Sponsorship Licence Applications (For Employers)
Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, you need to apply for a sponsor licence so you can sponsor foreign workers to come and work in the UK.
At Vanguard Solicitors, we understand that the Sponsorship Licence application process can be complicated, with specific eligibility criteria, documentation, and fees to consider. However, our team of business immigration solicitors in London can help you navigate the process and increase your chances of a successful application.
If you to apply for a sponsorship licence, contact our business immigration solicitors by calling 0208 616 5535 or filling out our online contact form. We are here to guide you every step of the way.
Table of Contents
- What is a sponsorship licence?
- Sponsorship license requirements UK
- Job suitability
- Documents required for sponsor licence applications
- What are the duties of a skilled worker licenced sponsor?
- What are the different types of sponsor licence?
- How to apply for a sponsor licence?
- Sponsorship licence application processing time
- How can we help with your sponsorship licence application?
- Contact business immigration solicitors today
What is a sponsorship licence?
You'll usually need a sponsor licence to employ someone to work for you from outside the UK.
If you're looking to hire skilled workers from overseas, applying for a sponsor licence can be a smart solution. This licence allows your organisation to sponsor non-UK residents who have the skills and qualifications you need.
At Vanguard Solicitors, we can help you understand the requirements and benefits of obtaining a sponsor licence. With our expert guidance, you can navigate the application process with ease, ensuring a smooth and successful outcome.
Benefits of a sponsor licence
By obtaining a sponsor licence, you can have a range of benefits as an employer. These include:
- Access to a wider pool of skilled workers without any restrictions on nationality or origin.
- The ability to retain highly skilled employees for longer periods by offering them sponsorship.
- Improved company reputation through investment in employment opportunities for non-UK residents.
If you need further assistance in finding and retaining skilled workers, Vanguard Solicitors can help. Call us at 0208 616 5535 to learn more about our services.
Sponsorship license requirements UK
To apply for a sponsorship licence in the UK, businesses must meet certain eligibility requirements set out by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). These requirements vary depending on the type of organisation and the specific sponsorship category. Here are the general eligibility criteria:
- Your company must be a genuine entity registered and operating legally in the UK.
- Your company MUST NOT have unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes, such as fraud or money laundering.
- Your company MUST NOT had a sponsor licence revoked in the last 12 months.
- You must offer genuine employment that meets the skill level and experience of the migrant worker.
- You must pay the appropriate salary for the position that you are sponsoring.
- You must have a suitable HR system to monitor sponsored employees and maintain valid documentation.
Depending on the type of your application and circumstances, you must meet all the other eligibility requirements. Schedule a consultation with our UK immigration solicitor for your eligibility assessments.
Job suitability
You can sponsor a worker if the job they're going to do:
- complies with the UK minimum wage and working time regulations - the worker's visa may be refused and you may lose your sponsor licence if it does not
- meets the other criteria needed for their visa
Documents required for sponsor licence applications
The applicants will need to provide several documents in support of their sponsor licence application as per Sponsor guidance appendix A.
You must provide the following documents when you apply for a sponsor licence:
- Provide Job information including job title, occupation code, duties, salary etc.
- Organisational hierarchy chart detailing any owner, director and board member.
- Certificate of employer’s liability insurance cover
- Evidence of registration with HMRC as an employer
- HMRC VAT registration certificate
- Latest business bank statement
- Proof of ownership or lease of your business premises.
The document checklist provided above is not exhaustive, and additional documents may be required depending on your circumstances. Schedule a consultation with our UK immigration solicitor to get a comprehensive list of required documents and eligibility assessments.
What are the duties of a skilled worker licenced sponsor?
As a Skilled Worker licensed sponsor you must comply with certain duties, including, but not restricted to, a duty to inform the Home Office, UKVI if the Skilled Worker Migrant does not turn up for work, or if he is absent without permission for a significant period.
You must also keep proper records of the migrants you sponsor, including contact details and a copy of their biometric residence permit (BRP), and supply any documentation to the Home Office, UKVI on request.
