Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the ability of people who are self-employed to come and work in the UK after 1 January 2021 under the proposed new points-based immigration system.

The UK’s Points-Based Immigration System has been designed with businesses and employers given huge consideration.

Whilst there will be no dedicated route for self-employed people in the Points-based system, self-employed workers will continue to be able to benefit from a number of other routes. Those contracted to provide services to an organisation can continue to be sponsored under the new skilled work route, or if wishing to set up a business in the UK, use the Innovator and Start-up routes.

Where they are recognised as a leading talent or promising individual in science, humanities, engineering, the arts (including film, fashion design and architecture) or digital technology they can use the Global Talent route which allows them to take employment without any restrictions.

Further information on the Points-based system was published on 13 July and sets out the offer for those seeking to come to the UK to work.