is not necessary. Under the "main scheme" there are four basic considerations which are:

1. genuine vacancy for the employment;
2. Skills or qualifications and or experience required for the employment (The "skills" threshold);
3. Whether the person has the appropriate skills, qualifications and or experience? and
4. are their suitably qualified or experienced `resident workers` available.

Currently, there is two-tier system

Tier 1 applications include;
transfers within multi-national companies (where the employee has been employed for less than six months and the British-based company has a direct link with the overseas company by common ownership).

* Senior board level posts (or posts at an equivalent level).

* posts that are essential to an inward investment project bringing substantial jobs and money to the U.K.

Tier 2 applications include :
all other applications