Ministers are to lower the number of points immigrants need to enter Britain on the highly skilled migrant programme and make it easier for people under 28 years old.

The scheme, designed to bring “high-flyers with exceptional skills” to Britain, has seen 3,700 people win visas.

Ministers announced in the Budget in April that the scheme would be expanded and yesterday published details of how the overall requirement in a points-based qualification system will be reduced from 75 points to 65.

There will also be new criteria for under-28s to make it easier for them to come to Britain. For the first time, spouses or partners who are graduates will contribute 10 points towards the applicant’s request to come to Britain.

Under the scheme, individuals will need to have 65 points fron five “scoring” areas to be considered for entry. These are educational qualifications, work experience, past earnings, achievements in a particular field and a specific category to help to recruit overseas doctors.

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