Hiring Overseas Workers – What Employers Need to Know
Hiring overseas workers allows UK businesses to access global talent when the domestic workforce cannot meet specific skill demands. However, UK employers must hold a valid sponsor licence before employing overseas workers legally.
Help with Skilled Worker Visa Application for Employees
Employing overseas skilled workers requires a sponsor licence, Certificates of Sponsorship, understanding salary thresholds, and compliance checks, which can feel overwhelming for employers to handle. We can help employers with skilled worker visa applications for employees. Our immigration experts provide end-to-end support to ensure that your sponsored employees’ visa applications are successful.
Sponsor Licence & Compliance Requirements
Businesses in the UK need a sponsor licence and are required to meet strict sponsor obligations to employ someone from overseas legally. This includes reporting changes in employee circumstances, keeping accurate HR records, and ensuring job roles meet minimum salary thresholds. Failure to comply can result in penalties or licence suspension. We can help employers with this. Our team can guide them through sponsor duties and ensure ongoing compliance, enabling them to hire overseas workers successfully.
Documents Required to Become a Skilled Worker Sponsor
When applying to become a Skilled Worker sponsor, employers must provide key documents that prove their business is genuine and complies with UK laws. Evidence for these includes proof of business registration, financial records, employer’s liability insurance, VAT certificate, and proof of a corporate bank account.
Businesses may also be required to submit additional documents depending on the nature of the company. Providing incomplete or incorrect documents can lead to delays or even the refusal of the application. We can help you avoid this scenario by helping you prepare accurate documents. This will improve your chances of success when hiring overseas workers.
Responsibilities for Employing Overseas Skilled Workers
Organisations wishing to employ skilled workers from outside the UK or Ireland must hold an up-to-date sponsor licence. It’s essential to bear in mind that sponsorship places a responsibility on the employer throughout the life of the licence, which includes reporting and updating the Home Office on any changes to the organisation itself or to its sponsored employees.
As the main route into the UK for overseas workers, the skilled worker sponsor process requires employers to demonstrate they are offering genuine employment at an appropriate skill level with relevant qualifications, and at the correct rates of pay.
Skilled Worker Sponsorship Fees
Fees employers must pay:
- The application for a sponsor licence
- Renewing a sponsor licence
- Extending a sponsor licence
- Individual Certificates of Sponsorship
Home Office handling charges for sponsors’ licence applications are £574 for small sponsors and £1,579 for large sponsors.
Our Charges
Our fees vary from organisation to organisation, as well as based on the services required, as follows:
- Assistance with sponsor licence application: small organisations £2500
- Assistance with sponsor licence application: large organisations £3500
- Significant changes to SL details / adding category £400
- Reporting SMS changes (non-subscribers) £250 - £800
- Annual Sponsor Licence Admin and Compliance Support Subscription for small organisations £720
- Annual Sponsor Licence Admin and Compliance Support Subscription for large organisations £1200
- Documents check and trial UKVI audit via Zoom/Teams £1200
- Documents check and trial UKVI audit at the sponsor’s office £1500
- Issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship only (including restricted CoS) £1000
In addition to Skilled Worker sponsorship fees, employers may also be subject to an Immigration Skills Charge for every migrant sponsored on a Skilled Worker visa. This is to be paid if they’re applying from overseas to work in the UK for 6 months or more, or from within the UK for leave to remain. The cost varies according to company size and length of employment. While the Immigration Skills Charge remains in place, there have been discussions about possible fee adjustments. Employers should always check the latest government guidance for up-to-date information.
Skilled Worker Sponsor Application Requirements
For hiring overseas skilled workers, employers need a sponsor licence. To get this licence, employers must:
- Complete an online application
- Pay a fee and the Immigration Skills Charge
- Show evidence of operating and trading in the UK by supplying at least four of the following documents to demonstrate eligibility to become a sponsor
- Current corporate bank account
- Employer’s liability insurance
- Proof of listing on the London Stock Exchange or the Financial Conduct Authority
- Audited annual report
- Registration with HMRC
- Company tax return
- VAT registration certificate
They must also meet specific criteria, such as having an HR system in place, the ability to host visits by the Home Office to check compliance, a genuine vacancy available, and the job must meet the general salary threshold of £41,700 per year (in certain circumstances it can be lower).
Duties and Obligations of a Skilled Worker Sponsor
From the moment an organisation is granted a licence number, the Home Office expects specific duties to be undertaken. These include:
- Keeping up-to-date records of information on sponsored workers, such as passports, status documents, and records of digital right to work checks
- Holding documents related to recruitment practices
- Recording attendance of migrant workers and any specific changes of circumstance pertaining to their roles
- Monitoring certain employee activities
- Fully co-operating with the Home Office, which may include site visits
Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence Processing Time
Due to the complexity of the process, it takes some companies much longer than anticipated to collate the relevant information required. We advise our clients to allow between 2 and 3 months for the sponsor application process. The decision takes 10 working days from the submission of evidence if priority service is used or up to 8 weeks if standard service is used.
What Happens if an Application Is Rejected?
The Home Office has the right to refuse an application if supporting evidence is lacking or information is submitted incorrectly. There’s also no right to appeal should the application fail, which can result in wasted time and money if you’re unfamiliar with the system.
Working with UK Visas will help to ensure your application has the best possible chance of success with tailored advice and support throughout the process.
Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Once organisations have been granted a licence to sponsor, it’s then possible for them to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to a migrant under the Skilled Worker visa system. This is done via an online management system, which generates a reference number that your worker will need for their application.
This reference number will remain active for 3 months, after which it expires. CoS must contain a start date for employment.
How to Become a Skilled Worker Sponsor?
Skilled Worker sponsorship is available to employers who wish to hire qualified workers outside the UK, provided a search within the UK has been unsuccessful or specialist skills are required.
As an employer, you will need to apply for a Skilled Worker sponsorship licence online via a registered sponsorship management system. Once a licence is granted, you can issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to workers who meet the correct criteria.
You will also be expected to fulfil several sponsor duties.
UK Visas Provides a Comprehensive Skilled Worker Visa Service
At UK Visas, we help UK businesses employ overseas workers legally and efficiently. From securing your sponsor licence to help with skilled worker visa application for employee, our team ensures compliance and maximises approval rates.
Whether you’re applying for sponsorship or hiring overseas workers, dealing with the rules and regulations can seem overwhelming. As immigration experts, we have helped thousands of companies through the licensing process. We’ll support your application so you can rest assured your experience will be as stress-free as possible.
