How to Get a UK Work Visa for a Foreign Employee: Employer Guide

As the UK economy evolves in a post-Brexit landscape, businesses are increasingly turning to international talent to remain competitive, innovative, and resilient. The need to acquire up-to-date skills and expertise has necessitated the hiring of skilled foreign labour as an essential corporate policy.

Still, a fair number of employers are faced with an overwhelming question: how to get a UK work visa for a foreign employee. The procedure appears to be complex and fraught with regulatory hurdles.

In this step-by-step process, we will demystify the process of obtaining a sponsor licence, nominating a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), and helping the employee through their visa process. Regardless of whether your company is a well-established corporation or an active SME, this guide will help you understand the legal requirements for successfully employing skilled workers from overseas.

Who Needs a UK Work Visa to Work Legally in the UK?

Not all foreign nationals require a UK work visa. The following groups are exempt:

• Irish citizens (under the Common Travel Area agreement)
  
• Individuals holding settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
  
• Those with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or other forms of permanent residency in the UK

All other foreign nationals, including citizens from non-EU countries and EU nationals without settled/pre-settled status, must fulfil the foreign employee work visa UK requirements and hold a valid work visa to work in the UK. It is illegal for employers to employ workers who do not have legal status, and penalties apply for non-compliance.

How to Get a UK Work Visa for a Foreign Employee

Here are the steps to get a UK work visa for a foreign employee as a UK organisation:

Step 1: Apply for a Sponsor Licence as an Employer

A sponsorship licence issued by the UK Home Office allows you to hire foreign nationals as employees. You cannot legally assign Certificates of Sponsorship or sponsor the immigration of a skilled worker without it.

Sponsor Licence Requirements

To obtain a sponsor licence, you must meet the following:

• Your firm has to be a real, and legally functioning, UK company (PLC, Ltd, LLP, or sole trader, successfully registered)
• Your company must not hold any unspent criminal convictions that involve immigration offences, fraud, or other offences
• You will need to demonstrate that you have a strong HR and compliance system in place to fulfil the sponsorship obligations, such as the capacity to monitor the status of employees, retain relevant records and report any significant changes  to UKVI

Application Process

Here is how to apply for a sponsor licence in the UK:

• Submit an online application via the Home Office portal
• Provide supporting documentation (business legitimacy, financial standing, HR system evidence)
• Pay the relevant fee
• Wait through the 8-week processing time (priority service available for an extra fee, with a decision in as little as 10 working days)

Sponsor Licence Fees (As of 2025):

Note: Small sponsors are those with turnover ≤ £10.2m, assets ≤ £5.1m, or ≤ 50 employees.

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to Your Employee

When your company becomes a licensed sponsor, it can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), essential for overseas hiring. This is a unique reference number that your potential employee must use to apply for the skilled worker visa.

What Is a CoS?

CoS is a digital certificate that contains details about the worker, their role, and the employer. Once a CoS is issued, it remains valid for three months, within which the employee's visa application must be made.

There are two types of CoS: Defined CoS (for applicants outside the UK) and Undefined CoS (for applicants already in the UK).

How to Assign a CoS?

Here is how you can assign a CoS as an employer:

• Log in to the Sponsor Management System (SMS) online portal
• Enter job and employee information accurately
• Pay the relevant CoS fee: £525 (worker route), £55 (temporary worker)

After the CoS is issued, supply the CoS reference number to the applicant.

Employer's Responsibility

Employer’s responsibilities for overseas hiring involve:

• Ensuring the job meets sponsorship criteria (correct occupation code and salary threshold)
• Monitoring visa expiry and reporting changes to UKVI

Step 3: Your Employee Applies for a UK Work Visa

This is the stage your foreign employee follows after receiving their CoS. Below, we have mentioned the process:

1. How to Apply

This is how a foreign employee may get a worker visa:

1. Use CoS Reference Number: Apply online at the official UK government portal using the CoS number corresponding to the work visa.
2. Provide Supporting Documents:
   • Valid passport
   • CoS reference number
   • Proof of English language proficiency
   • Evidence of personal savings (unless the employer certifies maintenance)
   • Results of a TB test (if from a listed country)
   • Additional role or sector-specific documents
3. Pay Application Fee & Healthcare Surcharge:
   • Application fee depends on visa type and duration (e.g., Skilled Worker fee is £769–£1,519 as of 2025 for applications made from outside the UK)
   • Immigration Healthcare Surcharge is £1,035 per year per adult
4. Biometrics Appointment: After paying the application fee, book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre.
5. Timeline: The standard processing time is 8 weeks when applying from within the UK (priority processing can reduce it to 5 days for an additional fee) and 15 working days when applying from outside the UK.

