The U.K. will relax visa rules for top scientists next month, while pledging to clamp down on low-skilled migration after Brexit.
The U.K. is due to leave the European Union in five days and the government has promised to end free movement by EU citizens. Immigration was a key issue during the Brexit referendum and Prime Minister Boris Johnson is proposing a points-based system that prioritizes higher-skilled workers.
In a bid to ease concern that Brexit will close off Britain to top talent, Downing Street unveiled an immigration route on Sunday. The so-called Global Talent route will fast-track applications for scientists, mathematicians and researchers from Feb. 20. The government said it would also invest as much as £300 million ($392 million) into advanced mathematics over the next five years.