The UK's Points-Based Immigration System (PBS) has been live since January 2021, replacing free movement for EU citizens and consolidating most work visa routes into a single framework. For HR professionals, compliance teams, and developers building immigration tooling, understanding the mechanics of the system is essential for correct implementation.

This is a technical and compliance-oriented overview of how the PBS works, what triggers each eligibility pathway, and where the common implementation errors occur.

System Architecture: How Points Are Allocated

The PBS uses a points threshold model.…