Tier 1 (General) Highly Skilled Migrant category of the Points Based System was launched in the UK on 29 February 2008 replacing the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). In June 2008 the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) was phased out and it was replaced by the Tier 1 (General – Highly Skilled) Programme.
On 6 April 2011 the UK Border Agency temporarily suspended the Tier 1 (General) route.