Dental practices are increasingly looking to employ staff from outside the UK

In the last couple of years, fuelled by Brexit and the Covid pandemic, dental firms all around the UK are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit new practitioners from within the UK.

This is why many dental practices and groups are going down the sponsorship route, despite the obvious complexities, costs and time involved.

UK Visas, a specialist OISC immigration adviser, works for a number of dental clients, and the interest and take up of sponsorship is increasing every month.

How does it work?

Firstly, the practice – or group – needs to apply for a sponsor licence. These are issued for four years, and there is no limit to how many practices can work under the same licence as long as they are all owned by the same umbrella organisation. For UK Visas to help them obtain their licence, and support them throughout the four-year period, costs around £4500, including the Government fees. For independent practices and small groups – ie those with a turnover of £10.2 million or less – the cost is a little under £2500.

Once the licence is granted, the holder can employ as many staff from overseas as they need as long as the role qualifies and the salary is in accordance with the national pay scales. Here is a list of qualifying roles:

SOC 2215 – Dental practitioners: Dental surgeon, dentist, orthodontist, periodontist
SOC 2219 – Health professionals nec: Dental hygiene therapist
SOC 3218 – Medical and dental technicians: Dental hygienist, dental technician
SOC 6143 – Dental nurses: Dental assistant, dental nurse

Once a candidate has been selected, UK Visas can take over the whole sponsorship process on behalf of clients. This includes arranging for a Certificate of Sponsorship to be issued, checking the candidate satisfies the English requirements, preparing and submitting their Skilled Worker application for them, arranging any biometric appointments and then, once the visa is issued, ensuring they are fully briefed on how to collect their BRP card (if applying from outside the UK).

Visas are usually issued for three years initially, and then must be extended for a further two years before the worker can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. At this point they can work for any practice but until then they are only entitled to work for their sponsor.

The costs of obtaining the Skilled Worker vary depending on the candidate's location and their current visa status if here in the UK. The least expensive route is to sponsor a recently qualified UK graduate, which avoids the Government’s Immigration Skills Charge.

For further information about the whole process of obtaining a sponsor licence and applying for Skilled Worker visas please complete the enquiry form on our website or e-mail us directly at [email protected]