Immigration News, News, Visas
Sponsor Licences
Finding and hiring top talent can be a daunting task, especially with ongoing recruitment challenges. That's why many businesses are expanding their search and looking for skilled workers outside of the UK. To do this successfully, you'll need a valid sponsor licence.
Our team of business immigration experts are here to provide you with valuable advice and guidance on obtaining a sponsor licence.
We can help you prepare to recruit skilled foreign workers and fill crucial vacancies in your business, particularly in industries that are experiencing a labour shortage.
Having a sponsor license opens a wide and diverse pool of talent, improves employee retention, and keeps you competitive in a growing trend of organisations hiring internationally.
The process of obtaining a sponsor license can be complex, so we've summarized the key steps to help you understand what's involved:
To Become a Licenced Sponsor You Need To;
- Verify your business eligibility
- Implement suitable HR systems to manage and monitor sponsored workers
- Appoint key personnel to handle the online portal (SMS)
- Gather the necessary supporting documents for your license application
- Ensure that your job vacancies are suitable
- Demonstrate the authenticity of your vacancies
- Ensure that the roles you offer meet the required skill level
- Align your pay scales with the minimum salary thresholds
Apply for a licence
- Confirm your annual staff numbers
- Complete the application form and gather all supporting documents
- Submit the required fee (£536 or £1,476) and allow up to eight weeks for a decision
What happens next?
If your application is successful, you will be issued a sponsor licence that is valid for four years, with the option to renew in the future.
Once you have selected a suitable candidate, your sponsor licence allows you to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship, which endorses their employment and enables them to apply for a work visa.
Upon the approval of their visa application, the candidate can travel to the UK to start working or continue their employment on a full-time permanent contract.