For help with a skilled worker visa application for an employee, contact us at UK Visas.

Types of UK Work Visas for Foreign Employees

These are the UK work visa options for employees depending on the nature and duration of employment:

Skilled Worker Visa: This is the primary route for long-term skilled employment. To apply for this visa type, a job offer and sponsorship are mandatory.

Senior or Specialist Worker Visa: This visa route is for intra-company transfers. It allows international businesses to transfer senior staff to UK branches.

Temporary Worker Visas: This route covers individuals engaged in seasonal work, the creative and charity sectors, religious work, international agreements, government-authorised exchange, and other occupations.

Employer Costs and Obligations When Getting a UK Work Visa

These are the costs employers have to take care of while employing overseas workers:

• Sponsor Licence Fee (see table above)
• CoS Fee, which is £525 per worker for the Skilled Worker route
• Immigration Skills Charge, which is £364–£1,000 per year per sponsored worker, depending on company size
• Visa Application Fee & Health Surcharge are the employee's responsibility unless the employer agrees to pay

Employer’s obligations:

• Keep compliant HR systems to monitor sponsored staff, maintain accurate records, and report changes (e.g., absences, role change, termination) to the Home Office
  
• Prepare for UKVI audits, which can be announced or unannounced, and may trigger severe penalties for breaches (including licence revocation)

Common Challenges Employers Face

These are the common challenges employers in the UK face when hiring foreign workers:

• High costs: Particularly difficult for SMEs, who must budget for licence, CoS, and Skills Charge fees
  
• Visa refusals and delays: Resulting from technical errors, insufficient evidence, or role/salary not meeting published requirements
  
• Complexity and compliance: The immigration regime involves detailed and changing rules; non-compliance risks financial penalties, business disruption, and loss of a sponsor licence

How UK Visas Can Help with the Process

UK Visas offers extensive expertise in corporate immigration, such as:

1. Sponsor Licence Assistance: End-to-end preparation and submission, including advice on business structure, HR systems, and Home Office requirements.
   
2. CoS Management Support: Accurate assignment, compliance checks, and audit support.
   
3. Visa Application Support: Guidance to ensure employee applications are robust, timely, and successful.

UK Visas is an immigration advisory firm with IAA-regulated experienced immigration advisors. We offer a 100% money-back guarantee in the event of a sponsored visa refusal (details available at consultation).

Conclusion

Bringing foreign talent into the UK workforce requires companies to follow three core steps: securing a Sponsor Licence, assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship, and supporting the employee’s visa application.

Though this blog helps you understand how to get a UK work visa for a foreign employee, the process can be complex without prior experience. Thus, to ensure successful overseas hiring, remain fully compliant, and avoid financial risk, it is always better to seek professional assistance.

FAQs About UK Work Visas for Foreign Employees

How long does it take to get a UK work visa for an employee?

Standard skilled worker visa applications take up to 8 weeks. However, priority processing is usually available for an additional fee, which reduces the processing time to 5 working days.

What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa?

In 2025, the minimum salary requirement of a skilled worker visa is £41,700 a year or the going rate of the occupation, whichever is higher.

Can I hire a foreign employee without a sponsor licence?

No. Only employers with an approved sponsor licence can legally sponsor foreign workers under most routes, including the skilled worker visa.

What documents does my employee need to apply for a UK work visa?

Your employee must provide a valid passport, a Certificate of Sponsorship number, a certificate to prove English proficiency, financial evidence, a TB certificate (if required), and an employment contract.

What happens if my employee’s visa is refused?

If your visa is refused on unfair grounds, you can challenge the decision. Alternatively, in some cases, you can reapply for the visa after having addressed the reasons for refusal.

For immigration advice and visa assistance, please contact UK Visas.

Garima Arora

Garima, a seasoned legal professional, became part of the UK Visas team in 2018 and brings with her vast expertise in all areas of immigration law. She qualified as a solicitor in 2017 and holds IAAS Level Senior Caseworker status