This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
As of January 2021, Britain's new points-based immigration system will allow skilled Kenyans without degree-level qualifications to apply for work permits in the UK.
This change is part of the post-Brexit immigration rules, which have lowered the requirement for job applicants to a minimum skill level of A-level or equivalent, down from degree-level under the 27-member EU bloc system.
Under the new system, EU citizens will no longer have free movement to live and work in the UK. Instead, anyone seeking to live and work in the UK, regardless of their EU status, will need to earn 70 points to be eligible for a visa.
Points will be awarded for key requirements such as speaking English to a certain level, having a job offer from an approved employer, and meeting a minimum salary threshold of £22,000 (Sh2.97 million) per year.
While the new immigration regime aims to reduce low-skilled migration and make it easier for higher-skilled workers to get visas, there will be no limit on the number of workers admitted.
Britain's Home Office claims the new system will provide greater flexibility and ensure UK businesses have access to a wide pool of skilled workers.
The new visa rules will enable Kenyans in competitive fields such as IT, accountancy, plumbing, and electrical works to compete with other migrants.
Skilled workers will pay a £610 application fee, or £1,220 for stays of more than three years, if applying for a visa from outside the UK.