The Home Office, UKVI will monitor your behaviour and compliance with your duties once you have been granted a Skilled Worker sponsor licence.
What are the different types of sponsor licence?
The licence you need depends on whether the workers you want to fill your jobs are:
- 'Workers' - for skilled or long-term employment
- 'Temporary workers' - for specific types of temporary employment
You can apply for a licence covering one or both types of worker.
Worker licence
A 'Worker' licence will let you sponsor people in different types of skilled employment. The skilled work can be for a short time, long-term or permanent depending on the worker's visa.
The licence is split into:
- Skilled Worker - the role must meet the job suitability requirements
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) - for multinational companies which need to transfer established employees to the UK, previously the Intra-company Transfer visa
- Minister of Religion - for people coming to work for a religious organisation
- International Sportsperson - for elite sportspeople and coaches who will be based in the UK
Temporary Worker licence
A 'Temporary Worker' licence will let you sponsor people temporarily, including for volunteering and job shadowing. You can only get a Temporary Worker licence for specific types of employment and visas.
The licence is split into:
- Scale-up Worker - for people coming to work for a fast-growing UK business
- Creative Worker - to work in the creative industry, for example as an entertainer or artist (up to 2 years)
- Charity Worker - for unpaid workers at a charity (up to 1 year)
- Religious Worker - for those working in a religious order or organisation (2 years)
- Government Authorised Exchange - work experience (1 year), research projects or training, for example practical medical or scientific training (2 years) to enable a short-term exchange of knowledge
- International Agreement - where the worker is coming to do a job which is covered by international law, for example employees of overseas governments
- Graduate Trainee (Global Business Mobility) - for workers transferring to their employer’s UK branch as part of a graduate training programme
- Service Supplier (Global Business Mobility) - for workers with a contract to provide services for a UK company (6 or 12 months)
- UK Expansion Worker (Global Business Mobility) - for workers sent to the UK to set up a new branch or subsidiary of an overseas business
- Secondment Worker (Global Business Mobility) - for workers transferring from overseas to work for a different UK business as part of a high-value contract
- Seasonal Worker – allows people to come to the UK and work in horticulture (for example, picking fruit and vegetables) for up to 6 months, or poultry from 18 October to 31 December each year
How to apply for a sponsor licence?
The sponsorship licence application process involves several key steps, including:
- Assess your eligibility
- Choose the appropriate licence type
- Gather all the supporting documents
- Create a Sponsorship Management System (SMS) account
- Complete the online sponsorship licence application form
- Pay the sponsorship licence application fee according to the type of licence and the size of your organisation
- Submit the sponsorship licence application
- Prepare for Home Office compliance visit/audit
- Wait for Decision
Sponsorship licence application processing time
Sponsorship licence applications generally take up to 8 weeks if applying using a standard service. However, you may be eligible to apply by using the "Pre-licence priority service" to get a faster decision within Ten working days.
The processing time for a sponsorship licence application can vary depending on several factors. All the applicants are advised to check the latest information about application processing time on the official UK government website.
How can we help with your sponsorship licence application?
Our immigration solicitors play a crucial role in assisting businesses with their sponsorship licence applications by providing expert guidance, legal advice, and representation throughout the application process. Here's how business immigration solicitors can help:
- Provide initial consultation to assess your eligibility and requirements
- Provide guidance on choosing the appropriate sponsorship category
- Assistance with preparing and compiling all necessary documentation
- Completion of application forms and submission to UKVI
- Ongoing support and advice throughout the application process
- Liaison with UKVI on your behalf, addressing any queries or additional requests
- Compliance advice to ensure ongoing adherence to sponsorship duties and obligations
Contact business immigration solicitors today
If you require expert legal advice or assistance with a sponsorship licence application, don't hesitate to contact us today. Our team of highly experienced UK immigration solicitors is here to guide you every step of the way.
To schedule a consultation with our business immigration law solicitors in London, please call us on 0208 616 5535 or contact us through our online contact form.